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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 310

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

310

NATIONAL WITNESS

communities. Such correspondence would also be posted on the
Synod and all district websites and published in their various available periodicals. All of that would begin no later than August 1, 2016,
and continue through December, with the goal of having all production funding raised by the end of that same year; and be it further
Resolved, That all donated production funds collected by the
Synod office (which would be tax deductible) will be deposited as a
separate line item in an existing Missouri Synod account and administered by the Synod office’s financial staff; and be it further
Resolved, That the performances will be produced, directed, and
casted by Mr. Eric Cunningham and Women of Ireland, with consultation by the play’s author, Pastor Rick Miller; and be it further
Resolved, That if support for the play tour is approved and the
production fund-raising fulfilled, the sponsorship of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod will be noted on all publicity materials
(e.g., on posters, news releases, and ads, which would also be generated by the Synod’s Communications Department and sent out
through the same kind of e-correspondence, websites, and periodicals as mentioned above) along with its logo and the “It’s Still All
about Jesus” theme, as well as the involvement of the Women of
Ireland; and be it further
Resolved, That if the funds were to fall short of being able to
properly produce this regional musical stage play outreach (as
determined by Mr. Eric Cunningham and Pastor Rick Miller, in consultation with the regional media and venue representatives), then
they would instead be used as part of the Synod’s Domestic Grant
Program (something which would also be clearly mentioned in the
fund-raising communications); and be it finally
Resolved, That if the play tour does end up taking place, a follow-up overture will be considered at the 2019 LCMS convention,
including information about the results of the 2018 outreach event,
regarding the possibility of a future synodwide, national tour production of another of Pastor Rick Miller’s Gospel-proclaiming musical
stage plays.
Trinity
La Junta, CO
1-03

To Provide Pastoral Care for Smaller, Financially
Struggling Congregations
Whereas, Many smaller congregations with inadequate financial
resources struggle to afford pastoral care; and
Whereas, These congregations need and desire pastoral care and
leadership; and
Whereas, Word and Sacrament ministry needs to be provided for
these congregations; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Texas District consider and develop new ways
and/or programs to provide pastoral care for smaller, financially struggling congregations; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod consider and develop new ways and/or
programs to provide pastoral care for smaller, financially struggling
congregations; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Texas District in convention memorialize the
Synod in convention to consider and develop new ways and/or programs to provide pastoral care for smaller, financially struggling
congregations.
Texas District
2016 Convention Workbook

1-04

To Encourage Multi-Congregation Parishes
Whereas, God’s Word calls us to “keep the unity of the Spirit
through the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3); and
Whereas, Our sister congregations of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod confess and live out a shared commitment to the Holy
Scriptures as the Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions as a correct exposition of that Word; and
Whereas, Congregations have experienced or are experiencing
decline in membership and vitality because of changing demographics in their membership and communities (rural and urban); and
Whereas, These same congregations may be facing extreme
financial stress and therefore are not able to provide for the leadership of a full-time pastor on their own; and
Whereas, The availability of semiretired or dual-vocation pastors
significantly trails the need, or such pastors are not geographically
flexible to meet the needs of these struggling congregations; and
Whereas, Many of these congregations are in remote settings that
do not allow for a multi-congregation parish to be served weekly by
a called, ordained pastor; and
Whereas, The training and licensing of lay deacons has addressed
the needs of some of these congregations, with the oversight by supervising pastors, circuit visitors, and district presidents; and
Whereas, Such arrangements for Word and Sacrament ministry have caused concern among our fellowship in regard to the “rite
vocatus” of AC XIV; and
Whereas, It is essential that we provide the very best in Word
and Sacrament ministry possible for God’s people by upholding AC
XIV; and
Whereas, It is also God’s call upon His Church to diligently seek
to “make disciples as we go [and wherever we go], by teaching and
baptizing” (Matt. 28:19); therefore be it
Resolved, That congregations that are unable to financially support
a full-time pastor to provide Word and Sacrament ministry intentionally seek to enter into a multi-parish relationship with another
geographically close congregation of the LCMS; and be it further
Resolved, That vibrant and healthy congregations of the LCMS
intentionally seek to encourage and assist struggling sister congregations in their geographic vicinity through shared programs, services,
and pastoral leadership, leading to a stronger mission together; and
be it finally
Resolved, That the resident district president identify and intentionally initiate collegial conversations throughout his district, and
coordinate such efforts through the circuit visitors.
Board of Directors
Michigan District
1-05

To Encourage Synod to Develop Plan to Support
Sustainability of Congregations
Whereas, A growing number of churches have difficulty in sustaining themselves; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod be encouraged to develop a plan including a ministry viability evaluation format specifically aimed at the
sustainment and support of these churches; and be it further
Resolved, That this plan should consider such concepts as
• partnering small and large churches;