LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 3

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OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
one another over myths, not facts. And we have virtually ignored
the issues of marriage and family throughout the period of our very
decline because of these issues. The Bible has some good stuff to
say about these issues, and it’s time for us to have a good look at it.
These “brutal facts” make Witness (reaching the lost), Mercy
(finding specific ways for each congregation to care for those inside
and outside while witnessing to Jesus), and Life Together (making
congregations healthier places and continuing to get our synodical,
doctrinal, financial, and educational house together). We must continue to concentrate heavily upon
1. evangelism and outreach;
2. reinvigorating congregations and assisting struggling congregations;
3. healthy workers;
4. intentional outreach to immigrant populations;
5. church planting; and
6. resolution of internal issues which cause conflict.

The Domestic Challenges and Opportunities
The “nones,” those 20 percent of all adults and 30 percent of
Millennials who have no religious affiliation whatsoever, are not unified in their religious and social views. The famous 2012 study from
the Pew Research Center showed that fully one-third of the “nones”
are seeking church membership and hold traditional views on the
social issues. The Pew report noted that the Anglo population of the
US continues to grow (though many rural areas continue to suffer
population decline). The immigration reality is bringing people to
us from everywhere, and these non-Anglos are often open to the
Gospel of Christ. Our burgeoning international work and relations
are bringing more and more domestic contacts with immigrants (e.g.,
from Sudan, Ethiopia, Madagascar, etc.). As New England District
President Tim Yeadon noted recently, “We have a target-rich environment.” It behooves every congregation, every pastor, every church
leader to seek ways to seriously evaluate context, quality, opportunities, strength of preaching, of education, outreach, etc. There are
many ways to do this, including our own “re:Vitality” (see below in
the CMO’s report) in the Office of National Mission. Question: Do
we really believe what Jesus said? “No one comes to the Father but
by me” (John 14:6)? And do we really believe that “faith comes by
hearing” (Rom. 10:17)?
Hold Fast! (Marriage and Culture)
“Hold fast the confession,” the writer to the Hebrews tells us.
Last year’s SCOTUS decision on same-sex marriage is parallel to
Roe v. Wade some forty years earlier. A progressive court—making
up meaning for texts of the constitution, which contained no such
meaning or intent—made a consequential decision severely impacting
the moral nature of the country. When Roe passed, the progressives
believed it was all over. Hospitals and doctors would all simply have
to perform abortions. But what happened? In fact, the fight had just
begun. Because of the conscientious objection of Christians and others, legal battles, state by state (and with a few incremental victories
in the US Congress), Christians won the right not to participate in
the abortion machine. Forty years ago, no one would have thought a
clear majority of Millennials would be pro-life. Technology is largely
responsible for that (e.g., ultrasound and other advances in medical
imaging). Many are predicting a similar trajectory for the terrible
Obergefell decision. Make no mistake, the struggle is coming our
way. And the potential for conflict and damage is tremendous, particularly in our Concordia University System. Thank God, we have
faithful and wise leaders! Stand fast!

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Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty (LCRL)
The LCRL is beginning to function. It has been closely tied with
our “Free to Be Faithful” effort (http://www.lcms.org/socialissues/
freetobefaithful). The center is located in Washington, DC. Its mission is to hold forth in the public square on the issues of life, marriage,
and religious freedom. It is partnering with the Alliance Defending
Freedom and other religious or nonreligious entities that espouse biblical and reasonable convictions on these issues. It is a nonpartisan,
independently registered nonprofit organization that will comment
on public policy affecting the three key issues noted. It is designed to
be self-sustaining. About $1.5 million has been raised for this effort,
and we will commence the search for a director soon. The Center will
engage interested LCMS people, including the legal community and
youth. Stay tuned.
The International Moment
We continue to be overwhelmed by the international opportunities.
Make no mistake, the LCMS is the only biblically and confessionally faithful church body with the global capacity that we have. Here
I refer you to the extensive report of Dr. Albert Collver below. Suffice
it to say, more and more church bodies continue to seek us out as a
partner who is faithful to the Scriptures and the catechism. We could
conceivably see dozens of churches, with millions of members,
join our International Lutheran Council in the upcoming decade.
Recently, we were visited by representatives of an Anglican church in
South Sudan. We were shocked when they told us that their leaders
have been studying Luther’s Small Catechism. They had been studying our website and want to become Lutheran and join our worldwide
fellowship. Dr. Collver just made a first visit to Sudan, and it went
extremely well. The plan is coming together for more catechisms and
instruction. This church body has 1 million members.
We Can No Longer Pit National Witness
against International Witness
Folks, here’s how mission works. Local congregations and districts are primarily responsible for the Synod’s mission in their area.
The national Synod does not dictate the when, where, who, or even
how of this work. Even when the national office provides missionaries
(e.g., our new city mission effort), those people are responsible to the
local district. On the other hand, the national Synod has the primary
responsibility for international mission. The Board for International
Mission calls missionaries to international settings and provides the
system of support for such missionaries. We now live in a “glocal”
(“global” and “local”) world. When we are working with folks in
South Sudan, we are connected with Sudanese people in the US.
When we are connected to Ethiopian immigrants in the US, there are
immediate connections in Ethiopia!
A Word about the Seminaries
Although the total seminary graduating class is up, it looks like
we will still be short of filling some twenty calls. And we have large
classes of pastors retiring for some years to come. Yet, with burgeoning international needs, with a growing non-Anglo population
in the US, and with traditional students, the seminaries are stretched.
We have some 30 students studying right now through the Global
Seminary Initiative, which brings leaders and potential leaders of
world Lutheranism to study with us. Many of our professors are, in
addition to teaching domestically, taking up the gauntlet to teach all
over the world as needed, in order to strengthen our partners in mission. God bless both Drs. Meyer and Rast and their faculties. I’m
pleased that over the past six years, via the Global Seminary Initiative
and other efforts, we have significantly increased the funding from
the national Synod to the seminaries.
2016 Convention Workbook