Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2019 · 67th Convention, Tampa › Page 386
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 386

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

386

NATIONAL WITNESS

out to proclaim. “How then will they call on him in whom they have
not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they
have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone
preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it
is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good
news!’ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says,
‘Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?’ So faith comes
from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Rom.
10:14–17); and
WHEREAS, Synod in convention has repeatedly encouraged
congregations to place evangelism to the lost as a top priority. (1995
Resolution 1-08, “To Affirm That the Mission of the Church Is
Urgent and to Raise Mission Awareness,” Proceedings, 107–8;
2001 Res. 1-01, “To ‘Tell the Good News about Jesus,’” Res. 1-02,
“To Be Passionate for Great Commission,” and Res. 1-03A, “To
Intensify Mission Effort,” Proceedings, 119–20; 2004 Res. 1-01A,
“To Affirm Mission 21st Century Response To Great Commission,”
and Res. 1-02, “To Promote ‘Mission Outpost’ Attitude,”
Proceedings, 119–20; 2013 Res. 1-05A, “To Encourage the
Congregations and People of the LCMS for the Joy of
Evangelization and the Making of New Disciples,” Proceedings,
101); and
WHEREAS, Our Synod in its 2016 convention adopted language
that encourages all congregation members to support witnessing of
the Gospel: “Resolved, That the 2016 LCMS convention pray that
the Lord of the harvest bless our work of witness to the Gospel and
our work of mercy, that His will may be done among us, and that
all may be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” (Res. 202); and
WHEREAS, The 2016 Synod convention adopted Res. 4-02A,
stating:
Resolved, That the 2016 LCMS convention reaffirm the
threefold emphasis of “Witness, Mercy, Life Together,”
including the following … priorities:
• Plant, sustain, and revitalize Lutheran churches
• Support and expand theological education
• Perform human care in close proximity to Word and
Sacrament ministries
• Collaborate with the Synod’s members and partners to
enhance mission effectiveness
• Promote and nurture the spiritual, emotional, financial,
and physical well-being of pastors and professional
church workers
• Enhance early childhood education, elementary and
secondary education, and youth ministry
• Strengthen and support the Lutheran family in living out
God’s design;
and
WHEREAS, Called workers set an example for personal
witnessing; and
WHEREAS, Congregations often experience an increase in guests
to their worship services when the pastor, staff, and members
consistently spend time each week cultivating relationships and
sharing the faith in the community; and
WHEREAS, Pastors and called workers are often limited in their
opportunity for personal witnessing by finances and time
constraints due to expectations of their ministry; and

2019 Convention Workbook

WHEREAS, The Mid-South (MDS) District has conducted
workshops throughout the district, using Everyone His Witness
materials produced by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
(LCMS); and
WHEREAS, The 2016 convention of Synod stated, “Resolved,
That districts be directed and congregations be encouraged to
develop specific outreach plans to share the Gospel with their
Muslim neighbors” (Res. 14-06A); and
WHEREAS, The MDS District has partnered with the MDS
District Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) to bring
witnessing and outreach into each congregation of the district; and
WHEREAS, The MDS District in convention in 2018 affirmed the
importance of personal witnessing for the salvation of the lost and
the health of the local congregation; therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS seek a continued partnership with its
auxiliaries, the LWML and Lutheran Hour Ministries, to provide
training and resources to assist called workers and lay leaders in
personal witnessing and the promotion of personal witnessing
among the members of each of our Synod’s congregations; and be
it further
Resolved, That congregations be encouraged to demonstrate
personal witnessing as a priority of their church by encouraging
their workers to spend time on a weekly basis in the community,
and by assisting the workers in their current responsibilities so as to
not add further to their work load; and be it finally
Resolved, That congregations be encouraged to include funds to
be used at the discretion of the pastor, and when possible, all called
workers to support their efforts for personal witnessing in the
community.
Board of Directors
Mid-South District
Ov. 1-03

To Prepare a Report for Small Congregations
WHEREAS, The United States is undergoing shifts in
demographics and living patterns (in both rural and urban areas)
which have left many congregations with fewer members; and
WHEREAS, People come to saving faith through the ministry of
teaching the gospel and administering the sacraments (Augsburg
Confession [AC] XIV, Matthew 28, Romans 10); and
WHEREAS, We believe that no one should publicly teach, preach,
or administer the sacraments without a proper call (AC XIV); and
WHEREAS, It is salutary that congregations stay open with pastors
preaching and administering the sacraments in as many places as it
is possible to do so; and
WHEREAS, We must at the same time be good stewards of the
gifts with which God has blessed us; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the Office of
National Mission (ONM) to investigate and study the means by
which smaller congregations in different conditions are trying to
remain open (for example, but not limited to: dual-/tri-congregation
parish arrangements, circuit riding, preaching stations, home church
with satellites, etc.); and be it further
Resolved, That the ONM prepare a report of its findings,
including information of how these churches arrange their polity,
staffing, budgets, etc., so as to be instructive to other congregations
in similar situations; and be it finally