# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S166 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) ~ a 166 ADMINISTRATION AND PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION lution into a Bylaw. On the other hand, they agreed on the value of a Bylaw which would emphasize the important but limited planning function carried out by the Executive Co- ordinating Committee. Planning Assumptions and Goals Through its master plan The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod attempts to marshall the resources God has given it to carry out its ministry of the Word of God boldly and wisely. In this ministry the people of God in the Synod respond in faith to God who in Christ has called them out of the darkness of sin into the light of eternal life. With thanksgiving God’s people gather around His Word and sacraments to worship Him. They also teach and learn His Word so that they grow in grace and in the knowledge of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To people in North America and throughout the world they witness of the saving love of Jesus so that more men, women, and children by faith may be added to His church. Motivated by the love of Jesus, God’s people learn to serve one another in every need. Tied together by bonds of fellowshipin Chmist they sustain one another in times of achievement and success as well asin times of disappointment and stress. The Synod needs to refine the process by which the national Synod and Districts of the Synod establish priorities, generate alternatives by which to pursue their goals, and then agreeona course of action which enables of all the Synod to move ahead in Christ’s mission. The planning assumptions and goals suggested here are vital ingredients in that process. In them- selves they are already an integrated whole. They are designed to contribute together to a timed sequence of activities, pro- grams, and services which together are more than the mere sum of their parts. In each annual program and budget between now and 1993 the goals will become more specific and measurable. Each of the seven planning units has stated the assump- “tions upon which the unit proceeds as it designs its goals. 1. The world mission priorities are identified by theSynod’s Board for Mission Services in consultation with partner churches. 2. Priorities in North American missions are agreed upon by representatives of the appropriate District and national boards of the Synod in consultation with the Lutheran Council in the U.S.A. 3. The Synod’s Board for Professional Education Services established higher education priorities based on periodic indi- vidual and joint conferences with colleges and seminaries. 4. Congregational services include the five basic functions of the local parish. The appropriate District boards establish goals on a priortiy basis within the District. District and national representatives develop the overall synodical goals which reflect the work of the Board for Evangelism Services, the Board for Parish Services, the Board for Social Ministry Services, the Department of Stewardship and Financial Sup- port, and the Board for Youth Services. 5. Communication priorities are established by the com- bined efforts of District and national leaders in the respective boards of communication services. 6. The Synod’s Board of Directors and President establish priorities in program administration, finance, and support services in cooperation with representatives of appropriate boards at both the District and national levels of the Synod. 7. The President of the Synod establishes priorities, in cooperation with Vice-Presidents, District Presidents, and representatives of appropriate boards and commissions. World Missions Planning Unit Planning Assumptions 1. These Scriptural mandates determine the priorities of the Church: a. “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8 NIV). b. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations...” (Matt. 28:19 NIV). c. ‘And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matt. 24:14 NIV). 2. The magnitude of the task is illustrated by these statistics: a. Population of the world-4,373,917,700 made up of 223 nations, 8,993 people groups, 16,750 subcultures, and 7,010 languages. b. 1,432,686,519 people claim to have some official re lationship with a Christian church. ce. 2,941,231,181 people who are still sitting in darkness. Only 1,81] languages have the Scripture or parts of it. Goals—By the end of 1993... 1. The Synod has begun work in 10 unreached areas of the world (one new area each year) in order to share the Gospel of Christ with the 3.1 billion people who do not yet put their trust in Him. 2. TheSynod has begun language analysis, Bible translation, and literacy work in 10 of the world’s 5,199 unwritten languages (one new language each year). 3. The Synod has increased the size of its missionary force of pastors, teachers, and lay people at work in world areas from 148 to 500 workers (approximately 35 additional workers each year) and has supported partner churches in developing their strategy for recruiting and training national workers in a strong program of theological edu- cation. 4. The Synod in a servant role has supported partner churches in their efforts to establish active mission boards and aggressive programs of outreach with the Gospel of Christ, built upon their own short and long range goals and strategies to meet those goals. 5. By 1985 the Svnod has developed, implemented, and tested its plans for keeping each congregation of the Synod adequately informed about opportunities and challenges in witnessing for Christ to people throughout the world. North American Missions Planning Unit Planning Assumptions 1. God calls us for a tremendous task. a. We are serious about “making disciples” of the 100 million unchurched people. b. Weare committed to planting new churches as the most effective means to reach the unchurched. c. We will plant new churches to serve l.utherans where they live. . We will expand our ministry to minorities. . We will expand our ministry in the inner city. . We will minister to more deaf people. . We will expand our ministry to more college and university communities. . We will expand our ministry in rural areas. . We will minister to more blind people. 2. God blesses us with a terrific treasure. a. Weareserious about involving 2.7 million LCMS people in mission. b. We will provide more opportunities for volunteers in our mission efforts. c. We will challenge 6.000 plus pastors to be mission leaders. d. We will change some of our traditional models of starting new ministries. e. We will encourage the realignment of some ministries. f. We will become more cost effective in funding the mission. 3. God provides us with a terminal time: we will “make disciples” of as many unchurched people as possible in the time God provides. we Rao e Planning Goals 1. By the end of 1993 ... 1800 new churches. This will include each year ten new Black churches, five new Hispanic churches, two new Native American churches, and two new Asian American churches. 2. Twenty-five percent growth in baptized membership.