# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2010_S161
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

District and Congregational Services
2-18

To Encourage Support for Issues, Etc.
Whereas, The LCMS mission statement is “In grateful response
to God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and
Sacraments, the mission of the LCMS is vigorously to make known
the love of Christ by Word and deed within our churches, communities, and world”; and
Whereas, For 15 years the radio program Issues, Etc. has reached
audiences with the Gospel through radio stations and has been accessible around the world via the Internet and podcasts; and
Whereas, Issues, Etc. was suddenly cancelled during Holy Week,
2008, and was no longer produced or aired by KFUO-AM because
of what was stated to be business and programmatic reasons; and
Whereas, Issues, Etc. is now being produced independently and is
broadcast by several radio stations and over the Internet; and
Whereas, The Nebraska District adopted Res. 1.03 at its 2009 convention, stating that “Issues, Etc. demonstrates a strong commitment
to the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions,” and that “Issues, Etc.
is ‘Christ-centered, cross-focused talk radio’”; and
Whereas, Res. 1.03 resolved to “express gratitude to Mr. Jeff
Schwartz and Rev. Todd Wilken” for producing the Christ-centered
program, Issues, Etc.; and
Whereas, The resolution resolved also to “encourage the people
of [Nebraska District] congregations to prayerfully consider financial and other support for this program”; and
Whereas, The resolution resolved also to “express to The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod its disappointment with the cancellation of
Issues, Etc.”; and
Whereas, This resolution passed with a sizable majority (74.1
percent) in the Nebraska District; therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2010 LCMS convention express gratitude to
Mr. Jeff Schwarz and Rev. Todd Wilken for bringing Issues, Etc. back
and for keeping this program “Christ-centered and cross-focused”;
and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage the congregations, pastors, and people of the LCMS to give financial and other
support for Issues, Etc.
Mt. Calvary
Fullerton, NE
2-19

To Commend Issues, Etc.
Whereas, The radio and internet program Issues, Etc. has been
a great blessing to the church and an effective tool for reaching the
world with the Gospel of Christ; and
Whereas, Through its live radio and Internet broadcasts and its
on-demand downloads and podcasts, Issues, Etc. is reaching tens of
thousands of people around the world (more than 20,000 unique visitors a month and approximately 4,000,000 downloaded segments
a year); and
Whereas, Issues, Etc. truly lives up to its motto, “Christ-Centered
Cross-Focused Christian Talk Radio”; and
Whereas, Issues, Etc. is a production of Lutheran Public Radio;
its host, Todd Wilken, is an LCMS pastor; and its producer, Jeff
Schwarz, is an LCMS layman; and
Whereas, Many LCMS pastors, professors, authors, church workers, and church members appear regularly on Issues, Etc.; and
Whereas, Issues, Etc. addresses the significant social and theological issues of our day in a substantive and engaging manner, guided
by the Word of God; therefore be it

161

Resolved, That the Synod commend Issues, Etc. and encourage
its congregations and members to support this valuable program.
St. Matthew, Bonne Terre, MO; St. John, Owensville, MO;
Farmington Circuit Forum, Missouri District;
Good Shepherd, Arnold, MO
2-20

To Support the Ministry of Issues, Etc.
Whereas, Issues, Etc., an Internet radio Lutheran talk program,
has proven to be an effective voice in preaching the Gospel to win
souls for Christ and in presenting Lutheran views in an ever more
diversified world; therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2010 LCMS convention express its support for
the important ministry of Issues, Etc. and ask its member congregations to join in this support.
Zion
Fort Wayne, IN
2-21

To Continue Children’s Ministry
for Congregations and Districts
Whereas, God desires all people to be saved (1 Tim. 2:3–4); and
Whereas, God has called upon parents to teach their children the
faith (Deut. 4:9; Ps. 34:11; Ps. 78:1–7); and
Whereas, The church is called upon to assist parents in this
responsibility of passing the faith from one generation to the next
(Is. 54:13; Joel 2:15–16; Matt. 18:1–6; Matt. 19:13–15; Acts 2:37–
39); and
Whereas, The LCMS has 2.3 million members, of whom 500,000
are children who have not yet been confirmed, and
Whereas, There are 17 million unchurched children and youth in
the United States; and
Whereas, The church exists in a mission field with great opportunities to reach out to children who have been abandoned, neglected,
disenfranchised, ignored, and exploited; and
Whereas, While the future of the world’s children is ultimately in
God’s hands, our districts, congregations, and early childhood centers need access to print and online resources, training, conferences,
workshops, and networking in order to aggressively move forward
with renewed intentionality to bring children with us to the foot of
the cross, walking with them in their baptismal journey, through the
children also bringing their families; and
Whereas, Children’s Ministry of District and Congregational
Services (DCS) currently functions at the national level on behalf
of the 35 districts, 6,123 congregations, and 2,300 early childhood
centers to provide print and online resources, training, conferences,
workshops, and networking to reach the children of our congregations and communities, including: the Children’s Ministry Action
Team, Early Childhood Consultants, Children’s Ministry Leadership
Training, DIRECTed (a continuing education program for early
childhood directors), strengthening the Sunday School program,
Connections, Children’s Ministry-Net, and the National Children’s
Ministry Conference; and
Whereas, The districts, congregations, and early childhood centers of the LCMS benefit from the national advocacy and voice for
the children of our church that DCS Children’s Ministry currently
provides; therefore be it
Resolved, That DCS Children’s Ministry be commended for the
print and online resources, training, conferences, workshops, and
2010 Convention Workbook

2010 Convention.indb 161

4/15/10 2:39 PM