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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 387

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

NATIONAL WITNESS
Resolved, That the report should be completed and available to
the Synod by or before the Synod convention in 2022.
Circuit 4
Southern Illinois District
Ov. 1-04

To Prioritize the Study of Dual- and MultiCongregation Parish Ministry Situations
within the Synod
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has currently
over 500 dual- and multi-congregation parish arrangements being
served by sole pastors (which constitutes over 15 percent of our
congregations); and
WHEREAS, Due to converging factors of economics and
demographics, many more congregations will be exploring some
form of partnership arrangement to meet Word and Sacrament
needs into the future; and
WHEREAS, The importance of maintaining a faithful Christian
and Lutheran witness across the landscape of our nation depends
upon reliable Word and Sacrament ministry in many places where
congregations are not self-sustainable, and they have thus joined
forces to maintain such ministry; and
WHEREAS, A shortfall of available ministerial candidates may
also contribute to this picture; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the Council of
Presidents to conduct a study of pastors serving in dual- and multicongregation parish settings to help acquire information on how
best to select, prepare, serve, and support those in such settings for
the purpose of enhancing the ministry conducted under these
circumstances.
Altenburg Circuit
Missouri District
Ov. 1-05

To Prioritize the Study of Dual- and MultiCongregation Parish Ministry Situations
and the Men Who Serve Them within the LCMS
WHEREAS, We have been charged with carrying out the Savior’s
Great Commission; and
WHEREAS, The importance of maintaining a faithful Christian
and Lutheran witness across the landscape of our nation depends
upon reliable Word and Sacrament ministry; and
WHEREAS, Dual- and multi-congregation parish arrangements
permit many smaller congregations to benefit from having a trained
and ordained pastor they would otherwise do without; and
WHEREAS, The greatest number of these congregations exist in
rural and small town situations where distance and other factors
heighten difficulties in conducting ministry; and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has
currently over 500 dual- and multi-congregation parish
arrangements being served by sole pastors (which constitutes over
15 percent of our congregations); and
WHEREAS, Due to converging factors of economics and
demographics, many more congregations will be exploring some
form of partnership arrangement to meet Word and Sacrament
needs into the future; and

387

WHEREAS, Very little is known about the long-term
circumstances of these congregations; and
WHEREAS, A shortage of ministerial candidates may also
contribute to this picture; and
WHEREAS, Such situations often result in shorter pastoral tenure
which tends to be detrimental to congregational life; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the LCMS
Council of Presidents to conduct or authorize a study of pastors
serving in dual- and multi-congregation parish settings to help
acquire information on how best to equip, support, and serve those
serving in such settings for the purpose of enhancing the ministry
conducted under dual and multi-congregation parish situations, as
well as to better aid in selection and recruitment; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the LCMS
Council of Presidents to conduct or authorize a study of the
congregations in dual- and multi-congregation parish situations for
the purpose of tracking data to assist in developing strategies and
resources targeted for the benefit of these congregations and the
men who pastor them.
Grace, Uniontown, MO; Zion, Longtown, MO
Ov. 1-06

To Coordinate the Synod’s Response to Assaults on
Marriage, Life, and Family
WHEREAS, God instituted holy marriage between a man and a
woman (Gen. 1:27; Gen. 2:21–24; Matt. 19:4–7; Eph. 5:22–33); and
WHEREAS, God’s will for the married man and woman is clearly
stated, “Be fruitful and multiply …” (Gen. 1:28), thus perpetuating
the gift of life; and
WHEREAS, Marriage and life lead to family for God’s Word to
spread: “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your
heart and in your soul … You shall teach them to your children …”
(Deut. 11:18a, 19a); and
WHEREAS, Holy marriage is an honorable estate instituted and
blessed by God in Paradise, before humanity’s fall into sin; and
WHEREAS, In marriage we see a picture of the communion of
Christ and His bride the Church; and
WHEREAS, Holy marriage and family is to be confessed and
taught in the church in accordance with the purposes for which it
was instituted by God for the benefit of both church and society;
and
WHEREAS, The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and
mind is intended by God for mutual companionship, help, and
support that each person ought to receive from the other, both in
prosperity and adversity; and
WHEREAS, Holy marriage was also ordained by God so that man
and woman may find delight in one another and thus avoid sexual
immorality; and
WHEREAS, The gift of being either male or female is intended by
God for the giving and receiving of sexual love within holy
marriage and, when it is God’s will, for the procreation of children
who are to be brought up in the fear and instruction of the Lord so
that they may offer Him their praise in the holy lives that they live;
and
WHEREAS, Holy marriage is the foundation for family and the
care and nurture of children; and

2019 Convention Workbook