# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S410
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

410

LIFE TOGETHER
b. disconnection (not only between churches in circuit, but
to district and Synod);
c. we’re on the same team;
d. work on unity in both doctrine and practice (and how
they are connected).
Board of Directors
Mid-South District

Ov. 4-07

To Provide Mission and Ministry Emphases
WHEREAS, Our Lord has built His Church upon the rock of the
solid declaration of the confession that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son
of the Living God” and that even the gates of hell shall not prevail
against this Church; and
WHEREAS, Our common confession of the true exposition of
Scripture, the Book of Concord, stipulates the necessary and
fundamental aspects of the ordering of the Church, such as the call
of those who preach and administer the Sacraments (Augsburg
Confession [AC] XIV) and the doctrine of the Gospel (AC VII); and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS)
finds itself in the midst of the ever-changing tides of culture which
have resulted in falling demographics including fewer baptisms and
professions of faith proving that churches need resources that will
enable them to meet the challenges specific to this age; and
WHEREAS, The LCMS solicits its congregations and districts to
provide ministry and mission emphases to help guide it to faithful
and fruitful work; and
WHEREAS, The Florida-Georgia District believes the following
recommendations to be helpful not only to the Florida-Georgia
District itself, but to the entire LCMS and through it, to provide a
witness to the Church worldwide; therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS study and endeavor to help its member
congregations to help define congregational health in our day,
including how our congregations of the LCMS can be most
effective in pursuing a common mission throughout the Synod; and
be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS explore possible changes in the
training of professional ministers of the Gospel, ordained and
commissioned, to help congregations that may not be able to afford
a pastor or other church worker currently, specifically exploring
alternatives to residential education; and be it finally
Resolved, That the LCMS help its member congregations to train
both its ministers and laity to communicate via relational
conversation in addition to declaration of the truth.
Florida-Georgia District
Ov. 4-08

To Amend Bylaw Section 6.2 to Revitalize
Synod’s Recognized Service Organization Program
Rationale
The 2016 convention, noting the Synod’s long history of
recognizing contributions made by service organizations, as well as
the changing needs of the Synod and of social service organizations
(especially with changes in governmental regulation and oversight)
and the concerns raised over the years as to the continued health and
usefulness of the recognized service organization (RSO) program,
2019 Convention Workbook

assembled and charged (Proceedings, 146–7) the 2016 Res. 4-03B
Task Force:
• to review and report on the original purpose and intent of the
RSO program and its predecessors.
• to determine the needs of and benefits to the Synod with
respect to the RSO program.
• to identify the best model for the Synod to engage with
organizations that: (1) foster the mission and ministry of the
church and that (2) engage in programs that are in harmony
with the programs of the Synod.
• to recommend changes to the RSO program, and/or the
elimination of the program, and/or replacement of the
current RSO program with a new relationship model that
provides benefit to the Synod and the social service agency,
and/or develop and recommend other solutions.
• to recommend appropriate changes to the bylaws, as needed.
• to ensure that all recommendations maintain the important
relationships with the agencies that are recognized by the
Synod, foster the mission and ministry 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.
The task force, having met throughout the triennium and consulted
with various Synod and RSO constituents of the existing program,
has produced its report (included as R-61 in the Convention
Workbook) and, in accordance with Bylaw 3.1.6.2, this overture,
which would enact the report’s fundamental recommendations in
the form of bylaw changes and directives to responsible boards and
offices to develop implementing policies and procedures. Another
overture proposes further enhancements and future directions that
build on the model presented here.
Briefly, the task force reported as required, noting the following,
each point of which is developed in much more detail in its report:
• The RSO program has proven itself of significant value to
the Synod as a whole and should be maintained. The mutual
benefit of the Synod—RSO relationship should not be
underestimated but rather should be promoted and expanded,
wherever and whenever possible. The task force’s
recommendations intend to bring clarity and direction to
how best the Synod can continue to identify, develop and
expand collaborative efforts with an increasing complex and
diverse set of RSOs.
• Simultaneously ensuring that “the important relationships
with the agencies [sic] that are recognized” are maintained
and that the model improve the engagement of the Synod
and recognized organizations to increase the mutual benefit
to the organizations and the congregations of the Synod
requires a diversification of approach, so that the very
different types of organizations under the RSO “umbrella”
can each receive the attention and counsel they need, and so
that positive goals can be stated for each type of
organization’s relationship to the Synod. The program needs
to move beyond a “one size fits all” approach.
• A revitalized RSO program should distinguish witness
(WSO), education (ESO), and mercy (MSO) service
organizations under the existing title, with a clearer and more
positive statement of Synod’s expectations for each. WSOs,
for example, are to be expected to advance doctrine and