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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 3

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
“Our faith ever sharing, / In love ever caring, / Embracing His
children of each tribe and race” (LSB 643). Eternal joy!
The basic teachings of Christianity are not arcane. They
are profound mysteries that one could study for many lifetimes
and not fully fathom. But these mysteries are also simple and
can be grasped and believed by the simplest mind. When I urge
that we be ever more “Joy:fully Lutheran,” I urge that we concentrate on the Bible. I urge that we keep reading our Small Catechism. Here’s how Luther put it:
But for myself I say this: I am also a doctor and
preacher, yes, as learned and experienced as all
the people who have such assumptions and contentment. Yet I act as a child who is being taught
the catechism. Every morning—and whenever I
have time—I read and say, word for word, the
Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord’s
Prayer, the Psalms, and such. I must still read
and study them daily. Yet I cannot master the
catechism as I wish. But I must remain a child
and pupil of the catechism, and am glad to remain so. (Large Catechism, Preface, 7)
Knowing ever more firmly the basics—the Bible, the catechism—we shall be fortified against all that the devil, the world,
and the flesh can throw against us in these last days. And what
Jesus said to His disciples before His death and resurrection is
a promise for joy after His resurrection, no matter what they
would face. That same resurrection promise is ours. “So also you
have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will
rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22).
God grant us an extra measure of His Holy Spirit so that
we, too, may confess Christ before the world and rejoice, come
what may!
And when they had called in the apostles, they
beat them and charged them not to speak in the
name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left
the presence of the council, rejoicing that they
were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the
name. And every day, in the temple and from
house to house, they did not cease teaching and
preaching that the Christ is Jesus. (Acts 5:40–42)

enced, and competent Regional Directors to run our
international mission efforts, including Ted Krey,
Jim Krikava, Charles Ferry, Gary Schulte, Shauen
Trump.
••

Launched the Global Seminary Initiative (GSI), in
partnership with both LCMS seminaries, which has
provided some $1.75 million to send professors overseas to provide theological education as requested by
international partners, and to bring dozens of future
leaders to our seminaries for study (www.lcms.org/
makeagift/gsi).

••

We wrote “A Theological Statement for Mission in
the 21st Century” to provide theological guidance
and direction for mission activity. Adopted by the
Synod in convention (included in this Workbook as
R1.1; www.lcms.org/doc/mission-statement).

••

The largest Lutheran church bodies in the world
are seeking our assistance, especially in theological
education. With our sound, confessional theology,
Lutherans around the world are sharpening their
preaching of the Gospel.

••

Our world mission efforts through OIM continue to
be attentive to the needs of our many church partners
and their local and cultural sensitivities. Examples:

••

We have greatly increased the number of career
missionaries and GEO missionaries on the field and
continue to establish additional systems for missionary care to ensure mission efforts are coordinated and
as effective as possible.

••

There are currently a record 1,900+ congregations
supporting our international missionaries. Missionary support is higher today than we have seen it in
more than a decade.

••

We have put in place theologically strong, experi-

Assisting our German partner (SELK) in
its evangelization of Muslims in Berlin and
elsewhere.

Sent a seminary professor to the Philippines
for the first time in 20 years.

Developed a training program for deaconesses in Latin America and elsewhere, providing a faithful alternative for the service of
women in the church.

••

Opened a Spanish-language confessional Lutheran
seminary in the Latin American Region (Dominican
Republic).

••

Some 17 districts are involved directly in “Foros” (cooperative efforts) with the national Synod in Central
and South America alone!

Witness: International Mission
The Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod give primary
responsibility for international mission and church relations to
the national Synod. There is great freedom for congregations,
mission societies, and districts to engage internationally, and it
is encouraged! It is most effective when it’s done cooperatively
with the national church.

Witness: National Mission
The Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod give primary
responsibility for church planting and national mission to districts and congregations. The national Synod has the responsibility of providing resources to aid these efforts.
••

We have engaged a fact-based analysis of LCMS
demographic decline with the work of world-class demographer George Hawley (University of Alabama)
and others. After decades of “hunches” and opinions,
we have very significant and specific data to inform
our work. Many cherished myths have been dispelled.
oo

George Hawley, Demography, Culture, and
the Decline of America’s Christian Denominations (Lanham, MD: Lexington Books,
2017).
2019 Convention Workbook