LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Sheet 369

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

360 PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

We are not to be consumed by anxiety about our future. It
belongs to God. We are secure in His mercy. Worrying about the
alternatives we face will not give us more energy or more
wisdom to cope. God alone gives us the strength we need. The
kingdom of God comes of itself in God’s way, by His schedule,
and by His power at work in His Word.

So how do we confront our alternate futures? God gives us
the life of His Spirit so that we will plan in harmony with His
will for us. He calls us to examine in the light of His Word
what’s happening in the Synod, the whole Christian church,
and the world. We are to discover the significance of it all for
Christ’s mission. Then we are to ask, “What is our part in it?”

We need to set priorities. Among all the different kinds of
Christian ministries in which we might engage, which are
necessary and vital and which if circumstances dictate can be
intelligently neglected for a time?

We also need to choose the most effective plans and
strategies to reach the goals God sets before us in His Word. As
congregations, Districts, and the Synod, we want both peace
and growth for His church. But do we know the things that
make for both? That requires mutual consultation, study,
prayer, and decision making.

III. Goals for the ’80s

The goals set forth below are in broad strokes and are
presented with a framework and continuation process which
will help the Synod in the coming decade identify specific
programs and the priorities and a time sequence by which they
can be implemented within the parameters of available
resources. As the process continues, the goals for each year of
the Synod’s work will be made more specific and measurable.

These goals are also presented as an integrated whole. We
cannot hope to achieve the mission challenges without a long-
range higher-education plan, increasing our effectiveness in
gaining new members and retaining current members, and
getting laity throughout the church more personally involved
in worship, witness, service, stewardship, lifelong learning,
and other integral aspects of the ministry of local congrega-
tions designed to meet the changing needs of the 1980s.

Within that broader context, we respectfully submit the
following recommended goals for the 1980s:

World Area Mission Goals

1. By the end of the decade the Synod has begun work in 10
unreached areas of the world (one new area each year) in order
to share the Gospel of Christ with the 3.1 billion people who do
not yet put their trust in Him.

2. By the end of the decade the Synod has begun language
analysis, Bible translation, and literacy work in 10 of the
world’s 3,518 unwritten languages (one new language each
year).

3. By the end of the decade the Synod has increased the size
of its missionary force of pastors, teachers, and lay people at
work in world areas from 148 to 500 workers (approximately 35
additional workers each year) and has supported partner
churches in developing their strategy for recruiting and train-
ing national workers in a strong program of theological
education.

4. By the end of the decade the Synod, in aservant role, has
supported partner churches in their efforts to establish active
mission boards and aggressive programs of outreach with the
Gospel of Christ built upon their own short- and long-range
goals and strategies to meet those goals.

5. By 1985 the Synod has developed, implemented, and
tested its plans for keeping each congregation of the Synod
adequately informed about opportunities and challenges in
witnessing for Christ to people throughout the world.

North American Mission Goals

1. By the end of the decade, the Synod has increased its
membership by 50% by effectively sharing the Gospel with the
unchurched people, who make up 40% of the population in the
United States and Canada.

2. By the end of the decade the Synod has begun 1,000 new
ministries, an average of 100 new ministries each year, includ-
ing the planting of 6 Black, 6 Hispanic, 2 American Indian, 2

American-Asian, 2 campus, and 2 deaf ministries each year.

3. By 1982 the Synod has developed criteria and begun to
implement a program for selecting priorities and shifting
resources to areas of more critical need in new work in North
America.

4. By the end of the decade al] new and ongoing subsidized
ministries in North America are administered through a
strategy mutually agreed upon by parish, District, and Synod
leaders.

Higher Education Goals

1. By 1982 the Synod has developed a long-range, compre-
hensive plan which details the unique roles of each of the
Synod’s colleges and seminaries and describes improved
programs for recruiting quality students and providing them
with professional training of the highest caliber. By the end of
the decade the plan has been implemented, evaluated, and
strengthened.

2. By 1983 the Synod has created a procedure by which
regularly to assure the number and nature of church-work
graduates the Synod needs to fill the positions God opens upin
world, North American, education, and special ministries. By
the end of the decade the procedure has been implemented,
evaluated and strengthened.

3. By 1983 the Synod has produced and put into effect a
long-range strategy for financing building and renovating
structures on its college and seminary campuses.

4. By 1985 the Synod has evaluated the teaching/learning
methods and media used in its colleges and seminaries and
described ways more effectively to use current technology in
equipping students for their ministries.

5. By the end of the decade the Synod has developed and
implemented a program of continuing education which will
encourage all its church workers to participate regularly in
courses and workshops which strengthen their personal and
professional] skills in the ministry of God’s Word.

Parish Services Goals

The detailed results of the Parish Services Priorities Survey
revealed two broad priorities: first, an emphasis on personal
witness, ministry, discipleship; and second, a need for sound,
workable resources and strategies to assist local congregations
in equipping local leadership—volunteer teachers, board/
committee chairmen, and the membership in general—to more
effectively carry out mission and ministry. With these broad
directions in mind, and utilizing the input received from the
planning units, as well as data extant in the recent literature,
the following goals are recommended for the 1980s:

Worship Goals

1. By the end of the decade the Synod has enrolled at least
50% of its members in a program of daily private or family
Bible reading, instruction, and prayer.

2. By the end of the decade the Synod has increased to 50%
of its baptized membership the size of the average Sunday
morning gathering of people to hear God’s Word and attend the
Lord’s Supper (up from 39% in 1979).

3. By 1985 the Synod has published Lutheran Worship and
the related worship resource materials planned to complement
its use and has instructed the worship leaders in local congre-
gations in ways to improve the preaching of God’s Word,
enhance the celebration of the sacraments, and strengthen
personal participation in meaningful Lutheran worship
experiences.

Witness Goals

1. By the end of the decade the current 6,000-plus congrega-
tions of the Synod have increased the tota] number of adult
baptisms and confirmations to 39,000 each year (up from
26,000 in 1979) as the Synod works toward increasing its
membership by 50% over what it was when the decade began.

2. By the end of the decade the Synod has recruited and
trained at least five parish evangelism callers in at least 75% of
its congregations.

3. By the end of the decade the Synod has fashioned a