# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S305 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) NATIONAL/DISTRICT SYNOD RELATIONS 305 8-70 To Celebrate SELC Centennial WHEREAS, The Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church (later, the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches or the SELC) was organized in convention Sept. 2-4, 1902, in Conneilsville, PA, and issued a charter on April 25, 1903; and Wuereas, The original mission of the SELC was to provide a Word and Sacrament ministry for Slovak immigrants to the United States and their families, a mission that was conducted with great zeal and faithfulness throughout the decades of the twentieth century; and Wuereas, On Jan. 1, 1971, the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches became a nongeographic District (the SELC District) of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in the hope that both the SELC and the Missouri Synod would benefit from that partnership; and WHEREAS, The mission of the SELC has broadened through the years to provide that same Word and Sacrament ministry to new people in new areas; to provide that Word and Sacrament ministry to new ethnic groups and to new communities; to plant churches in new communities so that many more people may hear the Word of promise about Jesus Christ and perhaps believe in Him; and WHEREAS, In pursuing that mission the SELC District has opened nine new congregations in its thirty years of existence and is currently exploring two additional areas to plant new congregations; and WHEREAS, Numerous individual members of the SELC have made significant contributions to the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod over the years; and WuereaS, the SELC District has been glad to assist The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in all our joint mission endeavors with our tithes and offerings; and WHEREAS, The centennial year of the SELC will be the year 2002-2003; therefore be it Resolved, That the SELC District in convention in the year 2000 give thanks to our heavenly Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit for all the blessings the triune God has bestowed on the SELC in the past one hundred years; and be it further Resolved, That congregations and members of the SELC District be encouraged to join heartily and with thanksgiving in a centennial celebration during the years 2002-2003, including a thank offering, to culminate at the SELC District convention in the year 2003; and be it further Resolved, That the SELC District in convention affirm our strong desire to continue to work in the mission of Christ’s church as a nongeographic District of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod; to continue to support and encourage the ministries and missions of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod with our tithes and offerings; and to continue to encourage members of the SELC to give of their time and talents to the work of the Missouri Synod; and be it finally Resolved, That the SELC District in convention invite The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to rejoice with the SELC on its 100th anniversary as an American church body and its 30th anniversary as a District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; to affirm the blessings of God on the mission and ministry of the SELC over the last one hundred years; and to affirm and encourage the SELC in our mission and ministry as a non- geographic District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod into the twenty-first century. Board of Directors SELC District 8-71 To Celebrate 100 Years of SELC Blessings WHEREAS, The Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church (later the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches or the SELC) was orga- nized in convention on September 2-4, 1902, in Connellsville, PA, and issued a charter on April 25, 1903; and WHEREAS, On Jan. 1, 1971, the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches was accepted as a nongeographical District (the SELC District) of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and WHEREAS, The SELC and the LCMS have walked together in doctrine and practice as members of the Synodical Conference and now as a District and Synod; and Wuereas, The Lord has blessed this relationship throughout the years; and WHEREAS, The year 2002 marks the centennial of the SELC, and the year 2001 marks the 30th anniversary of the SELC District as a nongeographical District of the LCMS; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod gath- ered in convention in the year of our Lord 2001 join with the broth- ers and sisters of the SELC District in celebration and in thanks- giving to our Heavenly Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit for all the blessings bestowed upon the SELC these last 100 years and the SELC District these past 30 years. St. Lucas, St. Louis, MO; Zion, Clark, NJ 8-72 To Reject Task Force Proposals re SELC District WHEREAS, The SELC District has functioned for 30 years as a nongeographic District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and WHEREAS, This congregation, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Parma, OH, has been committed to the joint ministry that the SELC District congregations have carried out together for this entire time; and WHEREAS, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church has strong fellowship ties with other member congregations of the SELC District; and WHEREAS, We do not see evidence of such strong fellowship ties among congregations of the geographic District in which this congregation is located; and WHEREAS, We believe it would be ultimately detrimental to the mission of the church at large and of this congregation in particular if the SELC District should cease to exist; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church-—-Missouri Synod in con- vention reject the proposals of the Task Force on Synod and Dis- trict Relations regarding the dissolution and amalgamation of the SELC District; and be it further Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con- vention affirm the past, present. and future ministries and missions of the SELC District; and be it finally Resolved, That the congregations of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod be invited to join with their sister congregations of the SELC District in celebrating the centennial of the SELC in the years 2002-2003. Holy Trinity, Parma, OH; Dr. Martin Luther, Chicago, IL; Calvary, Parma, OH; St. Paul, Whiting, IN; Saints Peter and Paul, Central City, PA; St. John, Emporia, VA 8-73 To Continue SELC as Nongeographic District WHEREAS, The SELC District has attempted to faithfully fulfill the Great Commission of the Savior, “to go and make disciples,” by establishing Word and Sacrament ministries; and 2001 Convention Workbook