LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 102

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102

RESOLUTIONS

promised to stay with us to accomplish this task (Matt.
28:18–20); and
WHEREAS, God, who determines where every nation shall
live (Acts 17:26), has arranged for the nations of the world
to come in increasing numbers to the United States; and
WHEREAS, More than 1 million immigrants enter the
U.S. each year; and
WHEREAS, The demographics of the U.S. population are
being changed by more people coming from Asia, Africa,
South and Central America, etc.; and
WHEREAS, More than 1.5 million international students
and their families have come to the United States to study
in colleges and universities; and
WHEREAS, There is a growing openness on the part of
LCMS members and support from LCMS Districts for
reaching out with the Gospel to immigrants and existing
multicultural populations; therefore be it
Resolved, That this convention thank God for the gifts
of new immigrants and existing multicultural populations
that He is giving His church in North America, particularly
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations of the LCMS be encouraged to seek out immigrants and all multicultural populations, showing the love of Jesus in both Word and deed; and
be it further
Resolved, That each District of the LCMS be encouraged
to make church planting among new immigrants and all
multicultural populations a priority of mission work in
their District or in partnership with other Districts; and be
it further
Resolved, That this convention encourage congregations,
Districts, schools, and other entities to innovate and especially to build relationships in their local community as a
means for developing appropriate mission strategies for
their own situations; and be it further
Resolved, That workers in urban and multicultural ministries receive mission training similar to the specialized
training that foreign missionaries receive, in order to give
them the understandings and skills needed for effective
urban and multicultural mission work; and be it finally
Resolved, That each LCMS synodical department support District efforts to reach immigrants, international students and family members, and all multicultural populations.
Action: Adopted as amended (10)
(By common consent the word welcome was changed to seek
out in the second resolve and the word new before workers in the
fifth resolve was deleted.)

To Distribute the Report
of the Board for Mission Services
RESOLUTION 1-04
Report 1-01 (CW, pp. 12–17)
Rationale
The report of the Board for Mission Services portrays a
clear picture of our church’s mission endeavor. It is apparent that God is blessing the proclamation of the Gospel in
the mission fields in our own country and around the world.

It is appropriate therefore for the Synod in convention to
express its gratitude in response to the blessings of our gracious God.
Resolved, That the Synod give all praise and thanks to
God for what is being accomplished through our missionary endeavors; and be it further
Resolved, To express our heartfelt thanks to the missionaries in the field for their sacrificial service; and be it
further
Resolved, To commend the Board for Mission Services
and its staff for their dedicated and effective leadership;
and be it finally
Resolved, To urge that this report be distributed and discussed in all of our congregations to share the information
and inspiration that it contains.
Action: Adopted (1)

To Reaffirm the Fivefold Vision
Statement for 2000 and Beyond
RESOLUTION 1-05
Overture 1-01 (CW, p. 123)
WHEREAS, the 59th regular convention of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod in 1995 adopted Res. 2-01A, “To
Put Five Vision Statements into Practice,” to be a church
body (1) strong in the Word, (2) Christ centered and people
sensitive, (3) reaching out boldly with the Gospel, (4) faithful to the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, (5)
marked by peace and unity; and
WHEREAS, This fivefold vision is centered in God’s Word
and in our Lutheran Confessions; therefore be it
Resolved, That we reaffirm our commitment to the fivefold vision of the Synod for the year 2000 and beyond; and
be it further
Resolved, That the synodical boards and commissions of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod continue to develop
goals and strategies that are in harmony with this fivefold
vision; and be it finally
Resolved, That we urge the Districts and congregations
of our Synod to continue to strive with God's help to put
this fivefold vision statement into practice.
Action: Adopted (1)

To Consider the Name Change of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
RESOLUTION 1-06
Overtures 1-02–05 (CW, p. 123)
WHEREAS, The 59th regular convention of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod in 1995 referred the subject of a
synodical name change to the Board of Directors of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod for action; and
WHEREAS, The Board of Directors is currently implementing a process to respond to this directive, keeping in
mind the impact any name change would have, especially
on the Synod’s mission; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Board of Directors be directed to complete this process and bring it to the Synod for action at the
regular convention in the year 2001.