LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 196

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8. EVANGELISM

To Establish 1975 Synodical
Convention Theme

RESOLUTION 8-01
Report 8-01 (CW, pp. 307—311)

Wuereas, We live in a world obviously in need of
the Gospel message entrusted to us by our Lord; and

Wuereas, The back door losses of our Synod in 1972
numbered over 1,000 communicant members each week;
and

Wuereas, We have been more apt to talk and to ap-
prove resolutions which speak about evangelism than
to go out and bring the Gospel to our world in need;
therefore be it

Resolved, That as a church we repent and make
active efforts to improve our witness to the world and
live and serve in the same forgiveness through our
Lord that we are expected to proclaim to others; and
be it further

Resolved, That we encourage the President of Synod
and others responsible for the planning of the 1975 syn-
odical convention to select and implement an evange-
lism theme for that convention.

Action: Adopted (2).

To Thank Boards, Committees,
and Auxiliaries

RESOLUTION 8-02
Report 8-01, 2, b, c, (CW, p. 308)

Resolved, That we thank those boards, committees,
and organizations such as the LLL and the LWML
within the Synod who have cooperated in making 1973
a year of evangelism and that we urge all boards, com-
mittees, and organizations to include a strong evange-
listic concern in all of their materials and programs in
cooperation with the Board for Evangelism.

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

To Establish Evangelism Priority
RESOLUTION 8-03
Overture 8-01, 1 (CW, p. 307)

Resolved, That since “making disciples” is the great
commission of our Lord and therefore should receive
top priority in the work of our church, we ask congre-
gations, circuits, and Districts to establish goals in evan-
gelism in terms of programmed evangelism efforts and
the increase in souls that they will pray for, and that
we request the Board for Evangelism to redouble its
efforts to prepare those thousands of our lay members
and pastors who recognize this Christian responsibility
and opportunity to bring at least 125,000 converts into

197

The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod as a fitting
thank-offering and follow-up to the 125th Anniversary;
and be it further

Resolved, That we deeply regret and repent of the
meager attention that we have been giving to the mat-
ter of evangelism at this convention in comparison to
the attention being given to other matters, and that we
request the President of the Synod together with the
Vice-Presidents and all District Presidents to move up
into the first priority of administrative leadership a posi-
tive, aggressive, and continuous emphasis on our Lord’s
great commission to preach the Gospel to every crea-
ture, undergirding the efforts of our synodical and Dis-
trict boards of evangelism.

Action: Adopted as amended (16).

(Amendment: the second resolved.)

To Implement Key 73
RESOLUTION 8-04
Report 8-01, 2, d; Overture 8-02 (CW, pp. 308 and 311)

Resolved, That we thank and praise God for all those
who with us realize that the Gospel of Christ is His
power unto salvation to all who believe it and for the
opportunity that the Key 73 program represents to pro-
claim that saving message in “Calling our Continent
to Christ”; and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage our congregations to
continue to follow the Key 73 guidelines as set up by
our Commission on Theology and Church Relations.

Action: Adopted (2).

To Encourage Confrontation Evangelism
RESOLUTION 8.05
Report 8-01, 7 (CW, p. 315)

Wuereas, The Kennedy method of confrontation
evangelism has gained some prominence in our nation,
and improvements and variations have been tailored to
fit local needs in The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod; and

Wuereas, This general category of evangelism con-
tinues as an important means of sharing the Gospel;
therefore be it

Resolved, That we further implement one-to-one
sharing of Law and Gospel; and be it further

Resolved, That those who participate in these types
of outreach be trained to do this work; and be it finally

Resolved, That the synodical Board for Evangelism
provide guidelines, materials, and trained instructors
for training pastors and lay people in confrontation
evangelism.

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