LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 124

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124 MISSIONS

1-06
To Adopt Mission Statement for Synod

Rationale

The Synod has never had a ‘Mission Statement” which sum-
marizes the work of congregations, and the various units created
by the Synod to serve congregations. The Council on Mission and
Ministry, of which the Synodical Board of Directors is a part,
worked through the triennium to develop a statement and asked the
Board of Directors to submit it for consideration by the 1998 syn-
odical convention. After considering various alternatives the fol-
lowing “Mission Statement” was proposed:

The mission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
is to serve one another in Christ’s name, to reach our com-
munities with Christ’s love, and to win the world for Christ’s
kingdom.
This statement was developed from a statement used in the cele-
bration of Synod’s 150th anniversary.

The Council and the Board in proposing this statement are not sug-
gesting that all congregations, schools, and other entities adopt this
wording. Rather they suggest that this Synod “Mission Statement”
is something individuals, congregations, other communities within
the church body, colleges, universities, and seminaries, and the Dis-
trict and national boards and commissions can relate to as they
serve one another and work toward the goal of winning the world
for Christ. As an example the synodical Board of Directors adopted
as its purpose statement:
BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ PURPOSE STATEMENT
(Desired Outcome)
The Board, in accordance with Bylaw 3.191, serves to pro-
vide leadership in achieving the objectives of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod as stated in Article III of its Constitu-
tion and Bylaw 1.01, so that Christ’s name, may be glorified
among all people throughout the world by serving each other in
Christ’s name, reaching our communities with Christ’s love, and
claiming the world for Christ’s kingdom.
Resolved, That the 1998 synodical convention adopt as the
Synod’s Mission Statement
The mission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is to
serve one another in Christ’s name, to reach our communities
with Christ’s love, and to win the world for Christ’s kingdom.

and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod encourage individuals, congregations,
and other communities within the church body, colleges, universi-
ties, and seminaries, and the District and national boards and com-
missions to reflect this mission in their own mission or purpose
statement; and be it finally

Resolved, That we stand and sing the common doxology as we
pray the Lord’s guidance and blessing as together we work “to win
the world for Christ’s kingdom.”

Board of Directors
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

1-07

To Support Lutheran Student Fellowship
and Encourage Campus Ministry

WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus Christ’s command to go and make
disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18—20) includes the more than 14
million students and over a half million international students, plus
scholars, faculty, and dependents on more than 3,600 college and
university campuses across the United States; and

WHEREAS, Campus ministries are twofold: (1) ministry with the
sons and daughters of our congregations; and (2) ministry with
those outside the household of faith; and

WHEREAS, Every District in the Synod operates campus min-
istries to minister to these students; and

WHEREAS, These campus ministries range from simply assign-
ing contact congregations to providing full-time campus pastors
and workers; and

WHEREAS, There is also a large population of college students
who commute from their homes and are, therefore, not offered the
opportunity for fellowship and mission outreach offered by typical
campus ministries yet still need a supportive congregation; and

WHEREAS, The 1986 convention formed Lutheran Student Fel-
lowship for the purpose of encouraging Christian fellowship among
these students and to smooth the transition from home youth groups
to college campuses; and

* Wuereas, Lutheran Student Fellowship has been blessed with
145 chapters across the country; therefore be it

Resolved, That all high schools and congregations of the Synod
should cooperate, in every way possible, with the Synod’s coun-
selor for campus ministry to forward the names of students (and
information necessary for contacting them) to the appropriate cam-
pus congregations; and be it further

Resolved, That the President of the Synod shall, with the advice
of the counselor for campus ministry, appoint a task force to eval-
uate Current campus ministry models based on their effectiveness,
to recommend to the Board of Directors changes in these models
and to specific neglected regions and schools where necessary to
improve the effectiveness of our outreach; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Directors shall work with the Dis-
trict Presidents to implement these changes at the earliest possible
time; and be it further

Resolved, That the congregations of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod be encouraged to consider students going to col-
lege to be missionaries to these campuses, to encourage the stu-
dents in this role, and to commission them as such before the
church; and be it further

Resolved, That those organizing gathering events for senior high
school youth be encouraged to contact Lutheran Student Fellow-
ship for materials, guidance, and participation that might help to
prepare students for the transition to college life; and be it further

Resolved, That every District be encouraged to expand direct
and intentional ministry to as many campuses within their jurisdic-
tion as possible; and be it further

Resolved, That the congregations of the Synod should assist
Lutheran Student Fellowship in every possible way in developing
the leadership and missionary potential of college-age members;
and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod work to produce Bible study materials
appropriate for use in the unique combination of lay membership
and scholarly orientation which exists on many campuses.

University Lutheran Chapel, Ann Arbor, MI; St. Luke,
Ann Arbor, MI

1-08

To Encourage All Districts to Support
Mission Efforts to Ethnic Groups in U.S.

WHEREAS, The Lord of the harvest has given the church its
marching orders in Matt. 28:19-20 saying: “Go, therefore, and
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Fa-
ther, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to ob-
serve all things I have commanded you’”’; and

WHEREAS, The nations are coming to the United States in the
sense that people from all over the world are entering the universi-
ties and the workplace here; and

WHEREAS, Studies have indicated that every white American
dying today will be replaced by one white American; each Hispanic
American who dies today will be replaced by 10 Hispanics; and
each oriental American who dies will be replaced by 20 orientals;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Cheyenne Circuit Forum memorialize the
Missouri Synod in convention to encourage all Districts to re-

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