LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 52

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OFFICER,
BOARD,AND
AND COMMISSION
REPORTS
OFFICER,
BOARD,
COMMISSION
REPORTS

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R1.3

The Missouri Synod is the largest Lutheran church in the world
that holds to the inerrancy of the Holy Scriptures and unreservedly
accepts the teachings found in The Book of Concord. Because of our
position, many church bodies around the world are streaming to the
Missouri Synod so that we can share the gift the Lord has so graciously bestowed to us. By helping to strengthen, encourage, and
support Lutheran churches around the world, we ourselves become
stronger as we look forward to the day when these churches may help
us with the tremendous opportunity of immigrant missions within
our own country. “Upon this Rock,” the Lord builds His church
worldwide.
Albert B. Collver, Director of Church
Relations-Assistant to the President

Church Relations
The Call to Serve World Lutheranism
In my last report to the convention about World Lutheranism,
I noted the “tectonic shift” occurring as Western church bodies in
Europe and North America continue to move away from the Holy
Scriptures in support of positions that reflect the society rather than
the historic church. These trends continue. Churches in the Global
South continue to look for partners who uphold the inerrancy of
the Holy Scriptures and who practice historic Christianity. This has
caused many churches in the Global South to seek instruction and
assistance from the Missouri Synod.
The past three years have been marked by discussions of “socioethical concerns.” In plain language, socio-ethical concerns deal with
the issues of marriage, family, and homosexuality. The position of
churches such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and
the Church of Sweden, as well as organizations such as the Lutheran
World Federation, is that socio-ethical concerns are contextual and
cultural rather than addressed by the Holy Scriptures. In clear language, these church bodies and organizations are “instructing” the
church bodies of the Global South that same-sex marriage and the
acceptance of practicing homosexual clergy has more to do with cultural acceptance, justice, and rights than it does with doctrine. As these
churches and organizations attempt to reeducate the churches of the
Global South, who are socially conservative and who uphold the inerrancy of the Holy Scriptures, with a new hermeneutic that seeks to
reinterpret the Scriptures to agree with a Western social agenda, the
churches of the Global South have been requesting theological education, seminars, and missionaries to help them resist these forces.
The Missouri Synod continues to work among the big three African
Lutheran churches—totaling approximately 20 million members—
found in Ethiopia, Madagascar, and Tanzania. Although not historic
partners, nor in altar and pulpit fellowship with the Missouri Synod,
these churches are seeking clear teaching about the Holy Scriptures
and the Lutheran Confessions from us. The task is immense, as are
the opportunities for world Lutheranism. As a result, efforts such as
the Global Seminary Initiative, which seeks to provide training for
future church leaders as well as offering seminars to address these
issues, are even more crucial today than three years ago.
The International Lutheran Council (www.ilc-online.org), of
which the Missouri Synod is a founding member, has become a
more significant and helpful organization to church bodies seeking
a scriptural and historically Christian approach in facing the challenges presented by other Western church bodies. The International
Lutheran Council (ILC) is currently developing a strategic plan to be
more helpful to world Lutheranism as it seeks to expand its membership in the coming years. The ILC conferences have become valuable
not only for the teaching provided, but also for the mutual conversation of the brethren from around the world. We look with hope toward
the future when the ILC can do even more.
The Old Latin School (http://thewittenbergproject.org) in
Wittenberg, Germany, is operating and serving as a beacon bearing witness to the Holy Scriptures and the faith held by the “Old
Lutherans” in Germany and beyond. The center is symbolic of the
Missouri Synod’s engagement with world Lutheranism, and it serves
as a place where conferences can be held on the important issues facing the Lutheran church today, as well as a potential headquarters
for the ILC. The center also will be a part of the Missouri Synod’s
Reformation 2017 celebration.
In the past triennium, the Missouri Synod held conversations with
several church bodies for fellowship and will seek altar and pulpit fellowship with five or six additional church bodies at this convention.
2016 Convention Workbook

R1.4

KFUO
Worldwide KFUO
As the “Official Broadcast Voice” of the LCMS, the mission of
KFUO is to reach a worldwide audience with the Good News message of Jesus Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins.
KFUO Reaches the World
With God’s blessing, the national and international reach of
Worldwide KFUO, “The Messenger of Good News,” continues to
grow. Our radio programs, live streaming, and on-demand audio,
along with our podcasts, have been heard by listeners in all 50 states
and 138 countries. Our website and radio programs were accessed
over 735,000 times in 2015, and those listeners receive Worldwide
KFUO via devices such as our Android phone app, the LCMS app,
wi-fi radios, tablets, computers, and a variety of other devices for
live web stream and on-demand listening. KFUO is followed by over
4,000 Facebook friends, and our iPhone app has 7,300 users.
Leadership Change
In May 2015, Rev. Rod Zwonitzer retired and Mr. Gary Duncan
was appointed as the director of broadcast services for KFUO. DCE
Andy Bates was called to be the KFUO director of programming.
The KFUO management team also includes Joan Harwell, director
of development, and Buzz Ullrich, operations director. Gary, the management team, and the staff are excited about the direction, growth,
and future of Worldwide KFUO.
A Radio Milestone
In 2014, KFUO celebrated its 90th year of broadcasting on AM
850 in the St. Louis, Missouri, radio market. The KFUO AM 850
terrestrial signal reaches thousands of listeners each day within a 100mile radius of St. Louis. Many of those reached via AM 850 have been
lifelong listeners and supporters of Worldwide KFUO.
Development and Underwriters
KFUO radio is listener supported and depends on the generous
gifts from our listeners. In 2015, we launched our new “Embrace
the Future” KFUO legacy campaign. KFUO also receives support
from our underwriter partners. Our list of underwriters continues to
grow each year. These underwriters include Ad Crucem, Agnus Dei
Liturgical Arts, Concordia Historical Institute, Concordia University
Wisconsin, Luther Academy, Lutheran Church Extension Fund,
Lutheran Heritage Foundation, Lutheran High School Association,
Lutheran Haven, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service,
Lutheran Senior Services, Mid-American Coaches, Office of National
Missions, and several more expected in 2016.
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