LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1992, Page 108

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2. Congregational Ministries

To Form Congregational Mission Boards
RESOLUTION 2-01
Report R1-8, App. HI (CW, pp. 1-10, 359-68)

Rationale:

A primary responsibility of the local congregation is to
carry out the Great Commission given by its Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18-20). He has bid His
church to go and make disciples of all nations both in the
local community and in all the world (Acts 1:8). Deliberate
and sustained effort is required to fulfill this assignment.
This is because the life and work of the church is marred
by sin and hindered by the forces of evil which surround
it in this world. One evidence of this is the continual temp-
tation for the church to turn inward, to be concerned about
its own needs and desires, while neglecting or ignoring the
needs of the unchurched who are also to be an object of
the church’s concern and love. Consequently, if the local
congregation is to be faithful to its Lord in carrying out
His Great Commission, some internal structure or group
is needed to keep this responsibility in all of its aspects

before the congregation as it goes about its worship and °

work. Therefore be it

Resolved, That every congregation of the Synod as it
seeks with great boldness to tell everyone what He has
done be encouraged to form a congregational mission board
with some or all of the following goals:

1. To keep the world of the Great Commission before
the congregation, its boards, committees, organizations,
and members

2. To support and promote a variety of congregational
efforts to reach the unchurched in the local community

3. To inform the congregation about opportunities for
mission outreach through Circuits, District and the Synod

4. To encourage the congregation and all of its entities
to support congregational, Circuit, District, and synodical
mission outreach opportunities with prayers, gifts, and ap
propriate personal witness and service

5. To explore networking possibilities with sister con:
gregations either to give or receive assistance in cross
cultural outreach and ministry

6. To work with the parents, pastors, teachers, DCEs,
and other leaders in identifying young people to whom God
has given gifts for ministry and encourage them to use
these gifts in full-time professional church service

Action: Adopted as amended (7). ;
(By common consent the word Circuits was added in point 3!)

To Address Worship Needs in Synod
RESOLUTION 2-02
Overtures 2-08-11, 2-14, 2-16, 2-18-20 (CW, pp. 172-
76)

Our Synod’s Constitution (Art. III, 7) states that “the
Synod, under Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions,

Committee 2 Chairman Arlelgh L. Lutz

shall ... encourage congregations to strive for uniformity
in church practice, but also to develop an appreciation of
a variety of responsible practices and customs which are
in harmony with our common profession of faith”; and
since this Christian body desires to proclaim Christ With
Great Boldness to our members and to a lost and dying
world now and in the decades ahead; therefore be it

Resolved, That the worship life of our people receive the
highest priority in our congregations and from our syn-
odical leadership; and be it further

Resolved, That appropriate groups (e.g., CTCR, Com-
mission on Worship) detail for the church a thorough the-
ology of worship and how our worship practices develop
Christian character; and be it further

Resolved, That all entities of the Synod be encouraged
to study the Lutheran Confessions in reference to worship
and worship practices; and be it further

Resolved, That all worship (liturgies, sermons, songs,
prayers, etc.) conducted within the Synod

1. be Christ-centered and not human-centered;

2. distinguish properly between Law and Gospel,

3. emphasize the Gospel of Christ’s forgiveness; and

4. be faithful to the Word of God and in harmony with
our Lutheran Confessions; and be it further

Resolved, That the Commission on Worship be retsined
as a self-standing commission; and be it further

Resolved, That the Commission on Worship be charged