LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1989, Page 66

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66 REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

as they take their programs increasingly out into the
church, both at home and abroad.

In short, by 1995 our colleges and seminaries will be
significantly stronger in terms of ecclesiastical orientation,
educational quality, financial support, and world-mission
outlook.

7. Human Care

By 1995, the Synod’s commitment to providing help for
the poor, hungry, hurting, unborn, elderly, and underpri-
vileged members of our society will be even stronger and
better financed than today. Deed ministries will be closely
linked with Word ministries in the Synod’s efforts at home
and abroad to tell everyone what He has done. While other
denominational groups continue to escalate their involve-
ment in social and political issues, the Synod’s focus will
continue to be on human care—helping people in need,
recognizing that whatever we do to the least of Jesus’
brethren, we do unto Him.

By 1995, the Synod’s efforts to provide humanitarian
aid to the hungry and to assist refugees and immigrants
will be supported by virtually every congregation of the
Synod, and each synodical congregation will have accepted
its responsibility to join hands with other community and
religious agencies in the long, hard fight against drugs,
disease, and poverty.

These seven major areas present a long list of goals and
challenges! And linking them all together—and linking us
together, too—are three broad areas that assist our total
mission and ministry:

1. Communication. By 1995, I believe that we will have
learned to listen to each other better than we do today,
and we will know more about our common needs and op-
portunities at home and all over the world. The Lutheran
Witness will be received in every home of every congre-
gation. Electronic mail and video magazines will help us
know and respond to each other in quicker, more helpful
ways. Luther-Net, employing the latest computer tech-
nology, will link our offices, congregations, and pastors to-
gether in exciting ways.

2. Auxiliaries. By 1995, our International LLL and In-
ternational LWML will be even stronger and larger lay
organizations than they are today. The LLL’s use of elec-
tronic mass media will be bringing the Gospel to hundreds
of thousands of people around the world. The LWML’s pro-
grams of mission education and Bible study will be vital
factors in the life of every congregation.

3. Trust. By 1995, we will have a vastly improved cli-
mate of trust throughout the Synod, together with a better
appreciation of the diversity that can legitimately exist
among the members of a confessional church who walk
together on the same road—motivated by the same Lord,
confessing the same Gospel, pursuing the same goals, and
travelling toward the same heaven—but not in a “lock-
step” march—and helping each other along the way as we
move at different paces and in different ways.

Does it all sound like an idle dream? Is it too much to
hope that our Synod, having studied and discussed our

needs for several years, can now begin to take specific ac-
tions to accomplish such goals? I not only believe that such
goals are possible to achieve, but that we are ready to begin
that process now by taking some decisive first steps. To be
sure, there are some voices of fear and concern, and even
a little suspicion among us, but most of our people are
ready to move forward .. . and to move now!

Moreover, this convention will again give us the oppor-
tunity to learn from our past, as we review, remember, and
celebrate the dedication, commitment, and courage that
led. our forefathers to emigrate from Germany 150 years
ago and to found our St. Louis seminary in Perry County
in 1839. Their faith is our faith, their dream is our dream,
their commitment is our commitment. They knew that
changes needed to be made, not only to preserve their her-
itage in a new country, but to accomplish the Lord’s mis-
sion.

In many respects, the world of today is not like the world
of yesterday. Continuing change is the order of the day,
not only in science and technology, but in the very fabric
of our life and society with all its precious values. Much
has changed in the institutional church, too, including The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Declining denomina-
tional loyalties, fewer children, more elderly people, con-
tinuing movement from rural to urban communities,
increased opportunities among ethnic and minority pop-
ulations—all of these things and more are true of our
church body, as well as others. We seek no change in our
faith and doctrine, and in fact we must work hard to pre-
serve them. But organizationally, we cannot simply stand
still or, even worse, attempt to recreate the past.

Where are we to find the resources for what awaits us
and for what we must do? The answer, my brothers and
sisters, is to be found where it has always been found,
namely in the Word of God, as it points to our Lord Jesus
Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Our
convention theme points us to Him and to all He has done,
continues to do, and will always do on behalf of His people
and their needs and opportunities.

Let this, then, be our challenge, as we move toward the
convention, that we rededicate ourselves to telling every-
one what He has done—in us and through us, but espe-
cially for us and all people—confident that in that telling,
done by every individual, congregation, District, and na-
tional dimension of the Synod, God’s Holy Spirit Himself
will be present, empowering, encouraging, and directing
us into the future He has prepared for us—zealous in mis-
sion, focused on congregations, strong in theology, provid-
ing financial resources to carry out our priorities,
organized for action, educating our leaders and one an- e
other, and bringing God’s love and care to a hurting :
world—all for the sake of Him who died that we might live.
In Hin, and guided by His Spirit, I pray that this conven- x
tion will help us move forward decisively and boldly as the a
mission-driven, Gospel-based, people-oriented community 4
of Christians that God has made us to be. Thank the Lord Ee
and sing His praise; tell everyone what He has done! 4

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