LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1992, Page 103

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WITNESS AND OUTREACH 103

being strongly sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity
through creativity in worship, but also being cautious to
stay in conformity with the Scriptures

and be it further

Resolved, That we commend our seminaries and col-
leges for being increasingly sensitive to these needs and
activities of congregations in the training of future church
workers, urging them to stay attuned to the variety of
situations and expectations of the church; and be it finally

Resolved, That District and national staffs and boards
continue to uphold the primary priority of reaching the
lost and the unchurched in their field services and product
development, formulating a nationwide plan to assist ev-
ery congregation to be an effective mission base.

Action: Adopted as amended (10).

{An amendment adding the words being strongly sen-
sitive to cultural and ethnic diversity through creativity in
worship, but also being cautious to stay in conformity with
the Scriptures to the end of activity 7 was adopted.)

To Strengthen Public Recognition
of LCMS Mission

- RESOLUTION 1-04

Report R1-07 (CW, pp. 38-41) Overtures 1-05-06, 4
13, L1-42 (CW, pp. 156, 158; TB, p. 9)

Rationale:

Resolution 1-05A of the 1989 synodical convention
asked the Board for Communication Services to “continue
the identity study ...,” “study the question of changing
or strengthening the r name of our Synod... ,” and to “ te
port back to the Synod in convention in 1992. ”

The identity study conducted by Gallup/CRA was com-
pleted in 1992. Among the findings and recommendations
are
® identity can be an important factor in mission and

evangelism;

e The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has very little
public identity;

@ the people of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
congregations favor building identity through personal
contact and through use of the mass media;

@ aname change is not recommended at this time.

The results of the identity study coupled with aspects
. of the Mission Blueprint for the Nineties and several over-
tures to the 1992 convention led to the following:

: Resolved, That the Board for Communication Services,
in consultation with other synodical entities (boards, com-
mittees, auxiliaries, etc.), develop a plan to
@ provide ideas and resources to establish and/or

strengthen The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
identity;

@ encourage congregations to make use of mass media op-
portunities (radio, television, cable, newspapers, etc.);
© seek outside support, if necessary, to accomplish these

activities.

Action: Adopted (10).

(A motion to substitute L1-42—“To Study Change of
Synod Name” for the proposed resolution was declined.)

To Respond to Renewed Mission
Opportunities in Eastern Europe
and Russia

RESOLUTION 1-05
Overtures 1-33-34 (CW, p. 163)

Wuereas, The collapse of the Communist empire in
Central and Eastern Europe and in the former USSR con-
fronts the church with unprecedented opportunities to
serve the Lord by reopening a huge mission field of people
in need; and

Wuereas, In this time of need, many of the churches
of Eastern Europe are not fully prepared to meet the needs
and challenges of their new situation. Christians—as in-
dividuals and as groups—have borne the brunt of Com-
munist persecution in past years. Even though many lands
of Central and Eastern Europe are served by Lutheran
churches that can trace their roots directly back to the
Reformation era, in all too many cases 40 and more years
of Marxist domination have weakened the life of the
church. Imprisonments, banishments, and even death for
church members and leaders along with the confiscation
of church properties and materials, and restrictions on
church activities wounded but could not kill the life of the
church; and

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod re-
joices in the news that God has kept a remnant of people
for himself and prays that God will bless every effort to
help people grow in faith and’in the proclamation of the
Gospel; and

Wuereas, As the Lutheran churches of Central and
Eastern Europe ask for help to meet the challenges now
facing them, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has
begun to respond. Many Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod members are stretching out hands of love and con-
cern, seeking opportunities to help as individuals; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention assembled ac-
knowledge the work of our church and of the International
Lutheran Laymen’s League in Eastern Europe/Russia; and
be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention assembled urge
the Board for Mission Services in cooperation with the In-
ternational Lutheran Laymen’s League to develop and to
expedite a strategy for ministry in Eastern Europe; and
be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod in convention assembled urge
individuals and congregations to support the Eastern Eu-
ropean Outreach appeal so that adequate funds will be
available for this work.

Action: Adopted as amended (12).

(The words and to expedite in the second resolve were
added by common consent.)