LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1971, Page 57

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PRESIDENT’S REPORT 57

fession and the signing of the Book of Concord. I have
already mentioned the matter to the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations. I intend to appoint a
committee of some of our finest theologians to carry
out the objective so that our church may maintain its
love for and understanding of our great confessional
heritage.

Our Synodical Objectives

Having made the previous statements relative to the
theological basis for our work, I would like to add a
few words concerning our synodical objectives.

In Article III of our Constitution we have a state-
ment of the objectives of the Synod. You will note in
the Workbook that the Commission on Mission and
Ministry has proposed for our study some recommenda-
tions relative to the revision of Article II.

Our Handbook at the present time does not perhaps
express our objectives in the clearest possible language.
Nor are the objectives stated in terms of desired out-
comes. We are attempting in our Board of Directors
to have all boards and committees of the Synod express
their objectives in terms of expected outcomes rather
than merely in terms of spending budgets.

If we wou'd express our synodical objectives more
in terms of what we hope to achieve rather than in
terms of control we would perhaps begin to think more
creatively.

This in turn might result in better long-range plan-
ning by boards and administrators, more precise de-
velopment of priorities, and a better sense of direction
in our ecumenical relationships.

I am proposing that a special ad hoc committee be
created to study the proposal of the Commission on Mis-
sion and Ministry regarding Article III and the objec-
tives of the Synod.

II. Our Mission: Proclaim the Word of Reconciliation

Committee 1 will devote itself to the subject of Mis-
sions, the fulfillment of the great commission of our
Lord to preach the Gospel to every creature. The work
of this committee is intimately associated with the
theme of this convention— Sent to ReconciLe— for
here it is that we truly take a long look at our am-
bassadorship.

The Board for Missions of the Synod has reported
that our work is being carried on in many, many places
throughout the world; that souls are being won for
Christ; that expansion and vision and hope are the
bywords. We all ardently hope and pray that this con-
vention will give further impetus to mission expansion,
that it will motivate all our people to be vitally con-
cerned about giving and working and going for the
cause of carrying out Christ’s mission in the world.

We must also be concerned that we carry out all
our mission work on a sound Biblical and confessional
basis. As Lutherans we all continue to base our mission
efforts on the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
as man’s only Savior for time and for eternity. I pray

that our delegates and our whole Synod will respond
with enthusiasm to the many opportunities God has
given us to carry out His mission of salvation.

The delegates have before them a minority report
submitted by five members of the Board for Missions.
The convention should give careful attention to the
issues raised in this report — not in order that contro-
versy may thrive, but rather that we may all agree in
our understanding of our mission task so that this work
can go forward with great energy.

One matter that has been of great concern has been
the matter of evangelism and what we call back-door
losses. During the past years, the number of losses of
people from our congregations — people who do not die
or transfer out, but simply disappear —has been in-
creasing. We have now gone above the 40,000 mark
per year in this area. Coupled with this problem of
losses is the concomitant problem of a decline in the
growth rate of our congregations in North and South
America by means of accessions from the outside. In
order to give greater attention to these problems, I have
appointed a special floor committee to deal with the
subject of evangelism for this convention. I have also
asked one of our District Presidents, who has written a
great deal in this area, to prepare a series of evangelism
affirmations for possible adoption by the Synod. These
affirmations, together with other matters pertaining
to evangelism, are being considered by Floor Com-
mittee 8. The convention must be very attentive to the
recommendations of this committee in order to help
our Synod regain its momentum and enthusiasm for
evangelistic outreach as well as for ministry to those
within our own congregations who may be neglecting
their spiritual welfare. Next year, 1972, marks the 125th
anniversary of our beloved Synod. Would it not be
wonderful if this convention would resolve that we
should mark that occasion by endeavoring to gain
125,000 converts to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?
It is the joyful privilege of every layman, teacher, and
pastor in the Synod to be concerned about winning his
brother for Christ. That is why we are in this world.
That is the primary objective of the church. That is
the great purpose of this convention. We are sent to
reconcile. This applies to every single person in the
Synod.

Ill. The Reconciling Word Creates and Governs
Fellowship with Other Christians

Committee 3 has the delicate task of dealing with
the whole matter of church relations. Probably no sub-
ject has been as hotly debated among us as our ecu-
menical outreach. This is no doubt due in part to some
of the excesses of the ecumenical age, but it may also
reflect our church’s historic caution in dealing with
other Lutherans and with non-Lutherans.

The two church-relations issues that have created
the most agitation among us have been our participation
in the Lutheran Council in the U.S. A. and our fellow-
ship with The American Lutheran Church.

The Lutheran Council in the U.S. A. was organized

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