The 15th regular tri-annual meeting of the New Jersey District of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod was called to order on Thursday, June 4, 2009 at 1:00pm at the Holiday Inn Select in Swedesboro, NJ
News Briefs
Report on Registration
Convention Manager, Rev. Dale Johnston gave the report:
34 voting pastors
31 lay delegates
7 advisory delegates
29 guests
The number of voting delegates constitutes a quorum.
Opening Devotion
Commissioned Minister David Kisser (St. Paul - Flemington) led the opening devotion, including songs on guitar, based on 1 Peter 2:4-9
Introduction of New Workers in the District
President Klettke directed the delegates to the supplemental report, where he introduced new church workers in the New Jersey District, including 10 new pastors.
New and Amended Constitutions
Secretary Rev. Richard Vossler announced that there were a number of congregations that have submitted their constitutions to the District for the archives. Some congregations have submitted new or amended constitutions for approval: East Brunswick, Hamburg, Point Pleasant, Somerset, and Verona.
Introduction of the District Staff
President Klettke introduced the District Staff:
Sandy Ramirez – Administrative Assistant; Rev. Dr. Tony Steinbronn – Mission Executive; Caitlin Dinger – Communications Coordinator; Bill Webster – Business Manager; David Hildebrandt –Presidential Advisor.
District President William R. Klettke
Rev. William R. Klettke was re-elected to his fourth term as District President. Synod Vice President William Diekelman installed Rev. Klettke as the President of the New Jersey District during the second session of the convention (Thursday, June 4), since Rev. Diekelman will be leaving for the Atlantic District Friday morning.
District President’s Report, Part I
President Klettke presented the first oral part of his report to the district in convention, on Thursday afternoon during the second session of the day.
His main topics included the mission work of each congregation, the Ablaze movement within Synod, Congregational Revitalization and the Transforming Congregations Network work in the district, Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey, and LCMS World Relief.
Nominations & Elections, Procedures and Results
Nominations Report: District Officers – Rev. Richard Vossler, Secretary –
Rev. Vossler announced the procedures that were used for the nominations for President and Vice Presidents of the District, as well as the election of the Circuit Counselors. He then directed the delegates to the list of nominations for President (Rev. William Klettke), and Vice Presidents (1-none; 2-Rev. Paul Kritsch; 3-Rev. Steve Gewecke), as well as the Circuit Counselors. (1-Rev. Robert Holsten; 2-Rev. Eric Ziegler; 3-Rev. Joseph Weatherell; 4-Rev. Dr. John Reynolds; 5-Rev. Dennis Bottoms; 6- Rev. Chris Schoenberg)
Election Procedures: Floor Committee on Elections
Rev. Dennis Rocket explained the procedures for elections for the different offices.
Balloting for President, Vice Presidents, Circuit Counselors –
The nominations for President were opened. Rev. Joe Weatherell moved that the nominations for President be closed. PASSED.
President Klettke called for the secretary to cast a single ballot for President. A delegate challenged whether that was in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order. Having no answer to the contrary, and wanting to conduct the election in proper order, President Klettke called for ballots to be printed with the single name for President.
President Klettke opened the nominations for Vice President of Area 1. Rev. Eric Rieker and Rev. Dennis Rockett were nominated. Rev. Paul Huneke moved to close the nominations. PASSED.
President Klettke opened the nominations for Vice President of Area 2. Rev. Joe Weatherell moved that the nominations be closed. PASSED.
President Klettke opened the nominations for Vice President of Area 3. Rev. Tom Diamond moved that the nominations be closed. PASSED
President Klettke directed that the election process be held in abeyance until the ballots could be prepared for the election. The balloting continued after Part I of the report of the Synodical President.
The ballot for District President was handed out and then collected. The biographical information for Rev. Eric Rieker was handed out. (The biographical information for Rev. Dennis Rockett was already handed out in the packets.)
The Secretary reported that, for President, William Klettke received 62 votes, and there were 4 abstentions.
The ballot for District Vice Presidents was handed out and collected.
Rev. Vossler reported the results of the elections for Vice Presidents. For Area 1, Rev. Dennis Rockett was elected. Rev. Paul Kritsch received 67 votes for Vice President for Area 2, and Rev. Stephen Gewecke received 67 votes for Vice President for Area 3, so they were both elected.
The ballots were distributed and collected for the ranking of the Vice Presidents.
Rev. Vossler reported on the results for the election for the ranking of the Vice Presidents. Because no one received a majority, a second ballot was prepared with Rev. Stephen Gewecke and Rev. Paul Kritsch. That ballot was distributed and collected.
Rev. Vossler reported that, for the election for first Vice President, Rev. Stephen Gewecke received 30 votes and Rev. Paul Kritsch received 40 votes. Therefore Rev. Paul Kritsch was elected First Vice President.
Rev. Vossler read the names of the circuit counselors, and President Klettke explained the procedure for electing the Circuit Counselors. The motion was made to ratify the slate for circuit counselors. PASSED.
Rev. Vossler reported that, for the election for Second Vice President, Rev. Stephen Gewecke received 63 votes and Rev. Dennis Rockett received 9 votes. Therefore, Rev. Gewecke is elected Second Vice President and Rev. Rockett is elected Third Vice President.
Floor Committee on Resolutions
Rev. Mark Bartels was introduced as the chairman of the Resolutions Committee. While there were no resolutions submitted, the committee will be working on thank you resolutions here at the convention.
Report of the Synodical Vice-President
First Vice President, Rev. William Diekelman presented the Synodical report, including welcoming remarks from President Kieschnick.
The Synodical report included a video presentation of President Kieschnick and interviews of church members and other missionaries, both national and international, who are involved in outreach ministries within their communities.
In the second part of his report to the convention, Vice President Diekelman also answered some written questions that were prepared by the delegates following the first part of his report earlier in the convention.
Some of the topics he covered were the availability of the Synodical President’s video presentation, the funding within Synod, the need for stewardship, and the ministry needs of military personnel and chaplains-- particularly as they transition back into home life following deployment.
Christian Heritage Endowment Fund
Sue Epper presented the Report for the Christian Heritage Endowment Fund.
Concordia College-Bronxville
Rev. Steven Dwyer brought greetings from Concordia College, Bronxville.
Closing Prayer
Rev. Bruce Smith (Christ Memorial-East Brunswick) led the closing devotion for the day, based on Ephesians 4.
Convention Worship & Eucharist at Old Swedes Church
Synod Vice President William Diekelman was the preacher, and District President William Klettke the Presiding Minister at the evening service of Eucharist at Old Swedes Church in Swedesboro.
The Salem Brass musical group provided wonderful musical accompaniment, with Rev. John Welge on organ.
Rev. Diekelman’s sermon focused on the convention theme, “Chosen for a Purpose.” He reflected on how, as children, we all want to be chosen for games and teams-- and how, as Christians, we have been already been chosen for eternity by our Lord Jesus and have been given a new purpose as his disciples in the world.
As children playing Hide-’n-Seek might call out “Olie-Olie-Oxen-Free” to bring their friends back home, we can point the unchurched and unsaved around us to Jesus on the cross, who assures us that by his death and resurrection, “All and All and All are in Free.”
During the worship service, Rev. James D. Buckman was installed as the Mission Strategist for the Newark area, by Rev. Yohannes Mengsteab, LCMS World Mission. Rev. Buckman’s work will focus on establishing new Bible study groups and more among various ethnic immigrants.
Daily Convention News
Available on the new NJ District website: www.njdistrict.org