# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S105
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

2. CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES
To Adopt 3/10 Outreach Emphasis
RESOLUTION 2-01A
Reports R2-01, R2-04 (CW, pp. 20–28, 36–40);
Overtures 1-10, 2-30, 2-32–35, 2-37 (CW, pp. 125,
135–37)
WHEREAS, Many men, women, and children are living
and dying without saving faith in Jesus Christ; and
WHEREAS, The Lord out of great love for all people has
given us the Great Commission with the promise that He
will be with us always; and
WHEREAS, We are a Synod in a multicultural society, and
we seek to reach out to every person in that society; and
WHEREAS, The Lord has laid it upon the heart of our
President to call the church to reach out to the lost with the
Good News about Jesus while remaining faithful to the
Gospel and the Lutheran Confessions; therefore be it
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
in convention wholeheartedly adopt the 3/10 Outreach Emphasis TELL THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS (Acts
8:35); and be it further
Resolved, That this emphasis be designed with the view
of fully involving the congregations, Districts, and other entities of the Synod in light of the respective needs and challenges they face; and be it further
Resolved, That the emphasis offer practical suggestions
and training ideas and also suggest target areas for witnessing to Christ; and be it finally
Resolved, That the use and full coordination of our synodical evangelism staff and other leaders occur to carry this
emphasis forward in the Synod.

Committee 2 Chairman David Callies

Resolved, That the congregations of the Synod, the District and national offices, colleges and seminaries, and others collectively and collaboratively focus on the critical
needs of children, address the importance of faithful ministry with children, and provide the training, resources, and
support needed to affect children’s lives with the love of
Jesus so that all children may know and experience His
grace; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations of the Synod intentionally
act to make ministry with children from all backgrounds
and settings a priority; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod intentionally include children from their
birth in congregational celebrations and congregational life;
and be it finally
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
in convention dedicate the year 2001 as “The Year of the
Child,” indicating that ministry with children is a priority.

Action: Adopted as amended (2)
(By common consent ethnic was changed to cultural in the
third whereas and people substituted for mankind in the second
whereas.)

To Declare Year 2001 Year of the Child
RESOLUTION 2-02A
Overture 2-56 (CW, p. 142)
WHEREAS, Nearly 50 percent of baptized children in The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod are not active in congregational life during childhood; and
WHEREAS, Children in our congregations and communities face increasing, critical issues that place them at risk
spiritually, which is manifested emotionally, physically, socially, and academically; and
WHEREAS, Our relationship with children is established
by Christ (Luke 18:15–17); and
WHEREAS, The community of the Gospel is an inclusive
baptismal community (Gal. 3:27–28) and discipleship is
maximized in a community in which the gifts of all are celebrated and utilized (1 Cor. 12:7); and
WHEREAS, A passion for reaching others with the Gospel
has no “special group” restrictions and is extended specifically also to children; and
WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of the church to minister to children and to support their families as primary
faith nurturers; therefore be it

Action: Adopted as amended (4)
(By common consent the word church was substituted for faith
community in the sixth whereas, the words from all backgrounds
and settings were added after children in the second resolve, the
words indicating that were substituted for making and is was
added after children in the final resolve.)

To Strengthen Family Ministry
RESOLUTION 2-03A
Report R2-01 (CW, pp. 20–28); Overture 2-57 (CW, p.
142)
WHEREAS, Our nation continues to experience a breakdown of family life and an erosion of those family values
that are based on the Scriptures; and
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