LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 10

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10 MISSIONS, EVANGELISM, AND SOCIAL MINISTRY

Denmark

The Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Denmark, related
to the LCMS since 1900, is statistically a tiny church in a
country where 95". of the population are baptized Lutheran
church members but only 2 to 3". are churchgoers.

In this setting the ELFCD,. with a baptized membership of
141 (110 communicants) in six congregations. is beginning to
show signs of growth. These congregations are served by one
retired pastor and two recently ordained voung pastors. In
addition there is a vicar who is scheduled to complete his
training and be ordained early in 1984.

Now that this church is gradually being reinforced with
new pastors. they are beginning to do mission planning. In
1984 it is their hope to divide the six congregations between the
three full-time pastors so that the congregations can begin to
reach out to their surrounding areas. The congregations are
located throughout Denmark with the oldest (est. 1877) in
Copenhagen.

Their church planning includes also fiscal planning for the
years 1982 to 1990. Recognizing the reality of slow growth. this
church hopes for an increase in baptized membership from 150
in 1983 to 230 by 1990. Local giving is expected to increase
accordingly. Even so, the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church
in Denmark will need the financial help of the LCMS for some
years to come—and of course our prayers and partnership of
encouragement.

England

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of England, recognized
as a partner of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod since
1953, has been progressing slowly with a reported 2.8": growth
rate per year. This is below the goal of 10". indicated in the
30-year master plan, which also calls for a gradual annual
reduction in subsidy from the LCMS. The ELCE has 14
congregations in England, plus one in Scotland and one in
Wales. The church's seminary is Westfield House, a Lutheran
house of studies associated with Cambridge University.

The ELCE suffered a loss this past vear when its veteran
chairman leader, Rev. E. George Pearce. D.D., was called to
his heavenly home Nov. 24, 1982. He headed the church's
program since 1954. Dr. Pearce was considered a “guiding
spirit’ within the Council of Free Churches of Europe. He also
chaired the International Lutheran Conference of Missouri
Synod-related partner churches. He is remembered for his
mission zeal and as a defender of evangelical confessional
Lutheranism. Dr. Pearce is succeeded by Rev. Arnold Rakow.

As much as the ELCE is determined to go on its own, there
are times when it is grateful for special help it receives from
Partner LCMS. In late 1982 a special grant from Forward in
Remembrance matched the $50,000 in local funding which the
ELCE raised for a new church facility in Liverpool.

Another opportunity for special help arose when the ELCE
requested professional assistance with evangelism training. A
special grant from Forward in Remembrance made it possible
for Dr. Erwin Kolb, executive secretary for evangelism ser-
vices, to go to England to conduct Witness Workshops for
representative leaders of ELCE congregations (Oct. 13—21,
1981).

As a result of these workshops. 11 of the 15 congregations
repeated the Witness Workshop series in their own parishes.
This has created so much renewed interest in evangelism and
mission outreach that the ELCE requested the BFMS to make
it possible for another similar program. Again because of For-
ward in Remembrance, the BFMS in January 1983 was able to
authorize $3,000 from FIR Category III, Section E (‘Training
in Stewardship and Evangelism”), to make it possible for Rev.
W. Leroy Biesenthal. associate secretary for evangelism ser-
vices, to go to England in October of this vear to conduct Dialog
Evangelism Workshops. The ELCE for its part will again bear
the cost for in-country food, lodging, and transportation.

In England the Polish Lutheran Church in Exile continues
its work. With headquarters in London this conservative.
Christ-centered independent Lutheran church is served by six
Polish Lutheran pastors and four lay preachers. The church
was originally formed in 1945 by refugee Lutheran Poles. It
was Officially established in England in 1952. Itisin fellowship
with the ELCE.

France

The Evangelical Lutheran Church—Synod of France and
Belgium, begun in 1927, today consists of 14 parishes, of which
oneisin Antwerp, Belgium. The national staff of this church is
made up of 10 pastors, one professor of theology, and five lay
workers.

For some time their small seminary, known as the Theo-
logical Study Center, has been in need of repairs, library
expansion, and new printing equipment for producing course
materials. Meeting these needs was made possible by a grant of
$23,761 from Forward in Remembrance. Category III, D.

A new interest in mission outreach has been sparked by the
seminary's training of three students from Zaire. Two of the
students, if arrangements can be made, will vicar in Togo. Itis
the hope of the Synod of France and Belgium that, in partner-
ship with the LCMS, new work can some day be begun in Zaire.
This kind of interest and prayerful aspiration for mission
expansion is a healthy tonic for a small church whose task of
proclaiming Christ in their region is very difficult but, with
God's help and promise, necessary and possible.

Germany

The Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (English
rendition of Selbstaendige Evangelisch-lutherische Kirche,
abbreviated SELK) was constituted in 1972 through an
amalgamation of four Lutheran free churches in West Ger-
many. There are 118 self-supporting congregations served by
112 pastors. It has ties with the LCMS and LCMS-related
partner churches. Their pastors are trained in the church's
preparatory school and theological seminary in Oberursel,
near Frankfurt.

In its efforts to reach out with the Gospel of Christ, it
supports the “Luther Stunde"(Lutheran Hour). The Bleckmar

ission serves as the mission arm of SELK (cf. paragraphs re
LCMS Bleckmar work in Botswana).

Ministry to the Armed Forces

The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod considers its min-
istry to the men and women of the armed forces to be an
important part ofits mission. The Word of God reminds us with
a number of examples how already in the early days of the New
Testament also military people were brought to faith. The
centurion of Capernaum put his trust in Jesus. Our Lord
commented, “I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel”
(Matt. 8:10). At the scene of the crucifixion the centurion and
those that were with him exclaimed, "Truly this was the Son of
God" (Matt. 27:54). To the Roman guard (jailer) at Philippi, St.
Paul exhorted, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ..." (Acts
16:31). Likewise, in our own day LCMS ministry to the armed
forces of this country, whether at home or abroad. has one
central emphasis: “Him We Proclaim'"

For the continuation of this ministry, the 1981 convention
of the Synod placed the work and responsibility of the former
Armed Forces Commission under the Board for Mission Serv-
ices as a standing committee of the board (1981 Handbook. The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, pp. 32—33. 1.37¢: p. 67,
2.215), the Standing Committee for Ministry to the Armed
Forces (SCMAF).

In order to carry out this important ministry efficien tly and
effectively, the BFMS has delegated certain responsibilities to
this standing committee.

1. The Standing Committee for Ministry to the Armed
Forces shall serve as the endorsing agency for The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod for the military,
Veterans’ Administration, and Civil Air Patrol chap-
laincies and for directors of religious education for the
military.

2. The Standing Committee for Ministry to the Armed
Forces shall establish a readiness list of ready reserve
chaplains from which chaplains are called for active
duty in the military and Veterans’ Administration
chaplaincies.

Through this special arrangement the BFMS ministers to
the needs of our military personnel and supports the ministry
of chaplains by means of consultation, correspondence and