LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 37

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MISSIONS 37

ALC and the LCA regarding new mission starts; and be it
finally

Resolved, That if LCUSA is unable to provide guidelines
that reduce friction, that the District work toward establishing
a new forum where improved relationships may be furthered.

Nebraska District
Eldor W. Meyer, President
B. F. Meschke, Secretary

1-27

To Give Greater Attention
to Church Growth

WHEREAS, Jesus Himself said, “I will build My church”
(Matt. 16:18), and therefore wants His church to grow, both
qualitatively and quantitatively; and

WHEREAS, He has chosen to use Christians in that building
process (1 Peter 4:10-11, et al.); and

WHEREAS, The Book of Acts and indeed much of the New
Testament is filled with accounts of the growth of the early
church; and

WHEREAS, Church growth has become a helpful tool in
evaluating effectiveness in outreach ministry and in planning
for a more effective outreach on a synodical, District, or
congregational level; therefore be it

Resolved, That each District of our Synod, through its
leaders, be encouraged to consider church growth for its
ministry and the ministries of its various congregations; and
be it further

Resolved, That the Synod’s Board for Missions, in con-
junction with the Board for Evangelism, give continued atten-
tion to church growth through manpower and materials and
supply information for congregations and Districts desiring to
pursue this area of study more carefully; and be it finally

Resolved, That pastors and congregations individually be
encouraged to consider by careful study the benefits that
church growth can offer to their ministry.

Zion Lutheran Church
Valley Park, Mo.

Joel Heck, Pastor

Diana Walker, Secretary

1-28

To Have a Second
Great Commission Convocation

WHEREAS, God richly blessed the first Great Commission
Convocation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod that
was sponsored by the Board for Evangelism on Nov. 6—9,
1980, which 6,000 people attended; and

WHEREAS, The participants at the convocation made very
positive evaluations and recommended that the Synod repeat
the convocation; and

WHEREAS, The Districts of the Synod are conducting District
convocations during 1981 and 1982; and

WHEREAS, There continues to be a need to sustain the
priority given to the Great Commission in its full dimension of
being disciples of and making disciples for Jesus Christ;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod commend the Board for Evangel-
ism and the Steering Committee for planning and conducting
the first Great Commission Convocation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod commend those Districts who
have conducted or are planning to conduct District Great
Commission Convocations and encourage other Districts to
hold similar events, and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod conduct a second Great Commis-
sion Convocation at a feasible time in the next few years; and
be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Evangelism appoint a
National Steering Committee that will represent both inreach

and outreach ministries under the theme of ‘Making Dis-
ciples”; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Board for Evangelism, with the approval
of the Board of Directors, establish a separate convocation
office and appoint a convocation manager, who will devote at
least half-time to providing staff service to the Steering
Committee and to managing the convocation office for at least
a year before the convocation.

Board for Evangelism
William R. Wright, Chairman
Erwin J. Kolb, Executive Secretary

1-29

To Initiate
a Volunteer Evangelism Ministry

WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus has commissioned us to make
disciples of all nations (Matt. 18:19-20); and

WHEREAS, More than half of our 50 states have an un-
churched population in excess of 50 percent, and an additional
25 percent (13 states) register an unchurched population in the
40-percent bracket (1979 Convention Workbook, pp. 22—23);
and

WHEREAS, The population of our country continues to be
very mobile; and

WHEREAS, Many areas of our country do not have available
to them a Lutheran ministry of Word and Sacrament; and

WHEREAS, It is our responsibility, privilege, and opportunity
to share the saving Gospel with those whose eyes have not yet
seen the King; and

WHEREAS, Certain religious organizations have been suc-
cessful in utilizing volunteers to disseminate their teachings in
a door-to-door ministry; and

WHEREAS, God has blessed our efforts and has opened many
doors when volunteers were utilized in an evangelism door-to-
door ministry; and

WHEREAS, Experience and history have demonstrated that
such a ministry has been effective (Volunteer Youth Ministry
in Japan, District Youth Staffers, etc.); therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
adopt the concept of a volunteer evangelism ministry that
would include volunteers sponsored by either the Synod, a
District, groups of congregations, a single congregation, an
individual, or a number of these working together; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Synod encourage input from synodical
boards, Districts, congregations, and individuals so that ideas
can be received and interest increased in a door-to-door evangel-
ism ministry in our Synod.

St. Timothy Lutheran Church
Houston, Tex.
Andrew Simcak Jr., Pastor

1-30
To Employ Directors of Evangelism

WHEREAS, There is a continuing need for equipping lay-
people both to be witnesses who share their faith in their
everyday lives and to be evangelists who share the Gospel in
calling programs; and

WHEREAS, Congregations are open to learning new ways to
reach the unchurched, welcome them, and incorporate them
into their fellowship; and

WHEREAS,: The pastor needs all the help he can get in
carrying out his evangelism responsibilities in the training
and equipping of his members for their ministry; and

WHEREAS, It has been demonstrated that a trained un-
ordained person can serve as an able assistant to the pastor in
these responsibilities; therefore be it

Resolved, That we commend the colleges that have