Other officers, too, were chosen. Rev. Scott Murray, Pastor of Memorial Lutheran in Houston and Doctoral Candidate at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, was elected vice-chairman. George Dolak is secretary.
Sub-committee chairmen are Dr. David Scaer, Dr. Voelz, and Judge Gene Schnelz. Scaer will chair the committee that deals with fellowship issues. Voelz will chair the committee that has the women's issue. Dr. Voelz and a few others turned back the presentation of a weak paper on women's roles in the church with a strong minority report in the last term.
Some conservatives felt the election results were good. Others were unhappy that the chairman of this commission will have a "bully pulpit" from which to campaign for President of Synod. However, the election results from the last convention have convinced most confessional folks that Kieschnick's chances for mounting a successful bid for the Synod post are extremely slim. He only got 45 votes. In addition, the effort to bring the Synod convention to Dallas, Texas in 2001, which would have helped Kieschnick's chances for political advancement, was also defeated. The resolve to change the name of the Synod, which Kieschnick spearheaded, was likewise unsuccessful, athough it was referred to a committee. Finally, as a District President, he must have felt the rebuking sting of the Resolution to put the District Presidents under the same supervision and suspension principles as pastors.
It may be harder for a sitting District President to become Synod President these days, unless one can demonstate his loyalty to the Synod's doctrinal positon and make his an exemplary District in terms of orthodox theology and practice. Most political pundits in Synod have noted that most Synod Presidents in recent years had served as District Presidents.
Some confessional pastors expressed dismay that one who is not known as a theologian was elected chaiman. President Kapfer, whom he replaces, was not a celebrated theologian either. District Presidents are typically better in other areas and rely on associates for theological advise.
It should be an interesting term, since there seems to be a solid 8 to 8 split between confessional and "evangelical" people on the commission.