LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 20

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

20 MISSIONS

instance shall be the five members of the Board of
Control.

Board for Missions
Wilbert J. Sohns, Chairman
Edward A. Westcott Jr., Executive Secretary

Appendix IV

Overture: To State Clearly the Synod’s Position
on Comity Arrangements

WHEREAS. The Synod in its 1979 convention instructed the
Board for Missions to review and evaluate the guidelines
governing comity arrangements and their implementation in
the light of our church planning and strategy (cf. Res. 1-32A);
and

WHEREAS. The Board for Missions through a survey has
consulted with those involved in joint planning through
LCUSA Regional Planning Consultations concerning the
LCUSA “Guidelines for Regional Planning Consultations”;
and

WHEREAS. The Board for Missions in its review and evalua-
tion of LCUSA “Guidelines for Regional Planning Consulta-
tions” together with the response of those involved in Regional
Planning Consultations has verified a general consensus that
such consultations are mutually beneficial in the area of
mission planning and strategy; and

WHEREAS. The Board for Missions in its review and evalua-
tion of the LCUSA “Guidelines for Regional Consultations”
concludes that we are not in fact a comity arrangement but
rather in a consultatory arrangement with our fellow Luther-
ans (pp. 1—d); and

WHEREAS. The Board for Missions in its review and evalua-
tion of the LCUSA “Guidelines for Regional Planning Consulta-
tions” further concludes that the implementation of regional
and local guidelines (pp. 6 ff.) presents a form of comity
arrangement which, if regarded as binding, hinders an aggres-
sive church-planting strategy; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in conven-
tion adopted a goal of planting, under God’s blessing, 1,800
new churches in the decade of the ’80s; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in
convention affirm its commitment to consultation with other
Lutheran bodies as a responsible part of mission planning and
strategy as defined on pp. 1—5 of the LCUSA “Guidelines for
Regional Planning Consultations”; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
reject the binding nature of any decisions made at the national,
regional, or local consultations, as implied on pp. 6 ff. of the
Guidelines, which hinder any Lutheran church body from
initiating or allowing to be initiated any new ministry consis-
tent with its responsibility to the Lord of the church; and be it
finally

Resolved, That all congregations, circuits, and Districts of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod be urged to take
seriously the mandate of Christ to reach the millions of
unreached in this country and prayerfully and joyfully make
every effort necessary to reach the challenging goal of plant-
ing, under the Lord’s blessing, 1,800 new churches in the
decade of the ’80.

Board for Missions

Wilbert J. Sohns, Chairman
Edward A. Westcott Jr., Executive Secretary

Mission Information Resources

The following resource materials will be helpful for providing
additional background information:
1. The 1979 Convention Workbook, Board for Mission Report, pp.
1—39;

2. The 1979 Convention Proceedings, various mission-related
resolutions;

3. The Lutheran Annual 1981 (consult Index for various listings);

4. 1979 STATISTICAL YEARBOOK, published 1980;

In addition to complete statistics for the LCMS in North America,

world mission statistics may be found on pp. 256—64. “World Mission
Notes” may be found on pp. 265—71.

5. The Board for Missions, 500 N. Broadway, St. Louis, Mo. 63102.
can supply “God Opens Doors” pamphlets. The BFM office also has
information concerning mission projects.

6. The Board of Stewardship, Mission Education Services, 500 N.
Broadway, St. Louis, Mo. 63012, has a listing of available materials for
use in mission education materials such as pamphlets, the “Pray for

rT

s” booklet, pictures, filmstrips, etc.

1-02

Report of Board for Evangelism

DISCIPLING IN THE ’80s

The final word that our Lord Jesus Christ left with His
disciples before He returned to heaven is called the Great
Commission, the commission, or command, that His followers
(disciples) should make disciples of all nations of the world. In
the words recorded by Matthew, Jesus used one imperative,
“make disciples,” supported by three participles: Going into
the world, they should make disciples by baptizing and by
teaching.

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; and lo, I am with
you always, to the close of the age. (Matt. 28:19-20 RSV).

This commission broadens the traditional concept of
evangelism, which emphasizes bringing people to faith in
Jesus Christ or making them members of the church. The
emphasis of our Lord is to ‘make disciples,’ which is a
continuous process. First a person becomes a disciple of Jesus
Christ through faith, by which he or she receives the forgive-
ness of sins and a new birth. For an infant this happens in
Baptism; but once a person is a disciple of Jesus Christ, then
that person continues to grow in his or her relationship to Him
through the Word and the Sacrament of the Altar. Thus the life
and character of Jesus Christ is reproduced in the life of the
disciple as that disciple becomes more and more like his or her
Master. Thus discipleship is an ongoing process.

One way in which the disciple is like his or her Master is
that the disciple seeks, as the Master did, the lost and tries to
bring them into that relationship with Christ, so they can also
be His disciples. This becomes a continuous cycle: Peoplecome
to faith through the work of the Holy Spirit; become a part of
the body of Christ: and grow, mature, and learn to disciple
others.

1. The First Great Commission Convocation

The theme “‘Discipling in the ’80s” was chosen for the first
Great Commission Convocation of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod in order to stress both being disciples and
making new disciples. It was held Nov. 6—9, 1980, at the
Cervantes Convention Center in St. Louis, with 14 plenary
speakers chosen from the list of preferred speakers gathered by
a survey of congregations of the Synod. The convocation also
included 26 inreach workshops, 26 outreach workshops, and 26
special ministry workshops. A special steering committee,
appointed by the Board for Evangelism, planned and con-
ducted the convocation. The following were committee
members:

Dr. Walter Stuenkel, Indianapolis, Ind.—General Chair-
man

Mr. Richard Korthals, Arcadia, Mich.—Program Chairman

Rev. Jerrold Nichols, Fort Wayne, Ind.—Worship Chair-
man

Rev. Howard Allwardt, Birmingham, Mich.—Follow-
Through Chairman

Dr. Oswald Waech, Cypress, Calif.—Prayer Chairman

Rev. Wallace Schulz, St. Louis, Mo.—Rally Chairman

Mrs. Helen Morris, Mankato, Minn.—Arrangements Chair-
man

Rev. Elmer Scheck, Milwaukee, Wis.—Publicity Chairman

Dr. Wilbert Griesse, Memphis, Tenn.—Representative of the
Council of Presidents

Dr. Guido Merkens, San Antonio, Tex.—Representative of
the President, Vice Presidents, and Board of Directors

Dr. Erwin J. Kolb, St. Louis, Mo.—Staff Coordinator