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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 8

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

8

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
Istanbul Lutheran Church, ILK (Turkey)
Lutheran Church of Uganda, LCU [6]
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ukraine, ELCU [7]

7. In accord with Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (b), recognition of LCMS–ELCU fellowship is under consideration at the 2023 Synod convention.

R1.2

Chief Mission Officer

The Lutheran Ministerium and Synod, LMSUSA (U.S.)

Others (church bodies engaging in conversation and/or
ethical statements with the LCMS)
Bangladesh Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church, BNELC
Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church in Belarus,
IELCB
Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church in Burundi, HELCB
Iglesia Confessional de Columbia, ICC
Church of Faithful Confessing Lutherans in Congo,
CFCLCO
Bible Faith Lutheran Church, BFLC (India)
Evangelical Lutheran Conference and Ministerium of
Kenya, ELCMK
Himalayan Evangelical Lutheran Fellowship, HELF
(Nepal)
Evangelical Lutheran Church Society, DELK (Norway)
Norwegian Lutheran Mission, NLM
Lutheran Church of Rwanda, LCR
Lutheran Church in Singapore, LCS
Lutheran Church of the Republic of China, LCROC
Evangelical Lutheran Synod, ELS (U.S.)
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, WELS (U.S.)
Anglican Catholic Church, ACC (U.S.)
Traditional Anglican Church, TAC (U.S.)
Anglican Church in North America, ACNA (U.S.)
North American Lutheran Church, NALC (U.S.)

Endnotes
1. In keeping with Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (c), following CTCR approval, the
Synod President recognized LCMS–ELMDF fellowship on Nov. 14, 2020,
subject to 2023 Synod convention endorsement.
2. During dialogue spanning 14 years, the LCMS encouraged the JLC to
uphold the clear teaching of the infallible Word of God that only men may be
ordained to the pastoral office. Sadly, in its April 2021 convention, the JLC
officially adopted the false doctrine and practice of women’s ordination. By
this action, the JLC broke the confession and unity of the true faith, making
it impossible for the LCMS to continue to recognize and practice altar and
pulpit fellowship with the JLC. The very serious matter of formal cessation
of altar and pulpit fellowship will be brought before the Synod at its 2023
convention.
3. In keeping with Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (c), following CTCR approval, the
Synod President recognized LCMS–ELCSS/S fellowship on Sept. 17, 2023,
subject to 2023 Synod convention endorsement.
4. The IELE is a church body which is also an active OIM mission, and
thus in fellowship with the LCMS.
5. The CELC is a church body which is also an active OIM mission, and
thus in fellowship with the LCMS. In accord with Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (d), the
2023 Synod convention may consider a request to recognize the CELC as a
self-governing partner church of the LCMS.
6. In accord with Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (b), recognition of LCMS–LCU fellowship is under consideration at the 2023 Synod convention.

2023 Convention Workbook

Working under Bylaw 3.4.3ff. as a member of the Office of the
President team, the Chief Mission Officer (CMO) is responsible to
the President for all mission, ministry, programmatic, and coordinative functions implementing Board for National Mission (BNM)
and Board for International Mission (BIM) policies. He supervises
the Office of National Mission (ONM), Office of International Mission (OIM), Office of Pastoral Education (PED), and the Synod’s
Mission Advancement (MADV) and Communications (COMMS)
units, ensuring appropriate resources, planning, and coordination
within and across these teams. The CMO serves on the Operations
and Administrative Teams, chairs the Pastoral Formation Committee, represents the Synod and/or its President on several LCMSestablished or affiliated entity boards (including the LCMS Foundation and Concordia University System) and regularly interacts
with various agency and auxiliary heads and church partners of the
Synod in furtherance of LCMS objectives.
For the sake of our common unity and mission in the Gospel,
the CMO and units reporting to the CMO strive to serve the Synod’s members in full accord with and fulfillment of the direction
provided by our congregations and church workers (i.e., as occurs
at the Synod’s national and district conventions), such service and
fulfillment often functionally accomplished through district offices
and staffs (Bylaw 4.1.1: “The Synod is not merely an advisory body
… but establishes districts in order more effectively to achieve its
objectives and carry on its activities”). Over the past quadrennium,
units reporting to the CMO have worked diligently to advance the
Synod’s current triennial mission and ministry emphasis, adopted
under 2019 Resolution 4-03A: Making Disciples for Life (Proceedings, 134–35). That same resolution also reaffirmed the Synod’s
current seven mission priorities—which constantly drive planning,
implementation efforts, and strategic/operational considerations
within ONM, OIM, PED, MADV, and COMMS:
•

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, elementary, and secondary education, and youth ministry; and finally,

•

Strengthen and support the Lutheran family in living out
God’s design.

For a summary of accomplishments within the ONM, OIM,
PED, MADV, and COMMS units, see Reports R1.2.1–5 immediately following in this convention workbook. Significant accomplishments emerging from the CMO’s office itself over the past
quadrennium include (but are not limited to):
•

Ongoing improvements to collaboration, coordination, cooperation, and communication within and between all units