LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1992, Page 102

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102 RESOLUTIONS

To View the U.S. as a World
Mission Field

RESOLUTION 1-02

App. III (CW, p. 361), Overtures 1-04, L1-04 (CW, p.
156; TB, p. 9)

Rationale:

The President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod asked that a Mission Task Force be formed to carry
out a broad review of the Synod’s mission activity and to
recommend strategies and actions for the future.

The Mission Task Force Mission Blueprint for the Nine-
ties has been completed and now circulated at many levels
of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

The Mission Blueprint for the Nineties includes the fol-
lowing statements in the second goal:

To View the United States as a World Mission Field:
the “Centripetal Model: A Window of Opportunity.” In the
“Centripetal Model,” the Lord reverses the flow, pulling
hundreds of thousands of people toward the United States.

Though millions are unchurched, the United States is
on the cutting edge of international mission opportunity.
By sharing the Gospel with immigrants, the Good News
reaches their homelands. This key unlocks doors in closed
countries. .

The Mission Blueprint calls for districts to join together
to concentrate resources to regions of greatest need within
the United States. Where opportunities are greatest, con-
gregations are youngest and resources most limited. We’re
largely a Midwestern church and a nation growing fastest
at its edges. We will meet goals only in unique mission-
planting partnerships.

The Lord has brought large numbers of immigrants,
international students, business and other professionals
from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe to the USA.

Certain Districts are on a cutting edge of international
mission opportunity for the ’90s.

The membership and fiscal resources of those Districts
may be overwhelmed by the ethnic mission challenges to
extend the Gospel witness, thus restricting and limiting
their ability to seize the day and the opportunity before
them.

Resolved, That the LCMS in convention assembled
adopt the following recommendations of the Mission Blue-
print as they pertain to the U.S. asa primary mission field:
©’ Districts strong in membership and fiscal resources, but

without ethnic concentrations explore ways to join with

Districts overwhelmed by ethnic challenges.
© The Board for Mission Services structure itself to assist

Districts and congregations in culture-specific mission.
@ The Board for Mission Services, cooperating with Dis-

trict mission boards call and support evangelistic mis-

sionaries to serve in ethnic population centers . . .
and be it further

Resolved, That we give thanks to the Lord of the church
for these unique United States mission opportunities.

Action: Adopted (10).

To Make “Reaching the Lost” a Priority
for Every Congregation

RESOLUTION 1-034
Overture 1-03 (CW, p. 155)

Wuereas, The mission of the church today, as in the
early church of Jerusalem, begins where we are as disciples
of Christ and moves out from us into surrounding areas
and through others into all the world (Acts 1:8); and

Wuereas, God is providing the church countless op-
portunities to share the Gospel: over 100 million Ameri-
cans are unchurched, one-third of all Americans who claim
to be Lutheran do not belong to a Lutheran church, back-
door losses in the Synod approximate 48,000 yearly, one-
half of.the estimated 440,000 members of the Synod who
move yearly do not request a transfer, 62 percent of Amer-
ica’s unchurched state that they have never been visited
or invited to become active in the worship and life of a
congregation, and 58 percent of the unchurched envision
joining a church; and

Wuereas, A recent identity survey conducted by the
Synod indicates that outreach activities and witnessing
are seen as a low priority among members of the Synod;
and the Church Membership Initiative research conducted
by Aid Association for Lutherans reveals that “perhaps 70
percent of Lutheran congregations do not appear to be par-
ticularly motivated to increase their membership size”;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention assembled en-
courage every congregation of the Synod to establish the
theme of this convention, With Great Boldness ... Tell
Everyone What He Has Done, as their congregation’s theme
and primary priority during this triennium through the
following seven activities:

1. Seek to know the people of the community, assess
their characteristics and needs, and determine their reli-
gious background and current interest in the Gospel and
the church

2. Pray for growth in their understanding and zeal as
a mission base of the church in that place through in-
creased use of the Word and Sacraments

3. Reach out to the lost and the unchurched through a
variety of interactive and witnessing activities, such as
canvassing, friendship Sundays, small groups, congrega-
tional fellowship events, media presentations, and other
publicity

4. Strengthen the training and encourage the sending
out of congregational members in visitation outreach

5. Concentrate on calling and caring inreach programs
to inactives; encourage referral activities to assist Lu-
therans who move; and offer assimilation programs that
help involve and keep new-members in the church

6. Review and renew the programs of congregational
groups (Bible study, Sunday school, day school, youth
groups, organizations, support groups, etc.) so that they
are outreach oriented as well as focused on members

7. Recognize that worship services are the major entry
point for most strangers and the vital reentry point for
most inactives, and seek to create a climate of hospitality