I’ve spoken about the Prior Approval Process at length on our ULC Lead Time podcast. I believe the lack of clarity on the process for prior approval needs more transparency for trust to be deepened in the Synod. I just spoke about it, and sometimes whined about it. Sorry about that. Pastor Jones and Pastor Borrasso did something about it. Well done, brothers.
Here are the seven “Resolves.” We strongly encourage you and your congregation to submit this Overture at your upcoming District Conventions. This would go a long way in restoring trust in the Synod.
Resolved, That the District in convention give thanks to the Lord of the Church for using the Synod and its agencies to preserve and enlarge the workers of the harvest; and be it further
Resolved, That District in convention give thanks to those engaged in the various prior approval processes for being engaged in difficult and important work; and be it further
Resolved, That District in convention memorialize the Synod in convention to do the same; and be it further
Resolved, That District in convention memorialize the Synod to require that process used by the various panel to carry out the responsibility entrusted to it by the Synod be made transparent and publicly available; and be it further
Resolved, That District in convention memorialize the Synod to stipulate that unless those under consideration by the prior approval panels are found to be in violation of their ordination, commissioning, consecration, or installation vows that their approval be assumed; and be it further
Resolved, That District in convention memorialize the Synod in convention to stipulate that if those under consideration are thought to be in violation, that the candidate be given every opportunity to clarify their position to the panel; and be it finally
Resolved, That District in convention memorialize the Synod in convention to stipulate that if such a violation be found that the panel would, with the appropriate District President as that individual’s ecclesiastical supervisor, engage in the appropriate processes to restore the erring brother or sister so that one deemed unworthy to teach at
one of the Synod’s institutions not be permitted to remain on the roster or serve a congregation and thus lead that congregation to err or become out of step with Synod.
ULC Call to Action:
Download the full Overture here. Or download it from the link below.
Bring it to your pastor and congregation for a vote in the hopes of submitting this overture, or one similar to it, to your upcoming District Convention.
Below is Pastor Jones and Pastor Borrasso’s introductory remarks for the Overture.
Thanks for taking action to hopefully restore trust in the Synod, Andrew and Matt!
Greetings, Brother, in the name of Christ, the Risen Lord of the Church,
We are reaching out to you in the hopes of fostering and increasing trust within our synod. You may or may not be aware that the Prior Approval process, while called for in the bylaws, is not explicitly laid out. The standards and processes are not transparent. As President Harrison’s comments at the last convention suggest, this situation has led to no shortage of frustration for the panel, the candidates, and the synod at large.
Attached you will find an overture that we hope you will work to pass as a resolution in your district at the next convention. The aim of this overture is not to undo prior approval but make the standard and processes transparent as well as ensuring that the individuals involved are treated with the respect due our brothers and sisters in Christ. The goal is not simply to chastise or point out the weaknesses of the current situation, we want to build trust not undermine it.
Both of us are working to get this overture to the floor of our respective district conventions. We would be happy to chat more about the overture both as it stands and why we chose to create and share it. If you wish, please share it widely. We pray that regardless of your decision to pursue this that our Lord would continue to use you in furthering the spread of his gospel as he uses even a synod like ours to accomplish his purposes.
Peace and joy,
Rev. Andrew Jones, Pastor in the California, Nevada, Hawaii District
Rev. Dr. Matthew Borrasso, Pastor in the Southeastern District