# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S399
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

INTERNATIONAL WITNESS
Upon the recommendation of the Office of International Mission, the
board shall serve as the onlya sending agency through which workers
and funds are sent to the foreign mission areas of the Synod,
including the calling, appointing, assigning, withdrawing, and
releasing of missionaries (ministers of religion—ordained and
ministers of religion—commissioned) and other workers for the
ministries in foreign areas.

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
4.1.5
Jurisdiction with respect to everything that is administered
by or for the entire Synod resides in the national Synod itself.
Jurisdiction includes but is not limited to general supervision of
doctrine and practice; coordination of foreign missions; institutions
of the Synod; qualification for ordination, commissioning, and
installation of ordained and commissioned ministers and
requirements for individual as well as congregational membership in
the Synod; publication of official religious periodicals; conduct of
negotiations and affiliations with other church bodies; and the like.

and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaw 1.1.1 be amended to add an additional
paragraph (c):
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
1.1.1
Committed to a common confession and mission,
congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod …
…
(c) Neither the Synod nor any board, commission, or agency on
its behalf shall adopt any policy or practice which may inhibit or
restrict individual members or congregations in giving bold
witness by word or deed to the love and work of God the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit and extend that Gospel witness into all the
world.

and be it finally
Resolved, That congregations be expected to coordinate and
communicate with their circuits, districts, and the BIM when
making missionary calls so that everything be done decently and in
good order.
Northwest District
Ov. 2-11

To Reaffirm Synod Bylaw 3.8.3
Guaranteeing the Board for International Mission
Remains the Sole Sending Agency through Which
Workers and Funds are Sent to the Foreign
Mission Areas of the Synod
WHEREAS, The Synod’s very purpose for existence was to
accomplish more together rather than as disparate districts and
congregations; and
WHEREAS, This unity encompassed not only confessional
agreement but also practical aspects such as the coalescing of
personnel and funds for foreign missions; and
WHEREAS, Partner churches request cooperation with those
officially sent by the Synod and are often confused by individual
congregations and districts who initiate mission work independent
of the Office of International Mission (OIM); and
WHEREAS, The Synod provides proper accounting to ensure
funds are not utilized by terrorist organizations, non-Lutheran
entities or non-partner churches; and
WHEREAS, Significant threats exist in the international
community (natural, terrorist, or medical) in which Synod maintains
constant geographical threat assessments, disaster readiness, and

399

evacuation procedures for her missionaries and their families which
would be challenging for individual congregations or districts to
provide and maintain themselves; and
WHEREAS, The decrease in membership within Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod congregations as well as the decrease in
congregational giving to districts would make the supporting of
international missionary efforts challenging for congregations and
districts to provide and maintain themselves; and
WHEREAS, Districts and congregations have made past attempts
to initiate international projects which ultimately exceeded their
financial capacity or the will of newly elected officials, often
resulting in the remedying of these situations by Synod’s overseas
international staff; and
WHEREAS, Districts and congregations already possess the
ability to support foreign missions through the OIM as well as
auxiliary and recognized service organizations; and
WHEREAS, Districts and congregations already possess the
ability to initiate a dual or seconded call when recommended to the
Board for International Mission (BIM) by the OIM, with
supervision and financial responsibility remaining upon the district
and congregations; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention would reaffirm her
commitment to Bylaw 3.8.3; and be it further
Resolved, That districts and congregations would reaffirm their
desire to work cooperatively in the sending of foreign missionaries
and funds through the BIM; and be it further
Resolved, That the OIM would work collaboratively with
districts and congregations who desire to initiate a dual call of an
international missionary via the BIM; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod Board of Directors would only
approve funding for OIM projects upon the reception of a
reasonable strategic plan for international missions; and be it further
Resolved, That the Council of Presidents would annually report
any international mission endeavors they may be aware of for
consideration to become supported by Synod personnel and funds;
and be it finally
Resolved, That the 2019 Synod in convention would reaffirm her
desire to work in coordination and cooperation with international,
existing church partners, and where no existing church partner
operates, start new international initiatives to share the gospel with
the unchurched.
Zion
Bridgeville, PA
Ov. 2-12

To Encourage and Support
International Theological Education by Our
Seminaries in Aid of World Lutheran Churches
WHEREAS, Numerous Lutheran church bodies throughout the
world are seeking closer relations with The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod (LCMS) (including seventeen new churches being
received into membership in the International Lutheran Council in
2018); and
WHEREAS, In recent years, a number of Lutheran church bodies
throughout the world have, by God’s grace, experienced
unprecedented growth, with prospects for much further growth in the
future (among the largest examples are the Malagasy Lutheran
2019 Convention Workbook