By Rev. Phillip Lee
After the experiences of the past several assemblies, I went to the Fresno meeting expecting – almost resigned – to more of the same disturbing "special interest group" mentality.
But what happened? Well, there seemed to be a tone of moderation or middle ground that prevailed, especially during the deliberations on the resolutions. For example, the resolution calling the Synod to "express regret at the conditional expulsion:" of the two San Francisco congregations involved in irregular ordinations was defeated.
On the other hand, the resolution urging the congregations to affirm, lift up, and stress wherever possible our unique confessional Lutheran heritage during 1991, was also defeated. The best sense I could make of this was that the mood of the Assembly was to avoid any perceived extremes, either to the left or to the right. I will admit to a strong bias in favor of the confessional heritage; nonetheless, I must wonder why the Assembly would defeat a resolution urging congregations to find ways intentionally to stress our confessional Lutheran heritage.
The Assembly was, for this delegate, a good step in the right direction. We hope the words of Dr. Timothy Lull did not fall on deaf ears when he warned of the tendency for Christians to forget the basic teachings, and spoke of the need for a "constant return to Bible and Catechism" as we live out our Christian faith in daily life.