# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S10 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) a ne EVANGELISM 9 Resolved. That the retreats be 3 days in length. conducted in a “retreat setting.’ and use small-group discussion techniques with sufficient time for private discussion. reflection. and prayer: and be it further Resolved. That each participant in the retreats be asked to evaluate his own personal mission in terms of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to set personal goals, and to plan how he can help motivate and equip others to share the Gospel: and be it further Resolved. That in the retreats the District. circuit. and con- gregation each evaluate their evangelism activities and plan an aggressive program of outreach: and be it further Resolved. That the goal be that 90 percent of the professional workers of the church and congregational leaders together with their wives experience a renewal retreat: and be it further Resolved. That the following be the pattern of the retreats: 1. Regional Renewal Retreats (RRR)-—six retreats for syn- odical officers and District leaders, conducted by the Board for Evangelism: 2. District Renewal Retreats ‘DRR) for District executives and circuit counselors, conducted by the District leaders who attended an RRR: 3. Circuit Renewal Retreats (CRR) for each circuit. con- ducted by those who attended a DRR: 4. Congregational Leaders Renewal Retreats (CLRR). at least one for each congregation by those who attended a CRR: and be it further Resolved. That the Board for Evangelism seek a grant from outside the Synod to fund regional renewal retreats and the production of materials for the renewal retreats. but if this fails. that the Board of Directors set aside a special fund for the retreats: and be it finally Resolved. That the Districts be asked to fund the District renewal retreats and congregations fund the circuit and the congregational leaders retreat. Recommendation 2—Conrention Eva ngelism WHEREAS. Those who planned the 1975 convention have set aside convention time and provided special activities for the delegates to implement the evangelism theme of the convention: therefore be it Resolved. That the convention encourage all the delegates to participate in the following ways: 1. Use the convention New Testament for private reading. in the Bible classes provided. and for witnessing to those they meet during the convention: 2. Participate in the Saturday afternoon activity either by going to one of the parishes that have invited delegates to join them in an evangelism afternoon or by attending one of the evangelism workshops at the convention center: 3. Invite people from the community. the hotels. and wher- ever they meet others to the Inspiration Night. Sunday evening in the Arena. 4. Make use of the Prayer Chapel to remember in prayer the convention. the delegates. the officers. the floor committees. and those to whom they witness: and be it further Resolved. That we thank those individuals connected with Irvine College who raised the funds to provide the convention New Testament Recommendation 3—One Day a Week for Outreach WHEREAS. Through His Great Commission the Lord of the church has made “making disciples” top priority in all that we do: and WHEREAS. Pastors are so pressured by other concerns of the ministry that it becomes increasingly difficult to find time to make evangelism outreach calls and to teach evangelism to members of the parish: and WHEREAS. The growth rate of the Missouri Synod continues to decline and the defections continue to increase: therefore be it Resolved. That the convention encourage the pastors of the Synod to provide the kind of guidance and leadership that motivate and equip lay people to share the Gospel in their community both in their daily contacts and in structured pro- grams of visitation: and be it further Resolred. That we plead with pastors to make a commitment to the Lord of the church to devote at least 1 day a week or its equivalent to outreach. that is. in making evangelism calls and in training members to witness. Recommendation 4—Bicentennial Evangelism Thrust WHEREAS. The United States in 1976 will observe the 200th year of its founding with a variety of activities and celebrations that remind us of its heritage and history: and WHEREAS. Religion has played an important role in the founding of the United States and in shaping the principles and philosophy of its government: therefore be it Resolved. That Evangelism Festival 1976 (Jan. 25) recognize the public consciousness of the Bicentennial and address itself to the place of religion in the celebration by providing Bible study materials (which can also be used as family devotions and given to friends and neighbors) which: a. Consider the place of religion in the history and develop- ment of the United States: b. Ask for repentance for the failures of both the church and the nation: c. Issue a call for rededication to Christ and to Christian citizenship: and be it further Resolved. That the convention urge each congregation to organize a program to share this Bible study with those living in the community around the parish. Recommendation 5— Additional Staff Person WHEREAS. The Evangelism Department formed only 3 years ago is still in the process of building its staff and developing its program of service: and WHEREAS. Evangelism staff assistance is needed to direct the program of direct outreach and growth for the LCMS: and WHEREAS. Evangelism staff assistance is needed to expand and invigorate outreach and membership growth of sister churches overseas. for which a position has already been authorized by the last convention but unfilled see Recom- mendation 6): and WHEREAS. Evangelism staff assistance is needed to realize greater membership growth through such activities as evan- gelistic use of national radio and television programs in the Jocal parish. renewal retreats, press evangelism. ete.: and WHEREAS. There must be immediate research and program development to sharply reduce defections: and WHEREAS. The service of the evangelism department must continue to expand to meet the increased requests from Dis- tricts, congregations, and individuals: therefore be it Resolved. That the convention instruct the Board of Directors to authorize the calling of an additional staff person to the Evangelism Department at once. Recommendation 6— Relating to Overseas Churches WHEREAS. The Board for Evangelism, as requested in New Orleans resolution 1-09. has worked in conjunction with the Board for Missions in seeking to evaluate the best way to offer help in evangelism to the overseas churches: and WHEREAS. The response from 11 overseas churches indicates: 1. That there is a need for help in evangelism: 2. That none of the approaches in the past are satisfactory to all of the churches: 3. That there is resistance to any program that creates the impression that the church in the United States has all the answers in evangelism and will give them to the overseas churches: 4. That the problem of different cultures and languages makes it extremely difficult for one man to serve all the churches: _ ‘That the overseas churches want to relate to the Synod Sa)