# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S37 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) MISSIONS 37 ALC and the LCA regarding new mission starts; and be it finally Resolved, That if LCUSA is unable to provide guidelines that reduce friction, that the District work toward establishing a new forum where improved relationships may be furthered. Nebraska District Eldor W. Meyer, President B. F. Meschke, Secretary 1-27 To Give Greater Attention to Church Growth WHEREAS, Jesus Himself said, “I will build My church” (Matt. 16:18), and therefore wants His church to grow, both qualitatively and quantitatively; and WHEREAS, He has chosen to use Christians in that building process (1 Peter 4:10-11, et al.); and WHEREAS, The Book of Acts and indeed much of the New Testament is filled with accounts of the growth of the early church; and WHEREAS, Church growth has become a helpful tool in evaluating effectiveness in outreach ministry and in planning for a more effective outreach on a synodical, District, or congregational level; therefore be it Resolved, That each District of our Synod, through its leaders, be encouraged to consider church growth for its ministry and the ministries of its various congregations; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod’s Board for Missions, in con- junction with the Board for Evangelism, give continued atten- tion to church growth through manpower and materials and supply information for congregations and Districts desiring to pursue this area of study more carefully; and be it finally Resolved, That pastors and congregations individually be encouraged to consider by careful study the benefits that church growth can offer to their ministry. Zion Lutheran Church Valley Park, Mo. Joel Heck, Pastor Diana Walker, Secretary 1-28 To Have a Second Great Commission Convocation WHEREAS, God richly blessed the first Great Commission Convocation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod that was sponsored by the Board for Evangelism on Nov. 6—9, 1980, which 6,000 people attended; and WHEREAS, The participants at the convocation made very positive evaluations and recommended that the Synod repeat the convocation; and WHEREAS, The Districts of the Synod are conducting District convocations during 1981 and 1982; and WHEREAS, There continues to be a need to sustain the priority given to the Great Commission in its full dimension of being disciples of and making disciples for Jesus Christ; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod commend the Board for Evangel- ism and the Steering Committee for planning and conducting the first Great Commission Convocation; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod commend those Districts who have conducted or are planning to conduct District Great Commission Convocations and encourage other Districts to hold similar events, and be it further Resolved, That the Synod conduct a second Great Commis- sion Convocation at a feasible time in the next few years; and be it further Resolved, That the Board for Evangelism appoint a National Steering Committee that will represent both inreach and outreach ministries under the theme of ‘Making Dis- ciples”; and be it finally Resolved, That the Board for Evangelism, with the approval of the Board of Directors, establish a separate convocation office and appoint a convocation manager, who will devote at least half-time to providing staff service to the Steering Committee and to managing the convocation office for at least a year before the convocation. Board for Evangelism William R. Wright, Chairman Erwin J. Kolb, Executive Secretary 1-29 To Initiate a Volunteer Evangelism Ministry WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus has commissioned us to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 18:19-20); and WHEREAS, More than half of our 50 states have an un- churched population in excess of 50 percent, and an additional 25 percent (13 states) register an unchurched population in the 40-percent bracket (1979 Convention Workbook, pp. 22—23); and WHEREAS, The population of our country continues to be very mobile; and WHEREAS, Many areas of our country do not have available to them a Lutheran ministry of Word and Sacrament; and WHEREAS, It is our responsibility, privilege, and opportunity to share the saving Gospel with those whose eyes have not yet seen the King; and WHEREAS, Certain religious organizations have been suc- cessful in utilizing volunteers to disseminate their teachings in a door-to-door ministry; and WHEREAS, God has blessed our efforts and has opened many doors when volunteers were utilized in an evangelism door-to- door ministry; and WHEREAS, Experience and history have demonstrated that such a ministry has been effective (Volunteer Youth Ministry in Japan, District Youth Staffers, etc.); therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod adopt the concept of a volunteer evangelism ministry that would include volunteers sponsored by either the Synod, a District, groups of congregations, a single congregation, an individual, or a number of these working together; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod encourage input from synodical boards, Districts, congregations, and individuals so that ideas can be received and interest increased in a door-to-door evangel- ism ministry in our Synod. St. Timothy Lutheran Church Houston, Tex. Andrew Simcak Jr., Pastor 1-30 To Employ Directors of Evangelism WHEREAS, There is a continuing need for equipping lay- people both to be witnesses who share their faith in their everyday lives and to be evangelists who share the Gospel in calling programs; and WHEREAS, Congregations are open to learning new ways to reach the unchurched, welcome them, and incorporate them into their fellowship; and WHEREAS,: The pastor needs all the help he can get in carrying out his evangelism responsibilities in the training and equipping of his members for their ministry; and WHEREAS, It has been demonstrated that a trained un- ordained person can serve as an able assistant to the pastor in these responsibilities; therefore be it Resolved, That we commend the colleges that have