June 17, 2003

Dr. David Benke was re-elected to his fifth term as president of the Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod at the district's 55th convention, June 6-7 in Bronxville, N.Y. Benke, 57, was elected on the first ballot. Benke had been suspended from his position for over a year. He was reinstated earlier this year after a church tribunal exonerated him of charges of "syncretism" and "unionism" which were brought by some mid-western pastors following his participation in the Yankee Stadium service following the 9/11 attack.

Also elected were:

. Rev. Charles Froehlich, Dix Hills, N.Y., first vice president;

. Rev. Warren Winterhoff, Delmar, N.Y., second vice president;

. Rev. Robert Hartwell, Bronxville, N.Y., third vice president; and

. Rev. Peter Dorn, Queens Village, N.Y., fourth vice president.

Under the theme, "Engaging the World with the Gospel of Hope," delegates voted to:

. promote reconciliation within The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, which would include a districtwide time of renewal in conjunction with Lent 2004, and a request that the Synod president, vice presidents and Council of Presidents "pursue actions that seek to effect reconciliation on a Synodwide level."

. thank and commend President Benke for "ministering to the citizens of Metro New York and the country following the terror attacks by offering a prayer in the 'Precious Name of Jesus' at the Prayer for America civic event"; thank God for the leadership of Benke and Synod President Gerald Kieschnick; and encourage district congregations to "'engage the world with the Gospel of hope,' proclaiming the message of Christ and showing the love of Jesus in public forums."

. affirm the Synod's Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM) in its decisions of Jan. 20-21. Among those decisions, the CCM ruled that "the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod do not allow or contemplate the expulsion of a member of the Synod on the basis of an action taken with the full knowledge and approval of the appropriate ecclesiastical supervisor" and "a member of the Synod who acts contrary to Article XIII of the Constitution cannot be charged if he or she acted according to the advice of his or her ecclesiastical supervisor."

. "encourage the Council of Presidents," which has been charged with examining and redefining the boundaries of Bylaw 2.27 of the LCMS Handbook, "to address concerns" that include protecting the rights of the accused and holding all parties in a dispute accountable for their actions.

. explore global mission partnership opportunities with missionaries and the Synod's Board for Mission Services, and authorize at least one specific partnership per year for the next triennium.

. promote mission strategies in urban areas.

. thank God for growth - including more gains in confirmed membership and in new preaching stations than any other LCMS district - over the past three years.

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