LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Sheet 366

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PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION 357

WHEREAS, All members of Missouri Synod congregations
could profit from a presentation on the work we are doing
together as The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; therefore

e it

Resolved, That during the 1981—83 biennium every officer
and staff person of the LCMS, its Districts, colleges, and
seminaries, be asked to give three or more Sundays or dates a
year, without remuneration, for speaking assignments; and be
it further

Resolved, That the Board of Stewardship extend this offer
to every parish, conference, and rally that a speaker would be
provided without charge. The Stewardship Department would
be responsible for the correlation of invitations and speaking
assignments, utilizing existing travel schedules to maintain a
low cost.

' Recommendation 7
To Provide for Support of the Seminaries

WHEREAS, One portion of the LCMS higher education
program in which students find it virtually impossible to
receive government or other scholarship assistance is the
postgraduate seminary program; and

WHEREAS, The seminary programs are the only higher
education programs conducted solely for the benefit of church
workers; and

WHEREAS, These seminary programs are Synodwide in
scope; therefore be it

Resolved, That the supervision and activities of the develop-
ment and fund-raising work of all LCMS seminaries be
transferred to the Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That the Stewardship Department implement a
major offering/emphasis annually at the Reformation season
to gather from the members of LCMS congregations sufficient
funds to make possible the total subsidy of the synodical
seminaries; and be it finally

Resolved, That the ongoing solicitation of large gifts and
deferred gifts be under the administration of the Synod in
behalf of the various seminaries, thus allowing the seminaries
to concentrate on the work of preparing future pastors.

Recommendation 8

To Establish Criteria for Groups Seeking
to Serve LCMS and/or Partners

WHEREAS, The image of the LCMS overseas, as well as in
North America, depends on perceptions gained from those
implicitly or explicitly representing the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The trend continues for various individuals,
groups, and/or organizations to offer services to aid and equip
LCMS members and partners; and

WHEREAS, The need exists to assist members of LCMS and
partner churches to identify bona fide representatives of the
LCMS and affiliated groups as they seek leadership help;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board of Directors establish a method
and criteria by which those inside or outside the LCMS
structure may receive endorsement and/or sanction to provide
leadership training or services, particularly overseas.

Recommendation 9
To Encourage Districts to Use Convention Theme

WHEREAS, The LCMS has adopted Forward in Remem-
brance, not only as the theme of its major fund-raising effort,
but also as the 1981 convention theme; and

WHEREAS, Much good will come from the continuing use of
this stewardship theme in the 1981—83 biennium; therefore be
it

Resolved, That the stewardship emphasis of this 1981
convention continue throughout the LCMS during 1981—83;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Districts be encouraged to provide
opportunity for similar emphasis on stewardship and growth

in the grace of giving at their 1982 District conventions
(through stewardship theme essays, displays, devotions, Bible
studies, rallies, etc.); and be it finally

Resolved, That The Stewardship Department of the Synod
be ready to aid Districts in this in every way possible.

Recommendation 10
To Thank the Faithful People

WHEREAS, Hundreds of thousands of God’s people in the
LCMS parishes have responded to God’s Word with generous
giving through their parishes, as well as in the Forward in
Remembrance effort; and

WHEREAS, Much good and Kingdom work is being carried
out because of their gifts; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention thank those
dedicated givers at all levels who are making it possible for our
work together for Christ to go forward; and be it further

Resolved, That we offer a thankful and resounding “pat on
the back,” first, for a job well done thus far, and secondly, for
an encouraging push forward to ever greater achievements.

12-03

Report of Executive Planning Group
in Behalf of Planning Group
(Board of Directors, Council of
Presidents, Council of Administrators)

THE LUTHERAN CHURCH—MISSOURI SYNOD
A MASTER PLAN FOR THE 1980s

If there is any question about who we are and what we are
up to as members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod,
the answer is clearly stated in God’s Word. Jesus calls us to be
His disciples. By our baptism that’s who we are. We are a
people chosen by God’s grace to learn of Jesus’ forgiveness and
the eternal life with God He gives us through faith in His
redeeming work.

We are lifelong learners. At each new stage of life we
discover new reasons to praise God for the Law, by which He
ex poses our desperate need for Him. As we maturein faith from
year to year, we also uncover new evidence of the love with
which God comes to us in Christ to meet our need. He forgives
all our sins. He heals all our diseases. He blesses us with love
and mercy. He fills our life with good things.

As disciples, God has commissioned us to be the bearers of
His Good News to others throughout the world. Jesus author-
izes us to make for Him disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in thename of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
We will never receivea higher appointment. We will never find
amore weighty reason for living. We have a divine mandate to
teach one another everything Christ has commanded us.

One way to confirm who we are and recommit ourselves to
our mission as Jesus’ disciples is to agree together as a Synod
on a master plan for our future work.

Obviously, such a master plan should be consistent with
and help to carry out the objectives of the Synod, which are
stated in the Synod’s bylaws as follows:

Article III Objectives

The Synod, under Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions,
shall—

1. Conserve and promote the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4:3-6; 1
Cor. 1:10), work through its official structure toward fellowship with
other Christian church bodies, and provide a united defense against
schism, sectarianism (Rom. 16:17), and heresy:

2. Strengthen congregations and their members in giving bold
witness by word and deed to the love and work of God, the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit, and extend that Gospel witness into all the
world;

3. Recruit and train pastors, teachers, and other professional
church workers and provide opportunity for their continuing
growth;

4. Provide opportunities through which its members may

express their Christian concern, love, and compassion in meeting
human needs;