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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 255

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

FLOOR COMMITTEES: REPORT AND OVERTURE ASSIGNMENTS

1. National Witness
REPORTS
R1–R1.2.1, R1.2.4–R1.2.5, R1.3,
R5.2, R6, R8, R16–R19, R21–R59
OVERTURES
Ov. 1-01

To Aid Churches Unable to Support Sole Pastor
WHEREAS, Many congregations in The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod (LCMS) are facing declining membership to the
point that they are no longer financially able to support the cost of
compensating a full-time pastor; and
WHEREAS, The members of these congregations desire to
continue to receive Word and Sacrament ministry from an ordained
pastor; and
WHEREAS, Most members of the LCMS have little prior
knowledge or experience with a congregation shrinking to the point
of being unable to support a full-time pastor; and
WHEREAS, In recent years individual churches, circuits, and
districts have been forced to deal with this problem through the
combining of congregations, transition to worker/priest pastorates,
multi-congregation pastorates, part-time pastorates, and closure of
congregations; and
WHEREAS, The experiences of these congregations and pastors
could prove invaluable to churches facing these same challenges
and help to avoid critical mistakes; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Southern District create a task force to
investigate and identify the best options for congregations to
attempt to address the problem of no longer being able to financially
support a pastor and the mistakes congregations should avoid in
such situations; and be it further
Resolved, That the task force identify other key problematic
areas congregations in such situations have faced that should be
addressed early on when facing such challenges; and be it further
Resolved, That the task force present its finding and conclusion
in the form of a manual that congregations, circuit visitors, district
presidents, and other leaders in the church may use as a tool to
competently and proactively address such situations; and be it
finally
Resolved, That this same resolution be forwarded as an overture
to the Synod at convention to be considered for implementation
throughout our church body.
Southern District
Ov. 1-02

To Study Dual- and Multi-Congregation Parish
Ministry Situations within the Synod
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has
currently over 500 dual and multiple parish arrangements being
served by sole pastors (which constitutes over 15 percent of our
congregations); and

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WHEREAS, Due to converging factors of economics,
demographics, and unavailability of pastors willing to serve in such
ministry situations, many more congregations will be exploring and
entering into 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 diverse
localities; and
WHEREAS, There are few available materials on this topic, and
even fewer from an LCMS perspective; and
WHEREAS, A shortfall of available ministerial candidates may
also increase the need for faithful ministry to be conducted under
these circumstances; therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention direct the Office of
National Mission to conduct a study of pastors who have served or
are currently serving in dual- or multi-congregation parish settings,
as well as the from the partnering congregations themselves to help
acquire information on how best to select, prepare, and support
those in such settings; and be it further
Resolved, That resources be produced from such study and made
widely available that identify “best practices” as well as “pitfalls”
(from the perspective of pastors as well as congregations) in
arranging and conducting such ministry for the purpose of
enhancing the effectiveness of ministry conducted in these contexts.
Circuit 1 (Altenburg)
Missouri District
Ov. 1-03

To Provide and Support Pastors
Serving Small Congregations
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has
hundreds, if not thousands, of congregations in small towns and
rural areas; and
WHEREAS, Many of these congregations have less than 50
communicant members; and
WHEREAS, Small congregations have issued numerous calls to
pastors which have been declined; and
WHEREAS, Calls are often declined because the salaries offered
are insufficient to support a pastor and his family and the cost of
benefits including Concordia Plan Services far exceeds the ability
of congregations to pay; and
WHEREAS, In many geographical areas small LCMS
congregations are often far from any other confessional Lutheran
congregation; and
WHEREAS, The souls ministered to in these areas are precious in
the eyes of God and Jesus died for them too; and
WHEREAS, Such small and often isolated congregations are
centers not only for Word and Sacrament ministry but social and
emotional support as well; and
WHEREAS, Such congregations are closing at an alarming rate
since pastors are not available to live nearby or serve them with any
regularity; and
WHEREAS, In the parable of the lost sheep, the shepherd leaves
the 99 sheep to seek the one that is lost, indicating the priceless
value of even one soul to Jesus (Matt. 18:10–14); and

2023 Convention Workbook