# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S50
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

50 MISSIONS

to exercise discipline over those in their jurisdiction
who feel inclined to proclaim “another Gospel.”

Rev. C. L. RHOADES
Chicago, IIL
(1-05)
To Develop Regional
and Metropolitan Structures

WHEREAS, Urgent mission and ministry challenges
and opportunities beyond the abilities and resources
of individual congregations present themselves in some
metropolitan and rural areas; and

Wuereas, Pilot programs now being explored and
tested give promise of opening new ways for meeting
such needs; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board for Missions continue to
explore strategies and structures for mission in areas
where the church might be more effective, both metro-
politan and rural, at home and abroad; and be it further

Resolved, That information concerning the many
pilot projects and studies already under way be com-
municated to the church for the purpose of suggesting
other ventures to groups within the church; and be it
finally

Resolved, That parishes be strongly encouraged to
form realistic regional cooperating groups to confront
specific, urgent problems and challenges of mission and
ministry which are manageable in scope.

COMMISSION ON MISSION AND
MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH
Wo. S. GraumMann, Chairman

(1-06)

To Sponsor Specific Mission Projects

Wuereas, The Synod in convention in 1967 stated that
“the mission of the church has repeatedly been frus-
trated by fiscal problems in the Synod”; and

WuereEas, One of the reasons for this may well lie
in the fact that members are often urged to give for
missions in general rather than for a specific mission
field where they would be assisting people they would
come to know more personally; and

WHEREAS, We recognize that the support, both in
prayers, concern, and financially, for missions is moti-
vated by a number of reasons — faith in God, love for
people, obedience to Christ, thankfulness, interest, need,
and even pride; and

WHEREAS, It is common psychological knowledge that
people of goodwill are more interested and more in-
volved in specific projects rather than general ones be-
cause they sense their own participation; and

Wuereas, The Board for Missions in the Synod is
already permitted to apply special gifts from individuals
and congregations; therefore be it

Resolved, That individuals, mission groups, congre-
gations, Sunday schools, and day schools be encouraged
to take on specific mission projects; and be it further

Resolved, That the Michigan District memorialize
the Synod at its Denver convention to conduct such
a program on a Synodwide basis.

Micuican District
Epwin H. Roeurs, Secretary
(1-07)

To Declare 1973 Evangelism Year

Wuereas, The vast majority of people in the world
are still without Christ and are therefore in continuing
need of the healing effect of the Gospel; and

Wuereas, God has graciously entrusted us with the
message of salvation that we might be witnesses of His
love for all people; and

WuereEas, Dynamic and vast sociological changes are
challenging the strategies and structures of the church;
and

Wuereas, The synodical and District leaders should
provide resources to help congregations and individuals
program for evangelism; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod declare 1973 a year for a Synodwide evangelism
thrust designed to assist congregations in deepening and
enriching the spiritual life in their members through
more meaningful involvement as Christ’s ministers in
their daily lives in the world in which He has placed
them; and be it further

Resolved, That every congregation be challenged to
establish and maintain a working evangelism committee
which together with all congregational leaders will —

a) encourage the members of the congregation in
that divine grace which provides power in God's people
and equips them for the ministry among themselves
and into the community;

b) convey the intent of the Mission Affirmations to
all people and groups within the congregation; and be
it finally

Resolved, That the Evangelism Department of The
Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod be instructed to
implement the meaning and intent of this resolution,
provide programs and materials for communicating the
faith in a synodical evangelism thrust, and work toward
the awakening and renewing of earnest Christian con-
cern for all the lost whom the Lord has redeemed.

DistricT EVANGELISM Contact MEN

R. C. RAEDEKE, Secretary

(1-08)
To Instruct Board for Missions
Not to Cooperate with Bodies
Not in Fellowship with Us

Wuereas, The Formula of Concord (Article XII,
Thor. Decl., Triglot, p.1097) implies that the proper
procedure with those who teach errors is not to have
fellowship or cooperate with them but to testify against
those errors, to quote the pertinent words: ‘We could
not forbear testifying also against them publicly, before
all Christendom, that we have neither part nor fellow-