LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 166

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166 ADMINISTRATION AND PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

lution into a Bylaw. On the other hand, they agreed on the
value of a Bylaw which would emphasize the important but
limited planning function carried out by the Executive Co-
ordinating Committee.

Planning Assumptions and Goals

Through its master plan The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod attempts to marshall the resources God has given it to
carry out its ministry of the Word of God boldly and wisely. In
this ministry the people of God in the Synod respond in faith to
God who in Christ has called them out of the darkness of sin
into the light of eternal life. With thanksgiving God’s people
gather around His Word and sacraments to worship Him. They
also teach and learn His Word so that they grow in grace and in
the knowledge of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To people
in North America and throughout the world they witness of the
saving love of Jesus so that more men, women, and children by
faith may be added to His church. Motivated by the love of
Jesus, God’s people learn to serve one another in every need.
Tied together by bonds of fellowshipin Chmist they sustain one
another in times of achievement and success as well asin times
of disappointment and stress.

The Synod needs to refine the process by which the national
Synod and Districts of the Synod establish priorities, generate
alternatives by which to pursue their goals, and then agreeona
course of action which enables of all the Synod to move ahead
in Christ’s mission. The planning assumptions and goals
suggested here are vital ingredients in that process. In them-
selves they are already an integrated whole. They are designed
to contribute together to a timed sequence of activities, pro-
grams, and services which together are more than the mere
sum of their parts. In each annual program and budget
between now and 1993 the goals will become more specific and
measurable.

Each of the seven planning units has stated the assump-

“tions upon which the unit proceeds as it designs its goals.

1. The world mission priorities are identified by theSynod’s
Board for Mission Services in consultation with partner
churches.

2. Priorities in North American missions are agreed upon
by representatives of the appropriate District and national
boards of the Synod in consultation with the Lutheran Council
in the U.S.A.

3. The Synod’s Board for Professional Education Services
established higher education priorities based on periodic indi-
vidual and joint conferences with colleges and seminaries.

4. Congregational services include the five basic functions
of the local parish. The appropriate District boards establish
goals on a priortiy basis within the District. District and
national representatives develop the overall synodical goals
which reflect the work of the Board for Evangelism Services,
the Board for Parish Services, the Board for Social Ministry
Services, the Department of Stewardship and Financial Sup-
port, and the Board for Youth Services.

5. Communication priorities are established by the com-
bined efforts of District and national leaders in the respective
boards of communication services.

6. The Synod’s Board of Directors and President establish
priorities in program administration, finance, and support
services in cooperation with representatives of appropriate
boards at both the District and national levels of the Synod.

7. The President of the Synod establishes priorities, in
cooperation with Vice-Presidents, District Presidents, and
representatives of appropriate boards and commissions.

World Missions Planning Unit
Planning Assumptions

1. These Scriptural mandates determine the priorities of the
Church:

a. “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts
1:8 NIV).

b. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations...”
(Matt. 28:19 NIV).

c. ‘And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the
whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the
end will come” (Matt. 24:14 NIV).

2. The magnitude of the task is illustrated by these statistics:

a. Population of the world-4,373,917,700 made up of 223
nations, 8,993 people groups, 16,750 subcultures, and
7,010 languages.

b. 1,432,686,519 people claim to have some official re
lationship with a Christian church.

ce. 2,941,231,181 people who are still sitting in darkness.
Only 1,81] languages have the Scripture or parts of it.

Goals—By the end of 1993...

1. 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. TheSynod has begun language analysis, Bible translation,
and literacy work in 10 of the world’s 5,199 unwritten
languages (one new language each year).

3. 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 training
national workers in a strong program of theological edu-
cation.

4. The Synod in a servant 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 Svnod 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 Missions Planning Unit
Planning Assumptions
1. God calls us for a tremendous task.
a. We are serious about “making disciples” of the 100
million unchurched people.
b. Weare committed to planting new churches as the most
effective means to reach the unchurched.
c. We will plant new churches to serve l.utherans where
they live.
. We will expand our ministry to minorities.
. We will expand our ministry in the inner city.
. We will minister to more deaf people.
. We will expand our ministry to more college and
university communities.
. We will expand our ministry in rural areas.
. We will minister to more blind people.
2. God blesses us with a terrific treasure.
a. Weareserious about involving 2.7 million LCMS people
in mission.
b. We will provide more opportunities for volunteers in our
mission efforts.
c. We will challenge 6.000 plus pastors to be mission
leaders.
d. We will change some of our traditional models of
starting new ministries.
e. We will encourage the realignment of some ministries.
f. We will become more cost effective in funding the
mission.
3. God provides us with a terminal time: we will “make
disciples” of as many unchurched people as possible in the
time God provides.

we Rao e

Planning Goals

1. By the end of 1993 ... 1800 new churches. This will include
each year ten new Black churches, five new Hispanic
churches, two new Native American churches, and two
new Asian American churches.

2. Twenty-five percent growth in baptized membership.