# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2007_S133 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 1. MISSIONS 1-01 To Reaffirm Foreign Mission Work as Top Priority WHEREAS, Our Lord’s call and commission to His Church throughout time is to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19 and Mark 16:15); and Wuereas, One of the primary objectives of Synod is to “spread the Gospel by means of ... missionary endeavor throughout the world” (Articles of Incorporation II f); and WuerEAS, Most of the world’s 6.5 billion people still do not know “the one true God, and Jesus Christ Whom He has sent” and therefore do not have eternal life (John 17:3); and WHEREAS, In recent years some of Synod’s foreign missions have been closed or consolidated and one fourth of its career mis- sionaries have been brought home due to lack of financial support (Mission Board Cuts 28 Overseas Positions LCMS News—No. 80 Dec. 26, 2002); therefore be it Resolved, That the LCMS reaffirm foreign mission work as a top priority; and be it further Resolved, That no current or future missionary positions be “consolidated” or eliminated for reasons of funding; and be it fi- nally Resolved, That the LCMS Board of Directors be given the re- sponsibility and authority to redirect any and all Synod resources that might be needed to achieve this goal. Martini Baltimore, MD 1-02 To Encourage Mission Planting Partnerships WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus Christ commissioned His disciples to take His Good News to the people of all nations; and WHEREAS, One of the proven ways of reaching the lost is through planting new congregations and ministries; and WHEREAS, We limit our ability to start new missions at the local level when we rely only on Synod and district staff actions to initi- ate new congregations; and WHEREAS, We can begin more new missions and ministries when we use creative local partnerships of congregations, circuits, and circuit networks as the primary focus through which we begin new missions and ministries; and WHEREAS, New missions and ministries are more viable when we provide opportunities for people within local congregations to apply their God-given gifts and participate in mission development at the local level; therefore be it Resolved, That congregations, circuits, and circuit networks throughout the Synod be urged to identify models for new mission and ministry planting that would be most effective in their area; and be it further Resolved, That congregations, circuits, and circuit networks throughout the Synod develop creative local partnerships to sup- port the identifying and planting of new ministries, congregations, and schools; and be it finally Resolved, That congregations, circuits, and circuit networks which initiate new missions and ministries report those new starts to the appropriate office within the Synod and be recognized at the 2010 Synod convention as being Ablaze! for Jesus Christ. Board of Directors Southeastern District 1-03 To Support Revitalization of LCMS Congregations WHEREAS, The Ablaze! goals of LCMS World Mission to touch 50 million unchurched or uncommitted people with the Christian Gospel in North America by the year 2017 and begin 2,000 new missions will be accomplished by the committed outreach activi- ties of individuals in local congregations; and WHEREAS, Church revitalization is a significant process devel- oped by LCMS World Mission, and advances have occurred to fur- ther the Ablaze! goals through this process; therefore be it Resolved, That the LCMS in convention adopt a goal of praying and working for the mission revitalization of at least 2,000 existing LCMS churches by 2017; and be it further Resolved, That the mission revitalization efforts of the LCMS through its districts, congregations, Lutheran Hour Ministries, the Lutheran Church Extension Fund, LWML, and LCMS World Mis- sion, through its national team, be supported as a major component of Ablaze! Board of Directors Southeastern District 1-04 To Improve Communication re Mission Initiatives Preamble The Blue Ribbon Task Force for Funding the Mission was con- vened in response to the 2004 LCMS convention Res. 4-07 and submitted its report dated July 2006, which includes 11 recom- mendations highlighting significant challenges facing our beloved Synod in “funding the mission.” It is our desire to respond and enter into dialogue regarding these recommendations and, in addi- tion, to affirm some by resolving to action our Synod in conven- tion. Such resolutions are as follows: WHEREAS, Communication of a focused mission is essential to wholehearted support in any organization; and WHEREAS, The LCMS has the greatest mission in the world as it “vigorously make[s] known the love of Christ in word and deed within our churches, communities, and world”; and WHEREAS, Structures for effective communications are already in place within the Synod, (Council of Presidents, district offices, circuit counselors, pastoral conferences, teachers’ conferences, etc.); and WuerEAS, The task force rightly recommends that we “take our - unified confession and strike the cords of the variety of gifts that 133 make up the song that gives praise to our God and His great work in the world”; and WHEREAS, Such a clarion call must be clear and concise as it also respects the variety of mission applications throughout the Synod; and WHEREAS Some districts, circuits, and congregations have many useful stewardship and evangelism tools already functioning; there- fore be it : Resolved, That the Council of Presidents put into effect such in- ternal procedures in order to demonstrate support of the mission of the Synod as it serves as a communication conduit to the Synod from congregations and from the Synod to congregations; and be it further Resolved, That districts and their staff coordinate and drive the mission statement by working closely with circuit counselors and congregations; and be it further Resolved, That districts develop a stewardship and mission communication resource position to gather and share stewardship and mission initiatives with congregations and districts across the Synod; and be it finally Resolved, That congregations of the Synod make diligent use of shared missional materials (stewardship and evangelism) as best fits their ministry context, seeking to involve all members of the local Body of Christ in the Great Commission. Board of Directors Michigan District