# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2016_S328
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

328

MERCY

3-08

To Request Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
to Open Up Choice Dollars to Lutherans For Life
Whereas, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans was formed by the
merger of Aid Association for Lutherans and Lutheran Brotherhood,
two fraternal organizations established by Lutherans for Lutherans
with Lutheran values; and
Whereas, Lutherans believe that life is created by God; and
Whereas, Lutherans For Life is a recognized service organization (RSO) of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) that
promotes this understanding; and
Whereas, Thrivent previously allowed Choice Dollars to be
directed to Lutherans For Life; and
Whereas, Thrivent recently discontinued this option; and
Whereas, Lutherans For Life benefited from those Choice
Dollars that were directed to their ministry; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod make a special request of Thrivent
to once again allow Lutherans For Life to be an option for Choice
Dollars giving; and be it further
Resolved, That the President of the Synod be authorized to open
up discussion with Thrivent executives to accomplish this directive.
Circuit 8
Kansas District
3-09

To Add a Synod Prison
and Jail Ministry Coordinator
Whereas, The importance of ministering to those who are in
prison is stressed by our Lord Jesus, as He says in Matthew 25:36, “I
was in prison and you visited Me,” and by the example of the Early
Church, as reflected in Hebrews 10:24, “For you had compassion for
those who were in prison”; and
Whereas, The Southern Illinois District has been a pioneer in
a variety of jail, prison, mental-health-facility, and juvenile-facility
ministries on a weekly basis through the overview of prison ministry

2016 Convention Workbook

coordinators established after the retirement of Rev. Maurice Alms
in 2007; and
Whereas, The 2013 LCMS convention adopted Res. 1-13A,
“To Designate District Coordinators for Prison and Jail Ministry,”
and resolved, in part, that “the LCMS gathered in convention agree
together to have a prison and jail ministry coordinator in each of
our 35 districts, either volunteer or compensated, for the purpose
of researching opportunities, training, providing guidelines, equipping congregations, and networking for prison and jail ministry”; and
Whereas, Preparation is being made for a synodwide Prison &
Jail Ministry Conference in April 2016, which will again involve the
use of Southern Illinois District prison ministry coordinators and the
SID Task Force on Prison Ministry; and
Whereas, Prison and jail ministry addresses God’s Word not only
to prisoners but also to “returning citizens,” their families, prison staff,
and victims of crime; and prison ministry directly effects more and
more of our congregations and church members; and
Whereas, Many of our districts are seeking to be faithful to our
Lord’s mandate to visit those in prison by their support of prison ministry, recognizing that crime has touched virtually every congregation
of the Synod by way of membership, relatives, or friends experiencing the crisis of imprisonment; and
Whereas, Prison and jail ministry offers many opportunities to
share the Gospel with persons who do not yet know Jesus Christ, as
the Bible states that Jesus said, “As you did it to the least of these,
you did it unto Me”; and
Whereas, The LCMS has a goal of showing mercy for unreached
and uncommitted peoples along with the Gospel; therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2016 LCMS convention direct the Office of
National Mission to include in its personnel a Synod Prison and Jail
Ministry Coordinator to work with the various districts and their
prison ministry coordinator for the purpose of networking, supporting,
and enabling prison ministry among the districts and congregations
of the LCMS; and be it further
Resolved, That the convention give thanks to God for those within
our Synod who continue to work in the areas of prison and jail ministry to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who are
incarcerated, their families, “returning citizens,” and victims of crime.
Southern Illinois District