# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2016_S330
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

330

LIFE TOGETHER
istry of the church, engage in program activity that is in harmony
with programs of the Synod, and respect and not act contrary to the
doctrine and practice of the Synod.

And be it further
Resolved, That the task force begin work immediately following this convention, and that the members of this task force be
the Secretary of the Synod, the Chief Mission Officer, the Chief
Administrative Officer, the executive director of the Office of National
Mission, the director of the RSO program, a representative from the
Office of the President, a representative of the Council of Presidents,
and the chief executive officer of one or more RSOs selected by the
task force; and be it finally
Resolved, That the task force make its first report and recommendations to the Synod Board of Directors and the President of the
Synod by August 1, 2018, with a final report and recommendations
to be presented to the 2019 LCMS convention.
LCMS Board of Directors
4-04

To Recommend 2016–2019 Synod
Triennial Emphasis
Whereas, The current triennial emphasis of Witness, Mercy, and
Life Together has served the Synod well and blessed congregations
with a richer understanding of the nature and mission of the church
of Christ; and
Whereas, LCMS Bylaw 4.2.1 (d) directs the Wyoming District
convention to “forward to the national convention a list of two or
three triennial mission and ministry emphases for consideration by
the national convention”; and
Whereas, The Means of Grace, which are the Gospel delivered
in Word, Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and Absolution, are given for
the life of the world, so that all who receive these divine gifts in true
faith have the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation; and
Whereas, The delivered Gospel is despised or rejected by many
today because it is obscured or opposed by a moral decay that despises
authority, human life, marriage, and the common goods that belong
to these gifts from God; and
Whereas, The church today must both speak out and pray for the
governmental and societal defense of natural law, traditional marriage
and family, human life from beginning to end, the historic value of
human dignity, propositional truth, and other such embattled issues of
truth and morality, “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly
and dignified in every way” (1 Tim. 2:2); and
Whereas, The LCMS is called by her Lord to serve this mission,
not only in the United States but in and to all nations; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Wyoming District convention recommend to
the Synod President that the LCMS triennial emphasis 2016–2019
be “Living the Gospel in the World”; and be it further
Resolved, That this emphasis include the proclamation, catechesis, and celebration of God’s Word, Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and
Absolution as the Means of Grace and the Marks of the Church, where
God is present and at work to justify sinners in Christ and to produce
the fruits of faith in the lives of Christians; and be it further
Resolved, That this emphasis address the challenges faced by the
church within its congregations in faithfully delivering these Gospel
means in its preaching, teaching, catechesis, liturgy, and song; in
maintaining closed Communion, in welcoming visitors, in educating the young, in promoting and supporting Lutheran education, etc.;
and be it finally
2016 Convention Workbook

Resolved, That this emphasis be employed to further equip and
enrich the pastors and congregations of Synod, her missions, and her
sister churches in defending and promoting the biblically faithful
aspects of our traditions and culture in morality, natural and written
law, education, marriage and family, human life and dignity, literature and the cultural arts, and every worthy area of human labor and
creativity.
Wyoming District
4-05

To Recommend Mission and Ministry Emphasis
for Next Triennium: Reconciliation,
Harmony, and Unity
Whereas, Our Lord Jesus directs His disciples to strive for reconciliation with fellow believers (Matt. 5 and 18), as does also St.
Paul (1 Thess. 5); and
Whereas, Holy Scripture both enjoins us to live in harmony with
one another and, as far it depends on us, to live peaceably with all
(Rom. 12); and
Whereas, The Word of God calls us to walk in a manner matching our calling as God’s people, “being diligent to preserve the unity
of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4); and
Whereas, Our commitment together as member congregations
and members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is to strive
to walk together, with the Word of God our only norm and guide for
doctrine and practice; therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2016 LCMS convention adopt for the 2016–
2019 triennium the mission and ministry emphasis “Reconciliation,
Harmony, and Unity.”
Southern Illinois District
4-06

To Make Children and Families
a Triennial Priority and Focus
Whereas, Our Lord has asked us to share our faith with the children: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you
today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk
about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road,
when you lie down and when you get up” (Deut. 6:5–7); and
Whereas, Every generation is blessed with the grace of Christ
Jesus, we are commanded to teach the next generation: “We will not
hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the
praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has
done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel,
which He commanded our forefathers to teach their children” (Ps.
78:4–5); and
Whereas, God has promised that His Word will be effective in
convicting of sin and all types of training in righteousness. This is
most certainly true with children. “Train a child in the way he should
go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (Prov. 22:6); and
Whereas, God meets each of us, wherever we are, as sinners. He
calls us with the grace of the Gospel to grow as the people of God. We
as a church body need to meet people and children where they are.
“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in
the training and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4); and