# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S125
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
faith, attacking any form of “bearing witness”—
the catalyst that is the heartbeat of who we are as
Lutherans.
An evaluation of current faith-based entities and think
tanks in Washington, DC, indicates a plethora of groups and
institutions that support the protection of religious liberty.
However, none offer the distinctly confessional Lutheran understanding of Luther’s two-kingdom theology:
One is the kingdom of this world. Into it we are
born; in it we sustain our bodies and do our work.
The other is the Christian Church, in which we
have become members by faith. In it we do our
spiritual tasks; in it we pray, serve the Church, and
do mission-work. This is the purpose for which we
have been placed on earth. (Dr. Theodore Graebner to the 1937 Synod in convention)

2. Theological Education: The LCRL will expand 2 Kg,
vocation training from Seminary to Higher Ed,
eventually also to High School to 8th Grade, to
Church Bible Studies and Lay leadership training.
It’s “2 Kg Civics” training for the sake of mission for
ALL of our churches and people.
3. Collaborate to Enhance Mission Effectiveness: The
LCRL effort will, in all of its teachings and literature,
emphasize why and how “Two-Kingdom Cultural
Engagement” is vital to effective missional outreach.

Great Opportunity Seized in 2018–2019
••

This void can and ought to be uniquely filled by the LCMS
for the betterment of the country and in opposition to any
movements, views, or legislation that would harm the right of
religious freedom in the public square.
The Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty (LCRL) office
offers advantages:
••

Creates a direct presence of the LCMS and likeminded Lutherans in the nation’s capital.

••

Enables the LCMS to monitor and communicate impending legislation, infringement on religious liberty,
and other matters of concern to LCMS members,
congregations, Recognized Service Organizations,
and other LCMS institutions

••

••

••

2.

Established the Office in DC in 2018
oo

Already coalescing the Lutheran presence on
the Hill (elected officials and staff) through
various gatherings,

oo

And, establishing working partnerships with
the Values Action Team of the House and
Senate, The Southern Baptist ERLC group,
The Heritage Foundation, the Weyrich
luncheon, as well as various congressmen
and senators who value religious liberty,
life, traditional marriage, and educational
freedom.

Established and Grown LCRLfreedom.org—
The Two-Kingdom Web Resource for LCMS Churches
and Schools
oo

Provides a venue to engage and encourage Lutheran
youth considering vocations in government service or
politics

Presently the site is populated with timely
and easy-to-read resources to inform and instruct our people how “to put their temporal
liberties to work for the sake of the eternal
liberties of Christ”;

oo

Offers proximity to potential partner organizations
and offices to help build coalitions.

See The Weekly “Word from the Center”
devotion and op-ed piece;

oo

See Mom and Pop, Two-Kingdom Papers on
issues of the day;

oo

See the upcoming “The Dish”—a weekly
blog from various Lutheran writers from
around the country.

Four Primary Tasks
1.

125

Educate youth and laity on major issues facing
the country, the Lutheran doctrine of vocation (in
particular Christian citizenship), and two-kingdom
theology.

••

Assist in connecting Christians with legal defense
when they suffer persecution (arrest, lawsuits, etc.) for
public-square speech and actions that are in agreement with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions
but are in conflict with the culture and government.

3.

Advocacy, advocacy-training, and support.

4.

Publication and communication to governing bodies
and policymakers regarding the orthodox Lutheran,
two-kingdom view on cultural issues.

Alignment with LCMS Goals
1. Mission Planting: This office exists to protect the public
voice, the religious liberty of our churches, missions,
schools, and universities for the sake of mission.

Established and Performing the Educational Training
Processes of the Center for the Sake of the Church
oo

See the “Champions For Liberty Events”—
presentations and training for pastors and
laity about two-kingdom engagement of the
culture for the sake of the Church’s mission.

oo

See at dialogue/partner stage—the
“University Educational Initiative”—the
partnership of the LCRL with one or more
Concordias for university-level certification
and DC internships.

Goals for 2019 and Beyond
••

To Grow Our Advocating/Encouraging Presence on the
Hill
oo

In spite of the change of tenor in the 116th
congress, the LCRL seeks to grow our pres2019 Convention Workbook