# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S10 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 10 MISSIONS, EVANGELISM, AND SOCIAL MINISTRY Denmark The Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Denmark, related to the LCMS since 1900, is statistically a tiny church in a country where 95". of the population are baptized Lutheran church members but only 2 to 3". are churchgoers. In this setting the ELFCD,. with a baptized membership of 141 (110 communicants) in six congregations. is beginning to show signs of growth. These congregations are served by one retired pastor and two recently ordained voung pastors. In addition there is a vicar who is scheduled to complete his training and be ordained early in 1984. Now that this church is gradually being reinforced with new pastors. they are beginning to do mission planning. In 1984 it is their hope to divide the six congregations between the three full-time pastors so that the congregations can begin to reach out to their surrounding areas. The congregations are located throughout Denmark with the oldest (est. 1877) in Copenhagen. Their church planning includes also fiscal planning for the years 1982 to 1990. Recognizing the reality of slow growth. this church hopes for an increase in baptized membership from 150 in 1983 to 230 by 1990. Local giving is expected to increase accordingly. Even so, the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church in Denmark will need the financial help of the LCMS for some years to come—and of course our prayers and partnership of encouragement. England The Evangelical Lutheran Church of England, recognized as a partner of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod since 1953, has been progressing slowly with a reported 2.8": growth rate per year. This is below the goal of 10". indicated in the 30-year master plan, which also calls for a gradual annual reduction in subsidy from the LCMS. The ELCE has 14 congregations in England, plus one in Scotland and one in Wales. The church's seminary is Westfield House, a Lutheran house of studies associated with Cambridge University. The ELCE suffered a loss this past vear when its veteran chairman leader, Rev. E. George Pearce. D.D., was called to his heavenly home Nov. 24, 1982. He headed the church's program since 1954. Dr. Pearce was considered a “guiding spirit’ within the Council of Free Churches of Europe. He also chaired the International Lutheran Conference of Missouri Synod-related partner churches. He is remembered for his mission zeal and as a defender of evangelical confessional Lutheranism. Dr. Pearce is succeeded by Rev. Arnold Rakow. As much as the ELCE is determined to go on its own, there are times when it is grateful for special help it receives from Partner LCMS. In late 1982 a special grant from Forward in Remembrance matched the $50,000 in local funding which the ELCE raised for a new church facility in Liverpool. Another opportunity for special help arose when the ELCE requested professional assistance with evangelism training. A special grant from Forward in Remembrance made it possible for Dr. Erwin Kolb, executive secretary for evangelism ser- vices, to go to England to conduct Witness Workshops for representative leaders of ELCE congregations (Oct. 13—21, 1981). As a result of these workshops. 11 of the 15 congregations repeated the Witness Workshop series in their own parishes. This has created so much renewed interest in evangelism and mission outreach that the ELCE requested the BFMS to make it possible for another similar program. Again because of For- ward in Remembrance, the BFMS in January 1983 was able to authorize $3,000 from FIR Category III, Section E (‘Training in Stewardship and Evangelism”), to make it possible for Rev. W. Leroy Biesenthal. associate secretary for evangelism ser- vices, to go to England in October of this vear to conduct Dialog Evangelism Workshops. The ELCE for its part will again bear the cost for in-country food, lodging, and transportation. In England the Polish Lutheran Church in Exile continues its work. With headquarters in London this conservative. Christ-centered independent Lutheran church is served by six Polish Lutheran pastors and four lay preachers. The church was originally formed in 1945 by refugee Lutheran Poles. It was Officially established in England in 1952. Itisin fellowship with the ELCE. France The Evangelical Lutheran Church—Synod of France and Belgium, begun in 1927, today consists of 14 parishes, of which oneisin Antwerp, Belgium. The national staff of this church is made up of 10 pastors, one professor of theology, and five lay workers. For some time their small seminary, known as the Theo- logical Study Center, has been in need of repairs, library expansion, and new printing equipment for producing course materials. Meeting these needs was made possible by a grant of $23,761 from Forward in Remembrance. Category III, D. A new interest in mission outreach has been sparked by the seminary's training of three students from Zaire. Two of the students, if arrangements can be made, will vicar in Togo. Itis the hope of the Synod of France and Belgium that, in partner- ship with the LCMS, new work can some day be begun in Zaire. This kind of interest and prayerful aspiration for mission expansion is a healthy tonic for a small church whose task of proclaiming Christ in their region is very difficult but, with God's help and promise, necessary and possible. Germany The Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (English rendition of Selbstaendige Evangelisch-lutherische Kirche, abbreviated SELK) was constituted in 1972 through an amalgamation of four Lutheran free churches in West Ger- many. There are 118 self-supporting congregations served by 112 pastors. It has ties with the LCMS and LCMS-related partner churches. Their pastors are trained in the church's preparatory school and theological seminary in Oberursel, near Frankfurt. In its efforts to reach out with the Gospel of Christ, it supports the “Luther Stunde"(Lutheran Hour). The Bleckmar ission serves as the mission arm of SELK (cf. paragraphs re LCMS Bleckmar work in Botswana). Ministry to the Armed Forces The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod considers its min- istry to the men and women of the armed forces to be an important part ofits mission. The Word of God reminds us with a number of examples how already in the early days of the New Testament also military people were brought to faith. The centurion of Capernaum put his trust in Jesus. Our Lord commented, “I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Matt. 8:10). At the scene of the crucifixion the centurion and those that were with him exclaimed, "Truly this was the Son of God" (Matt. 27:54). To the Roman guard (jailer) at Philippi, St. Paul exhorted, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ..." (Acts 16:31). Likewise, in our own day LCMS ministry to the armed forces of this country, whether at home or abroad. has one central emphasis: “Him We Proclaim'" For the continuation of this ministry, the 1981 convention of the Synod placed the work and responsibility of the former Armed Forces Commission under the Board for Mission Serv- ices as a standing committee of the board (1981 Handbook. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, pp. 32—33. 1.37¢: p. 67, 2.215), the Standing Committee for Ministry to the Armed Forces (SCMAF). In order to carry out this important ministry efficien tly and effectively, the BFMS has delegated certain responsibilities to this standing committee. 1. The Standing Committee for Ministry to the Armed Forces shall serve as the endorsing agency for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod for the military, Veterans’ Administration, and Civil Air Patrol chap- laincies and for directors of religious education for the military. 2. The Standing Committee for Ministry to the Armed Forces shall establish a readiness list of ready reserve chaplains from which chaplains are called for active duty in the military and Veterans’ Administration chaplaincies. Through this special arrangement the BFMS ministers to the needs of our military personnel and supports the ministry of chaplains by means of consultation, correspondence and