LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 64

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64

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

directives and resolutions of the church in convention. There are broad
policy areas for which the board is obliged to determine appropriate
“ends” for implementation. Those areas are as follows:
• Overall guiding principles
• Safeguarding the rights of our partner churches with and through which
our international missionaries work
• Working with the Synod’s colleges, universities, and seminaries
• Working with the Office of the President
• Human care
• Military chaplaincy
• International schools of the Synod and those aligned with partner or
associated churches
• Providing for spiritual edification and growth for LCMS called and
appointed missionaries and for LCMS members living abroad
• Providing strong missional leadership
• Training of LCMS missionaries
• Calling and withdrawing of called and appointed missionaries
• Working with LCMS auxiliary organizations, RSOs, and districts and
congregations
• Disaster response
• Deaconess ministry
• Health ministries
• International grants

The BIM has adopted self-governance policies to guide its work in
accordance with the 2013 Constitution and Bylaws and has approved
policy ends and principles. The OIM staff has developed metrics
and objectives toward meeting these ends that flow well into the
BIM meeting schedule and budget-setting issues faced by the OIM.
Policies, goals, metrics, and objectives have been a significant issue
since restructuring, and we believe we have a good foundation and a
process that is functional and flexible.
A short commentary on some of the policy areas is proper and
fitting.
Human Care—The church’s corporate life of mercy is not a complementary frill that can be added on or taken off depending on the
exigencies of other so-called “needs.” It cannot be separated from
mission because mission is born from God’s mercy to sinful man. It
is not an ornament on our life together because our life together is
born out of the sacramental life given by the One who gave His life
for all. Caring for humans in their bodily need cannot be separated
from caring for their spiritual need (James 2). The BIM is working
to reemphasize the “Mercy” part of our life together.
Military Chaplaincy—The BIM recognizes the privilege we have
in working with the Ministry to the Armed Forces (MAF) in sending
chaplains into the field, and we thank God for the work of the MAF
with our armed services and their families.
International Schools—Over the last triennium, the BIM has
worked to be educated about international schools and is looking for
ways to raise awareness in the church of these various schools, where
they operate, how they relate to the church at large, and their need
for a continuous supply of qualified teachers. Someone has called
these schools hidden gems and well-kept secrets. Schools operating at this level should not be secrets but rather an important part of
our “life together.”
Missionaries—The church showed its mission heart by resolving
at the 2013 Convention to double the number of missionaries in the
field by the 2016 Convention. We are pleased to say that goal will,
by the grace of God, most likely be achieved by the time this report
is posted. There were 89 calls extended in this triennium (see Chief
Mission Officer Report), and for that we thank and praise God. A Te
Deum should be sung for good reason. We should praise and thank
God and acknowledge His goodness and mercy and His allowance
2016 Convention Workbook

of poor creatures like us to participate in His gracious work to the
children of men. We also sing, “Lord, let Your mercy be upon us as
our trust is in You.” We ask that we may “never be confounded.” The
admirable work of calling and sending missionaries is a demonstration of a firm trust in God, but we must also tell the church that calling
and sending missionaries without also giving the gifts to support and
undergird work overseas may confound us all. We would encourage
delegates to understand that there is a stewardship cost to the Great
Commission.
It is a tremendous honor and privilege as well as a somber activity
to be entered into with prayer when signing Diplomas of Vocation and
Calls to missionaries, chaplains (through the Ministry to the Armed
Forces), GEOs, and others. The BIM has worked hard to see that when
someone is sent into the field they are supported during the call process, during training and orientation, in the field, and when they come
off the field. That support is physical, mental, and spiritual, and we
are proud of what the staff has accomplished in these areas. We urge
every member of the Synod to partner with and help us to equip and
maintain these workers in the work that we believe God has called
them to do. We have a significant financial responsibility to fund not
only the missionaries themselves but also the regional program ministries and necessary support services back home. These are some
of the biggest constraints to expanding our missionaries in the field.
Providing strong missional leadership means explaining how the
church in her ordered life together seeks to go about mission activity.
In the course of this triennium, the BIM asked the CCM to explain
and interpret what exactly was meant that the BIM is “the only sending agency through which workers and funds are sent to the foreign
mission areas of the Synod” (Bylaw 3.8.3). Their answer caused consternation and concern to some, and the full meaning of that Bylaw
will be explained at this convention. Let it be said that the BIM is
seeking communication, coordination, consultation, and collaboration in the mission field, and we are in no way trying to “quench the
Spirit.” The fields are ripe and they are huge. The harvest is waiting
and it is abundant.
The BIM has worked to coordinate, collaborate, and communicate with the auxiliaries of the LCMS. We thank Dr. Douglas Rutt for
his participation and input into our meetings on behalf of Lutheran
Hour Ministries and the Lutheran Laymen’s League. The LWML was
well represented by President Kay Kreklau, who exhibited the mission heart of the LWML and never tired of reminding us that they are
a missionary league for a reason. We look forward to a close working
relationship with the new LWML president, Patti Ross.
The BIM has been privileged to have theological presentations
given regularly. These presentations help to keep a perspective and a
historical sense of the church’s mission and how it has been looked at
over the centuries. We appreciate very much those who made the presentations for their obvious hard work and knowledge of the church’s
mission.
I believe that all the members of the board wish to thank the church
for giving them this marvelous opportunity to serve Christ and His
people in “these grey and latter days.” They take their responsibilities
seriously. They have developed the kind of thinking that wants “the
Church to be alert and learn to listen to the events of the times, lest
she miss important opportunities to share the Gospel with others. For
even in such adverse times, God has not turned His back on His people in this world. He has elected them from eternity and called them
in time through His means of grace, in which Gospel certainty resides.
He is a God who does not forsake those who have rejected Him, and
He points His Church to reach out to the most hardened unbelievers.”1
They see their task as service strengthened by the Holy Spirit and,
as all of God’s dealings of mercy to the children of men, pure gift.
Bernhard Seter, Chairman