LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 274

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274

LIFE TOGETHER

Ov. 4-03

To Prioritize “Living as the Baptized” as a Mission
and Ministry Focus for the 2022–2025 Triennium
WHEREAS, Holy Baptism is a treasured gift through which God
claims us as His own, forgives our sins, and grants us life and
salvation (Rom. 6:3–11; 1 Peter 3:21); and
WHEREAS, We, as baptized children of God, are members of the
royal priesthood, living stones “rejected by men but in the sight of
God chosen and precious…being built up as a spiritual house, to be
a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God
through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4–5); and
WHEREAS, Our citizenship as the baptized is in heaven (Phil.
3:20), and as such, we are called to live according to the Word, not
the world; and
WHEREAS, Living according to our baptismal identity is
becoming more challenging, as norms and values of our postChristian culture, many of which are rooted in ideas antithetical to
God’s Word, exert ever stronger pressure on Christians to think, act,
and believe in ways contrary to their God-given identity in Christ;
and
WHEREAS, Church membership in the U.S. has continued to
decline while the percentage of those claiming no religious
affiliation—“nones”—has increased (Gallup Poll, 2021), pointing
to a general weakening of Christian identity; and
WHEREAS, Lutherans confirmed in the faith acknowledge in the
Rite of Confirmation their intention “to remain steadfast in this
confession and church, and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall
away from it,” (Lutheran Service Book Agenda, 30) yet a 2017
Synod study of millennials and the church found that Synod is
retaining only 33 percent of its young people into adulthood,
reflecting general societal trends (“Executive Summary: 2017
Millennial
Research”,
www.youthesource.com/wpcontent/uploads/2018/06/Exec-Summary-Millenial-ResearchFinalRFP.pdf, accessed March 17, 2023); and
WHEREAS, Lack of a strong baptismal identity, especially in the
context of an increasingly secular culture, is a serious obstacle in
our calling to proclaim, teach, and share the Gospel, leaving the
baptized ill-equipped to engage in mission and ministry activities;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the Kansas District and its members prioritize
strengthening baptismal identity in the coming triennium, equipping
and encouraging the baptized to stand firm in the faith and resist
being conformed to the world (Rom. 12:2) and to move forward
boldly as the baptized people of God to expand the kingdom; and
be it further
Resolved, That the district promote the use of resources by
congregations and schools designed to strengthen habits central to
a strong sense of baptismal identity, including faithful worship,
reception of the Lord’s Supper, prayer, Bible study, home
devotions, mutual upbuilding, and living out one’s vocation; and be
it further
Resolved, That congregations and schools be encouraged to
equip the saints in their midst to boldly “proclaim, teach, and share”
by providing training and opportunities in evangelism, apologetics,
and lifelong discipleship, with the help of Synod and district
resources (Every One His Witness; re:Vitality, “Shepherding the
Strays”; Mission Field: USA); and be it finally

2023 Convention Workbook

Resolved, That the district memorialize the Synod as it gathers at
the 2023 Synod convention recommending adoption of a mission
and ministry emphasis consistent with helping Lutheran Christians
hold fast to their baptismal identity, as is the case with the Synod’s
current emphasis of Making Disciples for Life (2019 Resolution 403A, “To Commend to Synod Priorities for Mission and Ministry
Emphasis for the 2019–2022 Triennium”).
Kansas District
Ov. 4-04

To Suggest Mission and Ministry Emphases
for the Synod
WHEREAS, “The district convention is the instrument to receive
overtures
(Bylaw
3.1.6.2),
including
overtures
and
recommendations for synodwide mission and ministry emphases”
(Bylaw 4.2.1 [b]); and
WHEREAS, “The district convention shall, through delegate vote,
forward to the national convention a list of two or three triennial
mission and ministry emphases for consideration by the national
convention” (Bylaw 4.2.1 [d]); and
WHEREAS, The Florida-Georgia District convention passed
Resolution 01.4-2022 concerning mission and ministry emphases
for the Synod; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod adopt the mission and ministry
emphasis of “Multicultural Inclusion,” including the support of
ethnically diverse pastors and church workers and calling for racial
equality in our Synod and world; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod adopt the mission and ministry
emphasis of “Next Generation Leadership Development,” including
the support of raising up church worker and lay leaders, as well as
the support of campus and youth ministry.
Florida-Georgia District
Ov. 4-05

To Affirm and Continue Mission Priorities
for 2023–26 Triennium
Preamble
The Board for National Mission (BNM) and the Board for
International Mission (BIM) give thanks to God, the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit for the blessing of mutual conversation,
encouragement, and insight shared between representatives of the
BNM, the BIM, and the Synod’s 35 district presidents along with
members of their respective staffs over this past quadrennium. This
expression of walking together was a powerful reminder that the
Synod must always continue to foster and strengthen its unity
through face-to-face meetings, flowing out of a salutary
commitment to “conserve and promote the unity of the true faith”
(Constitution Article III 1). One of the main goals of these meetings
was to discuss and evaluate the current mission and ministry
priorities of the Synod. From these and other considerations, the
BNM and BIM recommend affirming and continuing the Synod’s
current seven mission priorities for continued development and
implementation into the Synod’s coming triennium (2023–2026).
WHEREAS, Our commitment as The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod congregations and workers is to walk together with the Word
of God as the only norm and guide for doctrine and practice; and