To Have Next Available Convention of the Synod in Detroit

WHEREAS, Detroit, Mich., has not hosted a Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) since 1965; and

WHEREAS, Since the Pittsburgh Convention in 1992, the LCMS has deemed it wise to move the triennial Synod Convention to various cities across the United States, assuming competitive rates for hotels, travel, and convention sites, and thus helping create a deeper appreciation for our Synod and her faithful, biblical, doctrinal stances, confession, and practices; and

WHEREAS, The Detroit metropolitan area has a historically large LCMS population and has notable historic congregations, cemeteries, and history, as well as nearby Concordia University Ann Arbor, and is a major international airport and a hub of Delta Air Lines; and

WHEREAS, Synod Bylaw 3.1.9 (j)(3) states that “A district may submit an invitation to host the convention. In such case, a host group shall determine the minimum requirements from the convention manager, agree to provide any needed local support, and submit a proposal to the Board of Directors of the Synod for evaluation and consideration”; and

WHEREAS, The Michigan District and English District have headquarters buildings in the nearby area, and our partner synod, The Lutheran Church—Canada, has a concentration of congregations in Ontario and just across the Detroit River in Windsor and nearby counties; and

WHEREAS, The Michigan District and English District could team together in hosting the convention; and

WHEREAS, Significant Lutheran heritage and sightseeing is available in relatively close Franken muth, Mich., as well as in Dearborn,Mich.(including the Henry Ford Museumand Greenfield Village) and other cultural and sports amenities; and

WHEREAS, The Detroit metro area is a huge mission field, a highly multi-ethnic milieu, and one of the largest Black concentrations in the nation at a time when it would be wise for the LCMS to show its support of the Black community, in particular; and

WHEREAS, The Detroit metro areais also home to a huge mission field of Arabic and Islamic peoples who need to hear the Gospel of life and salvation in Jesus Christ; and

WHEREAS, The Detroit area congregations, schools, pastors, and church workers have demonstrated a high level of confessional witness and missionary support (one of the OIM Regional Director families is from Windsor, ON, and a member of a Detroit congregation); therefore be it

Resolved, That the English District, together with the Michigan District, determine to act as host by determining the minimum requirements from the convention manager, agreeing to provide any needed local support, and submitting a proposal to the Synod Board of Directors; and be it further

Resolved, That upon consultation and approval from the Synod Board of Directors, the English District, together with the Michigan District, invite the next available Synod convention to Detroit after the 2023 Synod convention.