# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2007_S31 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) SYNOD REPORTS Article III Objectives The Synod, under Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, shall— 1. Conserve and promote the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4:3-6; 1 Cor. 1:10), work through its official structure toward fellow- ship with other Christian church bodies, and provide a united defense against schism, sectarianism (Rom. 16:17), and heresy; . Strengthen congregations and their members in giving bold witness by word and deed to the love and work of God, the Fa- ther, Son, and Holy Spirit, and extend that Gospel witness into all the world; . Recruit and train pastors, teachers, and other professional church workers and provide opportunity for their continuing growth; . Provide opportunities through which its members may express their Christian concern, love, and compassion in meeting human needs; . Aid congregations in developing processes of thorough Chris- tian education and nurture and to establish agencies of Christian education such as elementary and secondary schools and to support synodical colleges, universities, and seminaries; . Aid congregations by providing a variety of resources and op- portunities for recognizing, promoting, expressing, conserving, and defending their confessional unity in the true faith; . Encourage congregations to strive for uniformity in church practice but also to develop an appreciation of a variety of re- sponsible practices and customs that are in harmony with our common profession of faith; . Provide evangelical supervision, counsel, and care for pastors, teachers, and other professional church workers of the Synod in the performance of their official duties; . Provide protection for congregations, pastors, teachers, and other church workers in the performance of their official duties and the maintenance of their rights; . Aid in providing for the welfare of pastors, teachers, and other church workers and their families in the event of illness, dis- ability, retirement, special need, or death. 31 Article II Mission and Purpose A. Mission and Purpose In grateful response to God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities, and world (adopted 1998). The Synod, under Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, acts together in support of and on behalf of its member congregations— 1. To give bold witness by word and deed to the love and work of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and extend that Gospel witness into all the world (Matt. 4:19-20; 28:18-20; Luke 24: 45-49; Acts 1:8; 2:42; 2 Cor. 5:11-21)—so that people come to a saving faith relationship with Jesus Christ, grow in an ever deeper relationship with Christ and with one another, serve Him and one another in the community of the church and the world, give bold witness to Christ, and extend the Gospel into all the world to save the lost; . To conserve, promote, nurture, and manifest the unity of the true faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 4:36; John 17:11, 21-23); . To conserve, promote, nurture, and manifest the confessional unity within the Synod (1 Cor. 1:10); . To work through its official structure toward church fellowship with other Christian church bodies; . To provide a united defense against schism, sectarianism, (Rom. 16:17) and heresy. B. Carrying Out the Mission and Purpose The Synod, motivated by God’s love for the world, committed to its common confession of faith and the mission of God centered in Jesus Christ and persuaded and directed by the power of God’s Word, accomplishes and fulfills its mission and purpose together by— 1. 10. Recruiting and educating pastors, teachers, missionaries, and other professional church workers and providing opportunity for their continuing growth; . Preparing and equipping the laity to carry out their Christian vocation and providing opportunity for their continuing growth; . Supporting the synodical colleges, universities, and seminaries; . Equipping and sending missionaries to various cultures and people and establishing new congregations, missions, and min- istries; . Providing opportunities through which the congregations may express their Christian concern, love, and compassion in meet- ing human needs; . Providing resources for congregations to develop processes and agencies of thorough Christian education and nurture such as preschools and elementary and secondary schools; . Providing a variety of resources and opportunities in order that congregations may recognize, promote, express, conserve, and defend their confessional unity in the true faith; . Encouraging a common understanding and appreciation of a variety of responsible practices and customs that are in har- mony with our common confession of faith; . Providing evangelical supervision, counsel, care, and protection for congregations, ministers of religion—ordained and—com- missioned, in the performance of their official duties and the maintenance of their rights; Assisting in providing for the welfare of church workers and their families in the event of illness, disability, retirement, spe- cial need, or death. 2007 Convention Workbook