LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 102

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102 RESOLUTIONS

Resolved, That each congregation be encouraged to
study the specific needs and circumstances of its com-
munity; and be it further

Resolved, That each congregation be encouraged to
respond to the particular needs it finds in the manner
that seems best; and be it further

Resolved, That each congregation be encouraged to
carry on its Christian mission in its community in co-
operation with other Christian congregations and groups
in that community, respecting our Synod’s stance on
fellowship; and be it finally

Resolved, That such study of community needs and
such response to found needs be undertaken in consul-
tation with appropriate District boards and agencies.

Action: Adopted (7).

To Decline Overtures Re Student Groups
RESOLUTION 1-05

Overtures 1-08A, 1-08AA, 1-08AB, 1-08AC, 1-08AD,
1-08B, 1-08BA, 1-08C, 1-08CA (CW, p. 26)

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
has a responsibility to its college-age members; and

Wuereas, Our Synod’s campus ministry, based on
Word and Sacrament, takes its particular direction on
a given campus as it meets the ministry needs of that
campus situation; and

Wuereas, This ministry “extends not to one group
but to all students” (St. Louis convention, 1938); and

Wuereas, Various Lutheran student organizations
have been effective in fulfilling Lutheran student needs
and in reaching out to the campus (e. g., Gamma Delta,
Lutheran Student Movement, Beta Sigma Psi); there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the Synod commend the efforts of
these various student organizations for their service to
college-age youth; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod recognize these organiza-
tions as forms of Christian witness to the campus and
urge that they use the regular Student Recognition Sun-
day as a means of gaining exposure in the church; and
be it finally

Resolved, That overtures 1-08A, 1-08AA, 1-08AB,
1-08AC, 1-08AD, 1-08B, 1-08BA, 1-08C, 1-08CA be re-
spectfully declined.

Action: None. Referred under omnibus Res. 4-47 to
the Board of Directors.

To Reaffirm Our Church’s Mission
RESOLUTION 1-06
Report 1-01 (CW, pp. 1—22)

It is with an earnest and fervent prayer to God that
the Missions Floor Committee presents this preface and
accompanying resolutions to the 1973 synodical con-
vention.

“God has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ
and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation”
(2 Cor. 5:18). This statement of the apostle Paul sum-
marizes for us also the reconciling act of God and our
mandate, as ambassadors for Christ, to beseech all men
in Christ’s stead, “Be ye reconciled to God!” (2 Cor.
5:20)

In the spirit of this mission mandate, we have assem-
bled in this convention to assess our work of the past bi-
ennium, to praise God for what has been accomplished,
to implore His forgiveness for our failures, to look ahead
and determine our goals for the future, and to encourage
each other to be in Christ’s mission, in the words of our
convention motto, “Ever, Only, All for Thee.”

The report of the Board for Missions causes us to
rejoice over the great things that have happened in our
worldwide mission. The development of the national
sister churches, the excellent quality of leadership in the
mission fields, the zeal and dedication of board and staff,
the intensification of missionary outreach among minor-
ity groups in North America, the expansion of campus
ministry, the new developments in deaf and blind min-
istry, the involvement in new and special ministries, the
progress in medical work and the accompanying atten-
tion to opportunities for ministries of mercy, a growing
spirit of evangelism consciousness — all of these cause
us to rejoice and to praise God for His blessings.

We call attention to the growth and development
which have taken place in the overseas churches and
missions as this is documented on pages 15—21 of the
Convention Workbook. It is impossible to read this
thrilling story without experiencing joy and gratitude
to God for what has been accomplished.

In reviewing the report of the Board for Missions,
we are impressed by the commitment to mission on the
part of the missionaries, the members of the Board for
Missions, and the mission executives of our church
body. However, we are deeply distressed by the divi-
sions among board and staff as indicated in the ma-
jority-minority reports and fear these divisions will
jeopardize the mission work of the Synod and sister
churches.

We do not believe that the mission mandate will be
fulfilled by debating the motives and merits of the ac-
tions of the past biennium. Rather, we believe that it
is imperative for all of us to ask God’s forgiveness for
our shortcomings, to find joy in the Word of reconcilia-
tion, and to be reconciled also to each other in the spirit
of the Gospel.

We dare not minimize the importance of speaking to
each other the Word of God’s grace and forgiveness
through Christ. We call upon the members of board
and staff to bend every effort to love and understand
each other and to undergird and support each other in
ministry.

It is in this spirit of reconciliation, rather than judg-
ment, that we offer the following

Resolutions:

1. Resolved, That we reaffirm the Scriptural truth