# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S87 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) ise. 4 3 RESOLUTIONS 87 churches and submit these responses to the Board of Directors and the Board for Missions by Dec. 31, 1975; and be it further Resolved, That sister churches who are unable to give their response to the report and recommendations of the Mission Study Commission before Dec. 31, 1975, be requested to submit their response to the President of the LCMS as soon as possible; and be it further Resolved, That the Mission Study Commission be disbanded after presenting these responses to the Board of Directors and the Board for Missions; and be it further Resolved, That all records of the Mission Study Com- mission be given for safekeeping to the Secretary of the Synod; and be it further Resolved, That recommendations dealing with pro- posed administrative changes (e.g., recommendations 3, 4, and 8, CW, p. 30) be referred to the Committee for Reorganization for consideration in relationship to the total organization of the Synod; and be it further Resolved, That other recommendations not previously acted on by the Board of Directors be referred to a joint meeting of the Board for Missions and the Board of Directors; and be it further Resolved, That, as 4 result of this meeting and in accordance with Bylaw 8.07a, the Board for Missions shall be empowered to act on the Mission Study Commis- sion report and recommendations within the framework of the present Bylaws, and be it further Resolved, That the Board for Missions actively seek and carefully weigh the counsel of the sister churches and the mission fields in formulating and administering future policies and programs and recognize that many decisions must be made on the basis of this counsel of the sister churches; and be it further Resolved, That we thank the Mission Study Commis- sion for its work and encourage the Board for Missions to use this report and other input in a forward-moving and aggressive mission program, and be it finally ‘ Resolved, That the Board for Missions and the Com- mittee for Reorganization report progress on these mat- ters to the 1977 convention of the Synod. Action: Adopted as amended (5). (The committee replaced its tentative Res. 2-02 with Res. 2- 02A. The amendment was the insertion into the third-last resolved of the final words: “and recognize that many decisions _..2" The numbers “9” and “23” were also removed from the fifth whereas.) To Expand and Increase Mission Work RESOLUTION 2-03 Overtures 2-16—2-18B (CW, p. 34) Wuereas, The Great Commission of our Lord is to make disciples of all nations by baptizing and by teach- ing them; and Wuereas, The Gospel has been preached to the ends of the world, yet three billion people do not confess Jesus Christ as their Savior; and Wuenrras. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod needs to be bolder and more creative in expanding mis- sion fields to proclaim the Gospel message; therefore be it Resolved, That the Board for Missions actively seek new areas of ministry, promote and support expansion within and through sister churches, and in coordinate planning with other Lutherans and Christians speedily respond to the Lord’s command, and be it further Resolved, That the Synod commend the workers in the world’s mission fields for their desire to increase the outreach of our Lord’s command to preach the Gospel to all; and be it finally Resolved, That the entire membership of the Synod fervently support such work not only with their earnest prayers but most especially with their renewed and strengthened financial support, with the assurance that such work is being done for our Lord and Redeemer. Action: Adopted (7). To Study Possibility of Beginning Work in Angola and Mozambique RESOLUTION 2-04A (Replacing Res. 2-04) Overture 2-19 (CW, pp- 34-35) Wuereas, A preliminary survey in the former Portu- guese territories of Mozambique and Angola has con- firmed that, though existing churches have made valiant efforts, there are still several million people in these two areas who have never been reached with the Gospel; and Wuertas, Certain restrictions on Protestant evange- listic activity in these two areas have apparently been lifted, at least for the time being; and Wuereas, Mozambique became an independent nation on June 25, 1975, and Angola expects to become inde- pendent on Nov. 11, 1975; and Wuereas, This present period of transition has been marked by uncertainty, unrest, and even armed conflict; and Wuereas. Concern has been expressed by some churches in these areas lest the Missouri Synod begin new work withoul proper consultation or coordination with other Christians: and Wuereas, Further in-depth research in both areas is required before a final decision can be made whether or not to send Missouri Synod missionaries, either from the Brazil District or from the United States; therefore be it Resolved, That this convention commend. the Brazil District and the LCMS Board for Missions for initiating a preliminary survey of Mozambique and Angola; and be it further Resolved. That the LCMS Board for Missions in con- sultation with the Brazil District be encouraged to carry out an extensive, in-depth study of mission opportunities in these two oe tues ped yo i further Resolved. "Phuut (his misston eftort be undertaken after