LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1992, Page 104

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104 RESOLUTIONS

To Encourage Congregational Witness
to Ethnic Groups
RESOLUTION 1-06

Overtures 1-26A-B (CW, p. 161)

Wuereas, God has brought people from other countries
and ethnic groups into the communities of our congrega-
tions and provides our people with the boldness to Tell
Everyone What He Has Done; and

Wuereas, Non-Christian groups actively work in all
communities (Muslims, Hindus, Mormons, Jehovah’s Wit-
nesses, New Age groups, etc.); and

Wueneas, Many congregations need special assistance —

to reach out to people in the changing communities around
their churches; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
in convention assembled encourage the church to witness
to others, including other ethnic groups; and be it further

Resolved, That congregations be encouraged to make
such outreach a high priority in all activities (Sunday
school, vacation Bible school, Lutheran Women’s Mission-
ary League, preschool, etc.); and be it further

Resolved, That congregations serving ethnic or chang-
ing communities be encouraged to assimilate new mem-
bers from these groups into leadership positions to foster
ownership in the congregation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Evangelism Services pro-
vide congregations culturally specific materials for wit-
nessing and outreach in such ethnic or immigrant com-
munities; and be it further

Resolved, That national and District boards and staffs
and the Ethnic Resource Center be encouraged to network
the existing resources for reaching ethnic groups; and be
it finally

Resolved, That each congregation be encouraged to con-
duct at least one Bible study and training event'yearly to
assist in understanding and reaching out to the ethnic
groups in the respective areas.

Action: Adopted as amended (12).

(The words major ethnic people groups in the last re-
solve was amended to read “ethnic groups” by common
consent. A proposed amendment to add the words upon
completion of adult Confirmation classes after the word
Positions in the third resolve received no action.)

To Develop Circuit Outreach Strategies
RESOLUTION 1-07
Overture 1-25 (CW, p. 161)

Wuereas, Each Circuit has within its borders oppor-
tunities for outreach, such as new missions, ethnic groups,
care-giving ministries, support groups, established con-
gregations, etc.; and

Wuereas, Each Circuit in its area is in the best position
to know of the unchurched and the personal/family needs
of people which invite the Gospel’s message and power;
and

Wuereas, The development and use of Circuit enablers
has helped some Districts in developing an awareness and
interest in providing for outreach strategies on the part of
Circuits; therefore be it \

Resolved, That the Circuits of the Synod be encouraged
to organize mission start committees to investigate the
opportunities for outreach within their borders by making
use of the resources available to them, such as those pro-
vided by the materials and District evangelism boards and
the Lutheran Church Extension Fund (demographic data)
and the Aid Association for Lutheran’s Church Member-
ship Initiative; and be it further

Resolved, That these resources be used by the congre-
gations and Circuits and that they be encouraged to di-
agnose needs and develop outreach strategies; and be it
further ,

Resolved, That Circuits be encouraged to use national
and District resources in training Circuit enablers to guide
congregations and Circuits to develop Circuit outreach ef-
forts where possible and to commit themselves to each
other in sharing resources and insights to strengthen the
church among them; and be it finally

Resolved, That Circuit Counselors report to the District
President/mission executives the progress made within
their respective Circuit.

Action: Adopted as amended (12).
(The words and that they be encouraged were added to
the second resolve by common consent.)

To Intensify Witness among Muslims
RESOLUTION 1-08
Overtures 1-10A-D (CW, PP. 157-58)

Rationale:

Statistics suggest that Muslims now number one billion
in the world and that Islam has spread to and continues
to grow on all continents. One person in five is a Muslim;
80,000 Muslims are born daily and 30 million annually;
the world Muslim population doubles in 27 years.

Muslims form the largest segment of unreached people
in the world—about one-third of those “who have not
heard.”

Muslims now number about five million in the United
States (one million are African Americans) and 250,000 in
Canada. Islam is the fastest growing religion in North
America.

We confess “that God was reconciling the world to Him-
self in Christ,” including the world of Muslims, that “He
has committed to us the message of reconciliation” for Mus-
lims also (2 Cor. 5:18-21 NIV).

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
in convention assembled instruct the Board for Evangelism
Services and the Board for Mission Services to interpret
frequently the theological and sociological understanding
of Islam and Muslim culture to the people of the Syned by
all media means available, presenting the challenges and
providing witnessing helps for Christian witness to Mus-
lims in North America; and be it further