LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 133

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RESOLUTIONS 133

attending our universities and colleges; and be it further

Resolved, That the LCMS set aside the present policy
of the Board for Missions in its financial commitment to
Campus Ministry Communications ($26,000 per
annum); and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Missions implementits
own editorial service for campus ministry communica-
tions that will enable LCMS campus ministries to meet
the Mission Challenge for the 80s with a clear direction
and witness for the church on campus; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod encourage its Districts to
continue to pursue vigorously a challenging and vital
campus ministry.

Action: Adopted (14).

To Encourage Review, Evaluation,
and Development of Guidelines
for all Subsidized Congregations

RESOLUTION 1-10
Overture 1-24 (CW, p. 36)

WHEREAS, Our Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
has a long history of opening new mission stations with
subsidies from Districts; and

WHEREAS, It is desirable that all subsidized con-
gregations receive the consideration and assistance
appropriate to their specific needs and ministry chal-
lenges; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Districts of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod be encouraged through their
respective mission committees and boards to review
and evaluate District policies concerning subsidized
congregations; and be it further

Resolved, That the Districts of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod through their respective mis-
sion committees and boards be encouraged to develop
mission subsidy policies which will challenge self-
sufficiency, self-initiative, self-respect, and self-support
within the framework of mutual accountability to one
another.

Action: Adopted (14).

To Employ Directors of Evangelism
RESOLUTION 1-11
Overture 1-30 (CW, pp. 37—38)

WHEREAS, There is a continuing need for equipping
laypeople both to be witnesses who share their faith in
their everyday lives and to be evangelists who share the
Gospel in calling programs; and

WHEREAS, Congregations are open to learning new
ways to reach the unchurched, welcome them, and
incorporate them into their fellowship; and

WHEREAS, The pastor needs all the help he can get in
carrying out his evangelism responsibilities in the

training and equipping of his members for their
ministry; and

WHEREAS, It has been demonstrated that a trained
unordained person can serve as an able assistant to the
pastor in these responsibilities; therefore be it

Resolved, That we commend the colleges that have
developed programs that provide intensive evangelism
training programs in order to prepare directors of
evangelism (such as Concordia College, St. Paul, Minn.,
and Christ College, Irvine, Calif.) and encourage them
to continue to recruit students for the program and to
develop and improve the evangelism offerings; and be it
further

Resolved, That we urge the congregations of the
Synod, when increasing their professional church-
worker staff, to consider adding a director of
evangelism.

Action: Adopted (14).

To Encourage Use of God-given Gifts
RESOLUTION 1-12
Overture 1-31 (CW, p. 38)

WHEREAS, Scripture clearly teaches that God gives to
every member of the body of Christ, the church, special
gifts and ministries that he or she is to use for the good
of the entire body so that it may function properly and
do the work God has given it to do on earth (see
especially 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4:11-16; Rom. 12; and 1 Peter
4:7-11); and

WHEREAS, Discovering and using one’s God-given
gifts helps members of a congregation find satisfaction
in being a part of the work of that congregation; and

WHEREAS, Some congregations of the Synod have
developed means by which they help members discover
and use their God-given gifts and have been richly
blessed through their programs; and

WHEREAS, The materials developed for evangelism
training by the Synod’s Evangelism Department are
planned for two groups: for every Christian as a witness
in daily life, and those who may have the gift of
evangelism and can be involved in more intensive
evangelism calling; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod encourage the congrega-
tions of the Synod to study the New Testament
Scripture which speaks about the gifts and ministries
that God gives to each member (as listed above); and be

~ it further

Resolved, That the Synod encourage the congrega-
tions of the Synod to develop ways and means of
helping their members identify their God-given gifts
and to use them in their congregations; and be it further

Resolved, That the congregations of the Synod-seek
to provide training in witnessing for all of their members
and to provide more in-depth training for those who
have the gift of evangelism; and be it finally