# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S124 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 124 MISSIONS 1-06 To Adopt Mission Statement for Synod Rationale The Synod has never had a ‘Mission Statement” which sum- marizes the work of congregations, and the various units created by the Synod to serve congregations. The Council on Mission and Ministry, of which the Synodical Board of Directors is a part, worked through the triennium to develop a statement and asked the Board of Directors to submit it for consideration by the 1998 syn- odical convention. After considering various alternatives the fol- lowing “Mission Statement” was proposed: The mission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is to serve one another in Christ’s name, to reach our com- munities with Christ’s love, and to win the world for Christ’s kingdom. This statement was developed from a statement used in the cele- bration of Synod’s 150th anniversary. The Council and the Board in proposing this statement are not sug- gesting that all congregations, schools, and other entities adopt this wording. Rather they suggest that this Synod “Mission Statement” is something individuals, congregations, other communities within the church body, colleges, universities, and seminaries, and the Dis- trict and national boards and commissions can relate to as they serve one another and work toward the goal of winning the world for Christ. As an example the synodical Board of Directors adopted as its purpose statement: BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ PURPOSE STATEMENT (Desired Outcome) The Board, in accordance with Bylaw 3.191, serves to pro- vide leadership in achieving the objectives of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as stated in Article III of its Constitu- tion and Bylaw 1.01, so that Christ’s name, may be glorified among all people throughout the world by serving each other in Christ’s name, reaching our communities with Christ’s love, and claiming the world for Christ’s kingdom. Resolved, That the 1998 synodical convention adopt as the Synod’s Mission Statement The mission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is to serve one another in Christ’s name, to reach our communities with Christ’s love, and to win the world for Christ’s kingdom. and be it further Resolved, That the Synod encourage individuals, congregations, and other communities within the church body, colleges, universi- ties, and seminaries, and the District and national boards and com- missions to reflect this mission in their own mission or purpose statement; and be it finally Resolved, That we stand and sing the common doxology as we pray the Lord’s guidance and blessing as together we work “to win the world for Christ’s kingdom.” Board of Directors The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod 1-07 To Support Lutheran Student Fellowship and Encourage Campus Ministry WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus Christ’s command to go and make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18—20) includes the more than 14 million students and over a half million international students, plus scholars, faculty, and dependents on more than 3,600 college and university campuses across the United States; and WHEREAS, Campus ministries are twofold: (1) ministry with the sons and daughters of our congregations; and (2) ministry with those outside the household of faith; and WHEREAS, Every District in the Synod operates campus min- istries to minister to these students; and WHEREAS, These campus ministries range from simply assign- ing contact congregations to providing full-time campus pastors and workers; and WHEREAS, There is also a large population of college students who commute from their homes and are, therefore, not offered the opportunity for fellowship and mission outreach offered by typical campus ministries yet still need a supportive congregation; and WHEREAS, The 1986 convention formed Lutheran Student Fel- lowship for the purpose of encouraging Christian fellowship among these students and to smooth the transition from home youth groups to college campuses; and * Wuereas, Lutheran Student Fellowship has been blessed with 145 chapters across the country; therefore be it Resolved, That all high schools and congregations of the Synod should cooperate, in every way possible, with the Synod’s coun- selor for campus ministry to forward the names of students (and information necessary for contacting them) to the appropriate cam- pus congregations; and be it further Resolved, That the President of the Synod shall, with the advice of the counselor for campus ministry, appoint a task force to eval- uate Current campus ministry models based on their effectiveness, to recommend to the Board of Directors changes in these models and to specific neglected regions and schools where necessary to improve the effectiveness of our outreach; and be it further Resolved, That the Board of Directors shall work with the Dis- trict Presidents to implement these changes at the earliest possible time; and be it further Resolved, That the congregations of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod be encouraged to consider students going to col- lege to be missionaries to these campuses, to encourage the stu- dents in this role, and to commission them as such before the church; and be it further Resolved, That those organizing gathering events for senior high school youth be encouraged to contact Lutheran Student Fellow- ship for materials, guidance, and participation that might help to prepare students for the transition to college life; and be it further Resolved, That every District be encouraged to expand direct and intentional ministry to as many campuses within their jurisdic- tion as possible; and be it further Resolved, That the congregations of the Synod should assist Lutheran Student Fellowship in every possible way in developing the leadership and missionary potential of college-age members; and be it finally Resolved, That the Synod work to produce Bible study materials appropriate for use in the unique combination of lay membership and scholarly orientation which exists on many campuses. University Lutheran Chapel, Ann Arbor, MI; St. Luke, Ann Arbor, MI 1-08 To Encourage All Districts to Support Mission Efforts to Ethnic Groups in U.S. WHEREAS, The Lord of the harvest has given the church its marching orders in Matt. 28:19-20 saying: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Fa- ther, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to ob- serve all things I have commanded you’”’; and WHEREAS, The nations are coming to the United States in the sense that people from all over the world are entering the universi- ties and the workplace here; and WHEREAS, Studies have indicated that every white American dying today will be replaced by one white American; each Hispanic American who dies today will be replaced by 10 Hispanics; and each oriental American who dies will be replaced by 20 orientals; therefore be it Resolved, That the Cheyenne Circuit Forum memorialize the Missouri Synod in convention to encourage all Districts to re- —9