LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 275

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LIFE TOGETHER
WHEREAS, Bylaws 3.8.2.2 (BNM) and 3.8.3.2 (BIM) direct the
Synod’s mission boards “to gather pertinent and sufficient
information from the Synod’s members that will facilitate the
boards’ assessment and evaluation of the effectiveness of the
Synod’s triennial mission and ministry emphases, and shall develop
accordingly a joint overture to the national convention for beneficial
amendments thereto”; and
WHEREAS, Invaluable feedback was gathered from the Synod’s
two mission boards’ meetings with the Synod’s 35 district
presidents along with members of their respective staffs, which
demonstrated a spirit of cooperation, coordination, and
collaboration; and
WHEREAS, Synod district presidents, along with members of
their respective staffs, had a mixed reaction to the Synod’s current
mission priorities. Many recognized them as a self-evident
description of the Bible’s theology and practice of mission and
ministry. Others indicated that, while faithful to the Scriptures and
the Lutheran Confessions, the priorities did not play a significant
role in giving direction to their work at the district level; and
WHEREAS, The Synod’s Constitution states that we shall “1.
Conserve and promote the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4:3–6; 1 Cor.
1:10) …; 6. Aid congregations by providing a variety of resources
and opportunities for recognizing, promoting, expressing,
conserving, and defending their confessional unity in the true faith;
7. Encourage congregations to strive for uniformity in church
practice, but also to develop an appreciation of a variety of
responsible practices and customs which are in harmony with our
common profession of faith” (Const. Art. III); and
WHEREAS, The Synod’s current mission priorities are
contemporary applications of the Synod’s Article III objectives; and
WHEREAS, The Synod’s current mission priorities were
previously affirmed at two preceding Synod conventions (2016
Resolution 4-02A; 2019 Res. 4-03A); and
WHEREAS, The Synod and the baptized faithful were wearied and
distracted by an exhausting worldwide pandemic for over two years
together with escalating threats of war, internal domestic violence,
ongoing disasters brought by fire and flood, and a growing left-hand
kingdom divide, all of which combined to challenge our ability to
further promote, develop, and inculcate the Synod’s current mission
priorities; and
WHEREAS, The Synod’s current mission priorities clearly uphold
both the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28)
to make disciples of all nations as well as the Great Commands of
our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 22) to love the Lord our God and
our neighbors; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod give thanks to each district president
and staff who met with the BNM and BIM for such collegial
conversations; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm the Synod’s current seven
mission priorities as they exemplify our fervor in being faithful to
the Lord and loving our neighbor, and also encourage their use to
affirm our unity as Synod as lived out by congregations, national
servant-leaders, district servant-leaders, and circuit servant-leaders
in accord with the Synod’s current mission priorities:
• plant, sustain, and revitalize Lutheran churches;
• support and expand theological education;
• perform human care in close proximity to Word and
Sacrament ministries;

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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; and
• strengthen and support the Lutheran family in living out
God’s design;
and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod encourage servant-leaders of the
districts and national mission boards to commit to regular, frequent,
and fraternal meetings in keeping with our shared koinonia at all
levels of Synod, so that our walking together consistently
demonstrates our common confession, especially as plans are
carried out under the Synod’s mission priorities; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod’s mission boards and mission offices
serve, challenge and inspire the Synod’s districts to identify the best
ways to implement the Synod’s mission priorities in the cultural
contexts, challenges, and opportunities for the Gospel in each
district for the best possible provision of services and resources for
congregations, schools, and circuits.
•

Board for National Mission; Board for International Mission
Ov. 4-06

To Encourage Return to In-Person Worship
WHEREAS, God’s people are called to “[r]emember the Sabbath
day, to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8); and
WHEREAS, This day is intended as a day of sacred assembly: “Six
days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of
solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a
Sabbath to the Lord in all your dwelling places.” (Lev. 23:3); and
WHEREAS, Numerous epistles are written to the saints in certain
places and were read publicly when they gathered together, for
example, “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those
who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
both their Lord and ours” (1 Cor. 1:2); and
WHEREAS, Paul exhorts Timothy to focus upon the public
reading and teaching of God’s Word: “Until I come, devote yourself
to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do
not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy
when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these
things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.
Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this,
for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1
Tim. 4:13–16); and
WHEREAS, Our Savior comes to us through his Word and
Sacraments as means of grace to forgive, strengthen, comfort, and
guide us as his people as he bids us to do in Matthew 11:28, “Come
to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the Texas District in convention encourage a
return to in-person worship for the proclamation of the Word and
administration of the Sacraments to God’s saints; and be it further
Resolved, That every pastor and congregation hold in-person
services as they are able, recognizing that this will vary based on
2023 Convention Workbook