# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S392
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

392

FLOOR COMMITTEE REPORTS AND OVERTURES ASSIGNMENTS

2. International Witness
REPORTS
R1, R1.1, R1.2, R1.3, R8, R15,
R56, R57, R58, R59.1–13, R61
OVERTURES
Ov. 2-01

To Support International Missionaries
WHEREAS, The Great Commission of Matt. 28:1–20 has been
and will until the Last Day remain the heart of the Church’s mission,
to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations; and
WHEREAS, One of the reasons congregations banded together to
form a Synod union is for the sending of missionaries; and
WHEREAS, The number of missionaries in The Lutheran
Church—Missouri (LCMS) has increased in recent years; and
WHEREAS, The LCMS employs the Network Supported Model
for the funding of missionaries, which requires LCMS missionaries
to essentially raise their own salary and funding by visiting
congregations and asking for money in order to enter and remain on
the mission field; and
WHEREAS, The English District is blessed to count several career
missionaries among its individual members (including Rev. Ted
Krey, Rev. Dale Kaster, Rev. Charles Ferry and others); and
WHEREAS, Many congregations of the district are providing
support for international missionaries; and
WHEREAS, At present the district does not provide direct support
for any international missionaries who are members of the district;
and
WHEREAS, The district budget includes a line item for missions;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the English District give thanks to God for the
increase of international missionaries; and be it further
Resolved, That the district celebrate the faithful service of
missionaries who are members of the district by encouraging
congregations to support them financially; and be it further
Resolved, That the district mission budget include funding for
international missionaries who are members of the district; and be
it finally
Resolved, That the district memorialize the 2019 Synod
convention to making the funding of international missionaries a
key priority for the next triennium.
English District
Ov. 2-02

To Commend and Thank God for
Accomplishments in International Mission
WHEREAS, The number of missionaries on the field has increased
to approximately 130 full-time, career missionaries; and
WHEREAS, There are currently a record 1,700+ congregations
supporting these international missionaries; and
WHEREAS, The Global Seminary Initiative, in partnership with
both Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod seminaries, has provided
2019 Convention Workbook

$3.8 million to send professors overseas to provide theological
education as requested by international partners and to bring dozens
of future leaders to Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and Concordia
Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, for study; and
WHEREAS, A Spanish-language confessional Lutheran seminary
has been started in the Dominican Republic for the Latin American
Region; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention commend the Office of
International Mission and all those involved in these
accomplishments; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention give thanks to God for
blessing these efforts.
St. Matthew
Bonne Terre, MO
Ov. 2-03

To Overrule Commission on Constitutional
Matters Opinion 14-2724
WHEREAS, The Texas District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod (LCMS), at its 2015 convention, adopted the following
resolution 02-01-15A, “To Overrule CCM Opinion 14-2724,” which
states as follows:
WHEREAS, The Word of God (Acts 13) clearly reveals that in the
first century of the New Testament a local congregation of
believers in the Lord Jesus, assembled in Antioch, after much
prayer and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, freely
consecrated and sent missionaries, notably Barnabas and Saul,
into mission fields; and
WHEREAS, Article III 2 of the Constitution of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod identifies as an objective of the Synod
to “[s]trengthen congregations and their members in giving bold
witness by word and deed to the love and work of God, the
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and extend that Gospel witness into
all the world”; and
WHEREAS, Article VII 1 of the Constitution states, “In its relation
to its members the Synod is not an ecclesiastical government
exercising legislative or coercive powers, and with respect to the
individual congregation’s right of self-government it is but an
advisory body”; and
WHEREAS, Article XIV of the Constitution states, “The Synod in
convention may adopt bylaws that are consistent with and do not
contradict the Constitution of the Synod, which controls and
supersedes such bylaws and all other rules and regulations of the
Synod”; and
WHEREAS, 2010 Res. 8-32B encourages the Synod to study
Article VII of the Constitution, including study of Congregations
and Synod: Background Material on the Advisory Nature of the
LCMS (2004), along with opinions of the Commission on
Constitutional Matters (CCM) related to this topic (including
CCM Opinion 09-2573, listed in a whereas paragraph in Res. 832B); and
WHEREAS, 1983 Res. 5-10A in a resolved clause states “That The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod reaffirms that its synodical
polity is essentially and principally congregational in nature …”;
and
WHEREAS, CCM Opinion 09-2573 states in part that “there is a
common understanding that a congregation exercises its self-