A resolution to restructure the Board for Parish Services was not adopted by delegates Wednesday afternoon. The resolution, which supported the Ad Hoc Commission's recommendation to eliminate the Parish Services administrator and board and to make Parish Services accountable to the Conference of Presidents instead of the Synodical Council, was recommitted to the floor committee, which now will consider amendments proposed by delegates.

"Whether we're under the Synodical Council or the Conference of Presidents is not my concern as much as losing a board that has a passion and desire for congregational work, and has a chairman that has been elected by the synod in convention," says Rev. Dave Kehl, acting administrator of Parish Services. "The [board members] coordinate and unify how we carry out those areas of diverse and specific ministries in congregations." Kehl says that retaining the board would also allow for stability as Parish Services goes through restructuring.

Rev. Jon Buchholz, member of the Ad Hoc Commission, says the commission originally recommended removing the board because it seemed to eliminate a layer of administration, which would reduce costs and increase efficiency. "However, in response to Parish Services concerns, the floor committee is taking those recommendations very seriously and is working to craft language in the resolution that will meet all of the objectives," he says.

The committee is expected to bring a revised resolution before the convention Thursday.

The convention also accepted a resolution encouraging called workers to pursue continuing education—a topic that dominated Tuesday night's forum on the Ad Hoc report.