# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S78 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 78 RESOLUTIONS places pulpit and altar fellowship has been established with fellow Lutherans as in India, New Guinea, and Japan. Joint theological training and joint teacher train- ing programs have been established or are being planned in Mexico, Ghana, India, New Guinea, Taiwan, and Japan. Production of literature, as well as radio and television programing, is carried on jointly in many areas. In some areas the churches and missions have taken membership in federations such as the Federation of the Lutheran Churches of India, or in national church councils; and Wuereas, In all these instances there was abundant evidence that careful thought had been given to these steps and that the primary goal was not organizational relationships so much as the opportunity which these steps presented of making a strong confessional witness in strategic places; and Wuenreas, The church is God’s mission to the whole world; and Wuereas, The church is God’s mission to the church; and Wuereas, The lack of Christian unity adversely af- fects witness to non-Christians and to other Christians; therefore be it Resolved, That we rejoice and thank God for having led our overseas brothers and sisters to discover this unity in Christ; and be it further Resolved, That we encourage continued efforts toward expression of the unity in Christ among over- seas churches, emphasizing faithfulness to the Gospel of Christ as expressed in the Scripture and in the Lu- theran Confessions in every situation; and be it finally Resolved, That we continue to relate to and work closely with agencies providing avenues of support for joint Lutheran ministries to which “sister churches” overseas are committed. Action: Adopted (13). (A motion in Session 7 to postpone action until the ques- tion of fellowship with The ALC had been settled was lost.) To Apply Gifts to Specific Mission Projects RESOLUTION 1-06 Overture 1-06 (CW, p. 50) Wuereas, New York Resolution 1-26 permits the Board for Missions to apply special gifts from individuals and congregations towards their approved program in addition to the amount of the firm commitment; there- fore be it Resolved, That the Board for Missions in consultation with the Board for Stewardship develop and publicize a comprehensive annual program which identifies spe- cific mission projects that can be supported by individ- uals and congregations in addition to their regular com- mitments to the District and the Synod. Action: Adopted (2). To Observe Bible Translation Day RESOLUTION 1-07 Report 1-01, IV, C, 2, e. f; Overtures 1-20 to 1-32 (CW, pp. 11—12, 55—56); 1-33U (URO, p. 3) Wuereas, Giving people the Word of God in their own language and teaching them to read it is essential to the establishment of a strong indigenous church; and Whereas, The Synod’s Board for Missions and its workers have been in the forefront of research in lan- guage trends and in efforts to translate Scripture into native tongues; therefore be it ‘ Resolved, That we commend our Board for Missions and its workers for their translation work; and be it also Resolved, That we authorize the Board for Missions to provide for a Synodwide emphasis on this work by way of a Bible Translation Day in connection with our congregational observance of Universal Bible Sunday. Action: Adopted as amended (16). (Amendment: The original had the word “possibly” after “Bible Translation Day.”) To Coordinate Training of Bible Translators RESOLUTION 1-08 Report 1-01, IV, C, 2, f; Overtures 1-20 to 1-32 (CW, pp. 12, 55—56); 1-33U (URO, p. 3) Wuereas, Individuals within the Synod have inter- ested themselves in the field of Bible translation; and Wuereas, We commend these individuals for their interest and involvement but at the same time would remind them to avoid duplication of efforts and double solicitation of funds; therefore be it Resolved, That we reaffirm the expression of the 1965 Detroit convention of the Synod that there be proper coordination of the recruitment and training of Bible translators with the overall foreign mission out- reach of the Synod, and that it is essential that this coordination be initiated by the Board for Missions. Action: Adopted (16). To Use Resources for Missions RESOLUTION 1-09 Overtures 1-09, 1-10 (CW, p.51) WHEREAS, We are concerned with the wise use of funds in best serving the mission of the church; and Wuereas, There are limited funds for implementing expanding opportunities for ministry; therefore be it Resolved, That individuals, congregations, Districts, and synodical boards examine their procedures and poli- cies to insure the best use of resources at their command in carrying out the Lord’s commission. Action: Adopted (13). — tere erin nene sme tee nara staternenett evan