LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1986, Page 152

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152 RESOLUTIONS

8. That by 1989 better coordination of congregational,
district, and national work will result in the improved al-
location of available resources (Res. 4-08A).

9. That by 1989 all synodwide capital financing needs
will be provided internally by the Church Extension Fund
to support the mission of the church.

Action: Adopted as amended (12).

(Since Res. 4-02 had been defeated, reference to it was deleted
from Resolved 1. In Resolved 5, the original wording before being

changed by the co ittee read, “That by 1989 the Planning Coun-
can best

cil will have determined how district officers and s
provide continuing personal services to congregations.”)

To Define Problems and Challenges
of Walking Together

RESOLUTION 4-02

Reports 5-04, 5-05 V and IX (CW, pp. 17 5-78) Appen-
dix 5-05B (CW, pp- 179-83)

Wuereas, The privilege and responsibility given us by
our Lord in the Great Commission involves congregations
in a program of mission and ministry carried out on the
local, district, and national levels; and

Wuereas, The Synod on the national and district levels
functions as servant to the congregations in support of and
on behalf of those congregations as they seek to carry out
their God-given mission; and

Wuereas, The Lord has placed before congregations,
districts, and the Synod many opportunities for the ex-
pansion of mission and ministry; and

Wuereas, Ambitious mission expansion plans have
been defined in North America and overseas; and

Wuereas, The work of the Synod at all levels has been
curtailed because of the sharp reduction in “real dollars”
made available for work at national and district levels, and
this declining trend will continue to have an impact on our
ability to meet our opportunities and challenges for the
future; and

Wuereas, There is an urgent need to develop a greater
sense of identity and ownership on all levels regarding the
mission and ministry of the church; and

Wuereas, Our walking together will be enhanced as
congregations become better informed about the mission
which they share with all other members of the Synod, and
as those having responsibility for planning and budgeting
on both national and district levels see themselves as being
supportive partners in one mission; and

Wuereas, The limited resources available at the na-
tional and district levels require a careful setting of prior-
ities in order that the work be accomplished using good
stewardship; and

Wuereas, Such setting of priorities is done most effec-
tively when accomplished jointly by national and district
leaders; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
commit itself to defining the problems and challenges in
walking together in mission and ministry on all levels of
the Synod; and be it further

ee —_S—ret—‘“_O_N

Chairman Edwin Lehman of Committee 4

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
adopt a process to help determine how best to facilitate
joint planning, setting of priorities, funding and commu-
nicating our mission and ministry, the development and
implementation of the process to include the following:

1. That The Lutheran Church—Missour) Synod Presi-
dent, in consultation with the Board of Directors, the Coun-
cil on Stewardship, and the Council of Presidents, appoint
a blue-ribbon President’s Commission to facilitate the
gathering and sharing of information and suggestions from
congregations, circuits, districts, and national offices as to
(1) who we are as the Synod, (2) how we walk together, (3)
what are our concerns, (4) what good things are happening,
(5) how might we rejoice in our blessings, etc.

2. That this process be the major agenda item for the
March 1987 Planning Council meeting.

3. That district boards of directors and other appropri-
ate groups be informed of and asked to share their inputs
regarding the joint planning and funding of the mission.

4. That district presidents and circuit counselors make
this process the major agenda item for the 1987-88 fall
circuit forum or convocation.

5. That every congregation and pastoral conference be
included for the receiving and sharing of jnformation an!
methods of addressing needed changes.

6. That the district conventions in 1988 make this mat-
ter a major agenda item to be considered.

7. That the blue-ribbon President’s Commission submit
a report on the basis of data gathered through this process,
together with appropriate recommendations for inclusion
in the Convention Workbook, for the 1989 synodical con-
vention.

Action: Declined (12).
(A motion to delete “appoint a blue-ribbon President’s Com-

mission” and substitute “utilizing the Board of Directors oF its
subcommittee,” was declined. After resuming discussion in seS-

sion 12, the entire resolution was declined.)