# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S130 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) MISSIONS 129 Resolved, That congregations develop, expand, participate in, and support ministries in the North American mission field among international students and their families. North Wisconsin District; Our Redeemer, Moorhead, MN 1-16 To Promote Urban Mission Partnerships WHEREAS, The movement of people to the urban metropolitan areas of the United States has continued at an amazing pace through the beginning of the new century, until well more than half of the inhabitants of the country live in these major metropolitan areas; and WHEREAS, This concentration of people, particularly new ar- rivals from other countries with other religious backgrounds or no religious background, offers a fertile field for mission outreach; and WHEREAS, Our Lord commanded that His followers were to go “into all the world,” and the citizenry of the world has arrived in metropolitan areas like New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, and others; therefore be it Resolved, That the Board for Mission Services of the LCMS continue to operate under the principle that North America is a mis- sion field; and be it further Resolved, That the Pentecost 2000 initiative of the LCMS be continued for the next triennium; and be it further Resolved, That partnerships of people and other resources among urban and suburban congregations within Districts and be- tween Districts be officially encouraged so as to maximize mission outreach potential; and be it finally Resolved, That pastoral and lay leaders and missionaries from the emerging and renewed urban parishes and ministries be brought together at synodical expense during the 2001-2004 triennium to further develop these partnerships and opportunities. St. Peter, Brooklyn, NY; Circuit 9, Atlantic District; Circuit 8, Atlantic District 1-17 To Be Culturally Sensitive in Mission Activity WuereaS, Christ has commissioned His Church to bring the Gospel message to the entire world; and Whereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has been— and continues to be—active in worldwide missionary endeavors; and WHEREAS, Immigration to the United States of America has brought people from many parts of the world to our communities, thus opening new fields ripe for harvest; and WHEREAS, Many first-generation immigrants can be reached more readily in their own language and when due respect is paid to their customs and culture; therefore be it Resolved, That in its life together The Lutheran Church—Mis- souri Synod give first priority to the missionary task the Lord has given it; and be it further Resolved, That, without weakening in any way its commitment to its scriptural and confessional heritage, The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod recognize the imperative of communicating the Gospel to people in their own language and in forms that are sensi- tive to the culture of those to whom we seek to bring the Gospel; and be it finally Resolved, That the Board for Mission Services seek out and train as well as support individuals who have the necessary God-given abilities to carry out this work. Holy Cross Arlington, TX 1-18 To Be Sensitive to Cultural Values WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus Christ has directed his church to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:18); and Wrereas, Our Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has as one of its objectives to extend a “Gospel witness to all the world” (Art. II 2); and WHEREAS, God has richly bestowed His blessing upon the mis- sionary endeavors of our Synod, so that we are now at work in many parts of the world; and Wuereas, Immigrants from many parts of the globe are now coming to the United States, and many of these immigrants trea- sure their own culture and language, even as they acclimate them- selves to life in the United States; and WHEREAS, Many of these people have not yet heard the Gospel message of salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, and God is now presenting our LCMS with a challenge that dare not be ignored; therefore be it Resolved, That our Synod energetically undertake to bring the Gospel to such people in the language they best understand; and be it further Resolved, That in so doing we be sensitive to the cultural values and understandings of those people whom we seek to reach with the Good News of salvation and not impose our own cultural val- ues and traditions upon them; and be it further Resolved, That the Board for Mission Services seek out, train, and support individuals who have the necessary God-given abili- ties to carry out such work; and be it finally Resolved, That we implore God’s continued blessing upon our church’s goal of bringing a Gospel witness to the world, both here in our land and throughout the world. Lord of Life Leawood. KS 1-19 To Recognize and Share Results of Increased Diversity WHEREAS, Many individuals in the LCMS have prayed for many years that the Gospel be brought to all nations; and WHEREAS, God has answered those prayers and has brought the nations to the United States through immigration and through indi- viduals coming to continue their education; and WHEREAS, Many individuals in the LCMS have prayed for new mission opportunities and have worked to develop new mission sites; and WHEREAS, God has answered those prayers and has established Korean missions, Chinese missions, Vietnamese missions, and Hmong missions, as well as Hispanic and African immigrant min- istries and many others; and WHEREAS, Our seminaries and educational institutions have worked to train professional full-time church workers from many ethnic groups; and WHEREAS, God has used those individuals to develop new mis- sion sites, raise mission awareness, and train indigenous workers; and WHEREAS, Those ministries have used God’s Word and Sacra- ments to establish churches, schools, retirement housing, and job training; therefore be it Resolved, That the 2001 convention of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod thank God for the rich diversity that He is bringing to our church; and be it further Resolved, That we pray that The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod ever more become a church of all nations; and be it finally Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, through its official publications, be encouraged to share what God has done through these exciting new ministries. Board for Mission Services on behalf of the Chinese Ministry Committee 2001 Convention Workbook