LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 34

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34 MISSIONS, EVANGELISM, AND SOCIAL MINISTRY

in joint Open House Missions and to conduct individual Open
House Missions; and be it further
Resolved. That the Board for Evangelism Services assist
Districts in conducting LOH events by providing guidance,
training, and materials as necessary; and be it finally
Resolved, That funding be provided in the 1983—84 budget
to undergird these efforts.
Board for Evangelism Services
Oswald A. Waech. Chairman
Erwin J. Kolb, Executive Secretary

1-24

To Encourage the Assimilation
of New Members

WHEREAS, Our evangelism efforts to “make disciples” are
often nullified by our failure to assimilate new members into
the life and work of the congregation; and

WHEREAS, We have been plagued by backdoor losses which
frequently exceed gains; and

WHEREAS, Conservation is a vital aspect of any Biblical
evangelism worthy of the name; therefore be it

Resolved, That we commit ourselves to the principle that
assimilation begins the momenta person begins attending our
services and that especially when a person enrolls in the adult
membership class the following be included:

1. Each member of the class should be visited at home by
the pastor and/or elder prior to reception into membership.

2. Asponsor “friend” should be designated for each member
in the class.

3. Representatives of the Bible class department should
appear before the class and urge participation in Bible class.

4. Members of the class should be given a spiritual gifts

analysis to determine where they might serve with joy and

distinction.

Board for Evangelism Services

Oswald A. Waech, Chairman

Erwin J. Kolb, Executive Secretary

1-25

To Encourage Use
of New Books on Evangelism

WHEREAS, There is a lack of books which provide adequate
Lutheran theology of evangelism and church growth: and

WHEREAS, Students, pastors, and lay people are reading
books on evangelism and church growth written by authors
from other denominations; and

WHEREAS, Manv of the programs of evangelism in use in our
Svnod have presuppositions which are rooted in non-Lutheran
theology: and

WHEREAS, The Board for Evangelism Services and Con-
cordia Publishing House have studied the need for evangelism
books and have developed a series of new books on evangelism,
namely A Theology for Evangelism, A History of Evangelism,
and practical books on backdoor losses, mission motivation,
church growth, and surveying the methods of evangelism:
therefore be it

Resolved. That this convention commend the Board for
Evangelism Services and Concordia Publishing House for
cooperatively developing this series for the church: and be it
further

Resolved. That the publications of the Synod give these
volumes as they are available a high degree of visibility
through reviews and promotion: and be it further

Resolved. That the seminaries and the colleges of the Synod
be encouraged to use these books in their classes: and be it
finally

Resolved, That the Districts and congregations of the
Synod be encouraged to use these books in their programs.

Board for Evangelism Services

Oswald A. Waech, Chairman

Erwin J. Kolb, Executive Secretary

1-26

To Oppose All Forms of Anti-Semitism
with the Gospel

WHEREAS, When Jesus came in fulfillment of the prophecies
God gave to the Jewish people, He came to be the Messiah for
Gentiles as well as Jews; and

WHEREAS, While the early Jewish believers had difficulty
accepting the fact that Jesus should be proclaimed to the
Gentiles, the opposite is true today in that some Gentile
Christians have difficulty accepting the fact that Jesus should
be proclaimed to the Jewish people; and

WHEREAS, There is an openness to hearing the Gospel
among some Jewish people today: and

WuerEas, Helps in bringing the Gospel to Jewish people
provided by the Synod’s Task Force on Witnessing to Jewish
People have been well received by individuals, congregations.
and Districts who have contact with Jewish people: and

WHEREAS, All forms of anti-Semitism hinder bringing the
Gospel to Jewish people. either in discouraging Christians
from sharing it or Jewish people from believing it; and

WHEREAS, The strong anti-Semitic statements of Martin
Luther in his book On the Jews and Their Lies(Luther’s Works.
American Edition. Vol. 47, pp. 123—306) are often cited by
Jewish people to hinder evangelization of their people: there-
fore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
affirm its belief that the Messiah, Jesus, is the only way for all
people to be reconciled with God, and affirm its desire that
Jewish people be included in the proclamation of this truth:
and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage the Board for Evangelism
Services and its Task Force on Witnessing to Jewish People to
continue to provide help to Districts and congregations for
proclaiming the Gospel to Jewish people and for dealing with
anti-Semitism: and be it further

Resolved. That we commend the Commission on Theology
and Church Relations for studying the issue: and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage the Board for Parish Services
to cooperate with the Task Force on Witnessing to Jewish
People in providing study material on the Jewish people today,
the problem of anti-Semitism, and Jewish evangelism; and be
it finally

Resolved, That we encourage the Board for Social Ministry
to include anti-Semitism and prejudice against the Jewish
people in its materials and programs which deal with all forms
of prejudice.

Board for Evangelism Services
Oswald A. Waech, Chairman
Erwin J. Kolb, Executive Secretary

1-27

To Support
Second Great Commission Convocation

WHEREAS, The blessings of the first Great Commission
Convocation continue to be evident in the church; and

WHEREAS, Thirty-two of the Districts (as well as some
Circuits and congregations) have conducted District convo-
cations or similar adult gatherings emphasizing ‘‘discipling in
the '80s” since the first Great Commission Convocation; and

WHEREAS, All the evaluations of both synodical and District
convocations ask for another synodical convocation; and