Dear Pastors, Members and Friends of LCMS,
Greetings in the Name of our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May the knowledge of His resurrection strengthen our hearts and hands for God’s mission in His world.
During our 31st Biennial Convention held last year from 18 – 20 August, the Church in Convention tabled, discussed and voted to approve the 2011 LCMS Constitutional Amendments. This revision contains major amendments to our 50-year old constitution, and these organizational changes are important in our effort to meet the needs and challenges of today. Some of the amendments include:
· The change of name from LCMS to LCM (Lutheran Church in Malaysia)
· The change of usage of the term ‘Convention’ to ‘General Assembly.’
· To give voting rights to all fulltime pastors, either ordained or otherwise.
· To provide clearer definition to the role and status of the Districts and the Deans.
· To change the term of the Treasurer.
· To provide the option of having a Moderator in future General Assemblies.
However, in our Malaysian context, such amendments would only be official upon the final approval granted by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) as stipulated by the ROS Act.
After many months of waiting prayerfully, I am glad to announce to you that we have finally received the approval for the amendments from the Registrar of Societies today. (10 April 2012) We must be thankful to our risen Lord for working in the hearts of the public officials in granting us the approval. I must also convey our gratitude to those who have kept this issue in their prayers all these months.
At the same time, let us be mindful of the fact that this approval also marks the beginning of a long and laborious process for both the national office and the congregations, to make related changes to reflect the new amendments. Some of these changes include: the change of names for the congregations; the changes of names for banking accounts; the change of name in the titles of our properties; and even the change of the office stationaries.
The Bishop’s Office will be seeking information from our legal advisers on how to begin this process, and the congregations will be duly kept informed. Meanwhile, I do solicit your continual prayer support as we embark together on this transition process.
Two days ago, we celebrated Easter. With the resurrection of the Lord, the disciples were given a new hope, a new identity. It is perhaps in God’s timing, that during this Easter season, He has given us a new name and a fresh identity. From this day forth, let us be known as the Easter people of the Lutheran Church in Malaysia!
In Christ,
Bishop Philip Lok
Lutheran Church in Malaysia.
2012年4月10日，复活的浪潮
致马新基督教信义会的全体同工、会友及朋友，
奉耶稣基督的圣名向大家问安，愿耶稣基督复活的大能加强我们推展圣工的信心。
本会于8月18-20举行的三十一届双年度年议会中，通过2011年马新基督教信义会章程的修改；对五十年的章程作了不少的修改，这些组织性的修正主要是为了迎合现今的需要及挑战，其中包括：
名称由LCMS改为LCM（马来西亚信义会）
“Convention” 年会改成”General Assembly” 常年大会
赋予全时间教牧同工无论是已按立或未按立者有投票的权力
赋予教区及教区长更明确的定义
修正财政的任期
在未来的常年大会中可弹性委任主持人Moderator
但就马来西亚的环境，一切的修正须在社团注册局(ROS)的规定下通过后才可正式成立。
经过数月的等候及祷告，本人很高兴向大家宣布，我们今天（10/4/2012）终於接获社团注册局的批准！感谢复活的主在官员们的心中动工，使章程的修改得以批准，本人也愿感谢那些在祷告中记念此事的弟兄姐妹。
经此批准后，让我们认清一个事实，这将是总会及堂会长期须努力落实相关修正的开始，其中包括：堂会名称的改变；银行户口名称的改变；产业地契名称的改变及信笺文具名称的改变。
会督办公室将向法律顾问寻求更多的咨询，到时将另行通知各堂会，期间请大家继续为此祷告。
两天前我们刚庆祝了复活节，在主复活后，门徒有了新的希望、新的身份；在神的安排下，他也给了我们新的名称及全新的身份，从今天开始，让我们确认自己为马来西亚基督教信义会的复活子民！
陆爱平会督
