# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2013_S140
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

140

Witness

Resolved, That the LCMS thank the congregation and pastor of
University Lutheran Chapel–Minneapolis for their service to our students and to the broader Church; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS grant this congregation $1,250,000 to
assist them in building a replacement campus chapel and to more
justly compensate them for their loss; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS express our sincere thanks to God and
to all of the campus congregations and pastors of the Synod for their
service to the Church and particularly for their service to students
who are blessed to attend universities that have them; and be it finally
Resolved, That the LCMS encourage the title holders of existing
campus ministry chapels to regard these properties as sacred trusts
on behalf of the Church at large and to retain them for posterity to
the glory of God.
Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church
San Jose, CA
1-16

To Commend and Support Ministry of Lutherans
in Africa
Whereas, Our Lord Jesus Christ has commanded His church to
“[go] therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching
them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19–20);
and
Whereas, An overwhelming need exists among Lutheran pastors,
evangelists, and deaconesses throughout Africa for basic doctrinal
teaching that agrees “with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ
and the teaching that accords with godliness” (1 Tim. 6:3); and
Whereas, Lutherans in Africa was founded in 2010 as a 501(c)
(3) nonprofit organization by the Rev. James May, a rostered LCMS
pastor and former missionary in French West Africa, to form African
Christians to be teachers of the faith; and
Whereas, Lutherans in Africa currently works in 20 African
countries, teaching confessional Lutheran doctrine and training
African pastors to be the teachers in their own communities; and
Whereas, Lutherans in Africa works in conjunction with Lutheran
Heritage Foundation—Africa to translate, publish, and distribute confessional Lutheran resources; and
Whereas, Lutherans in Africa desires to expand its ministry
to additional “tribes and peoples and languages” (Rev. 7:9) on the
African continent; therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2013 LCMS convention give thanks to the
triune God for the faithful ministry of Lutherans in Africa; and be
it further
Resolved, That the 2013 LCMS convention commend Lutherans
in Africa for its faithful mission work on the African continent; and
be it finally
Resolved, That the 2013 LCMS convention encourage the Synod’s
congregations, pastors, and laity to support Lutherans in Africa
through their prayers and financial offerings.
Divine Shepherd
Bolingbrook, IL

2013 Convention Workbook

1-17

To Endorse Work of Luther Institute of Southeast
Asia (LISA)
Whereas, Our Lord Jesus Christ has commissioned His followers to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19); and
Whereas, He has equipped and empowered them with His unfailing presence and life-giving Spirit (Matt. 28:20; Luke 24:48ff.; Acts
1:8); and
Whereas, The Lord has opened a door to bring the Good News
of salvation to the peoples of Southeast Asia; and
Whereas, The emerging churches in Thailand (The Thailand
Concordia Lutheran Church [TCLC]) and Cambodia (Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Cambodia [ELCC]) desire theological education
to equip leaders to assist them in going through this opened door; and
Whereas, A theological education program, LISA, has been initiated to respond to this opportunity; and
Whereas, LISA is committed to theological education that is
solidly grounded in the Holy Scriptures, clearly centered in our Lord
Jesus Christ, in keeping with our evangelical Lutheran convictions,
designed to equip its students for effective ministry that is faithful
to our Lord Jesus Christ, and responsive to the needs of the people
there; and
Whereas, LISA is governed by a board of directors that is representative of various entities involved in the work in Southeast Asia,
including the Thailand Concordia Lutheran Church, the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Cambodia, Lutheran Church—Canada, The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, the Garuna Foundation, and the
Lutheran Heritage Foundation; and
Whereas, Opportunities to expand the work of LISA to people groups beyond the Thais and Cambodians, such as the Laotians,
Burmese, Hmong, and Vietnamese, are being explored and pursued
as the Lord enables; and
Whereas, This important endeavor for forming leaders to build
up the Church and to share the Good News more widely is in need
of our prayers, encouragement, and financial support; therefore be it
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod renew
its commitment to the Lord’s work in Southeast Asia and encourage its districts, congregations, and individuals to support the work
of LISA through their prayers, encouragement, and financial support; and be it further
Resolved, That representatives of the LISA program be welcomed
into our congregations to tell the story of the Lord’s work there, that
God’s people here may be informed of its progress and learn how
they can help spread His Word on its forward way; and be it finally
Resolved, That we conclude the consideration of this resolution
with prayer, in keeping with our Lord’s admonition in Matthew 9:37–
38, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray
earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His
harvest.”
Florida-Georgia District