# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S131 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 130 MISSIONS 1-20 To Recognize Need for Variety in Church Practice Wuereas, The congregations and professional church workers belonging to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod have volun- tarily affiliated with that church body because they agree with its confession and its objectives; and WHEREAS, The Constitution of the LCMS has as one of its pur- poses “to strengthen congregations and their members in giving bold witness by word and deed to the love and work of God, the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit, and extend the Gospel witness into all the world” (Constitution, Art. III, 2); and WuerEAS, This Constitution, while encouraging uniformity of church practice, also encourages its congregations “to develop an appreciation of a variety of responsible practices and customs which are in harmony with our common profession of faith” (Con- stitution, Art. III, 7); and WHEREAS, There are many areas of church life that are neither commanded nor forbidden by the Holy Scriptures, that are left to the Christian freedom of congregations to determine for them- selves; and WHEREAS, In some parts of the Synod efforts are being made to impose customs and practices that may be desirable and effective in one area of the Synod upon other areas or cultures; and WHEREAS, For the sake of the Gospel, Christian congregations must adapt their customs and practices so as to effectively bring the Gospel to people of various races and cultures; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod in convention recognize that differ- ences among the various cultures that we seek to serve wil] require differences of approach; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod in convention rejoice at all the cre- ative ways that are being employed by many within the Synod to bring the Gospel to their communities; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod remind any who seek to impose a uni- formity of practice throughout the Synod that such uniformity is not required by the Scriptures or the Confessions, so long as the confessional basis of the Synod is not violated; and be it finally Resolved, That we implore God’s blessing upon all efforts to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in a great variety of ways. Holy Cross, Arlington, TX; Family of Faith, Houston, TX; Lord of Life, Leawood, KS 1-21 To Encourage Diversity of Leadership WHEREAS, The Pentecost 2000 initiative of the LCMS Board for Mission Services highlighted the need to reach the world with the Gospel in North America; and WHEREAS, The success of that outreach effort, coupled with on- going District mission efforts throughout the Synod, most espe- cially in local congregations, has brought people from all countries of the world into LCMS membership; and WHEREAS, The makeup of most boards and commissions of the LCMS and its regional entities is still primarily Caucasian and male, almost to the point of exclusivity; and WHEREAS, Synodical elections as well as synodical Circuit rep- resentation allows and encourages the continuation of primarily to almost exclusively Caucasian male representation, therefore dis- couraging gifted and talented leaders from more diverse represen- tation in service to Lord and church; therefore be it Resolved, That the LCMS in convention in 2001 affirm its de- sire to utilize the gifts and talents of all its laity and clergy in ser- vice to Lord and church at the elected and appointed levels of syn- odical service; and be it further Resolved, That the LCMS celebrate the diversity of peoples being brought into LCMS congregational membership and resolve to increase substantially the amount of elected and appointed lead- ers from other than male Caucasian background in the next trien- 2001 Convention Workbook nium by the special recruiting efforts of local and national church leaders. St. Peter, Brooklyn, NY; Circuit 9, Atlantic District; Circuit 8, Atlantic District 1-22 To Apportion Mission Dollars for Collaboration with Like-Minded Church Groups WHEREAS, The LCMS membership comprises about 3% of all Christians in the United States, and what we say as a church body often goes unreported by the news media; and WHEREAS, Competent surveys repeatedly demonstrate the neg- ative impact the media is having on our Christian brothers, sisters, and children in forming moral judgments that are inconsistent with God’s Word; and WHEREAS, The Word of God calls upon us to let our light shine and to witness to the truth; therefore be it Resolved, That the LCMS canvas other church groups to find oneness of mind on the moral issues of abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, the gay lifestyle, immoral sexual behavior, adultery, and bearing false witness; and be it further Resolved, That the LCMS collaborate with those groups with oneness of mind and author a joint statement based on the truth of Holy Scripture for each of these issues; and be it further Resolved, That these statements be published nationally as a witness to our Christian brothers, sisters, and children as these is- sues are debated in the press; and be it finally Resolved, That the LCMS apportion some mission dollars in support of this effort. Prince of Peace Waukegan, IL 1-23 To Encourage Continued Emphasis on Prison and Jail Ministry WHEREAS, The 1998 convention of our Synod resolved that the Synod in the year 2000, prior to its next convention, sponsor a prison and jail ministry training and equipping retreat for clergy and Jay volunteers; and Wuereas, The resolve for a Synod-wide prison and jail training retreat was not realized due to the lack of funding; and Wuereas, Each District of the Synod has within its region some large prison institutions and many jail settings; and WHEREAS, Prison and jail ministry includes not only prisoners, but also ex-prisoners, their families, prison staff, and victims of crime, which directly affects more and more of our congregations and church membership; and WHEREAS, Prison and jail ministry also offers many opportuni- ties to share the Gospel with persons who do not yet know Jesus Christ; therefore be it Resolved, That, in an effort to recruit, train, and equip clergy and lay volunteers for prison and jail ministry, funding for a Syn- odwide prison and jail training retreat under the auspices of Human Care Ministries be applied for by way of grant requests; and be it further Resolved, That this retreat be made available to all clergy and lay volunteers interested in all types of prison and jail ministry and be sponsored prior to the 2004 synodical convention; and be it fi- nally Resolved, That we give thanks for the increased endeavor of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod by way of the Synod, Dis- tricts, and congregations to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with prisoners, ex-offenders, families of prisoners, prison staff, and vic- tims of crime. Southern Illinois District