LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Sheet 146

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MISSIONS 129

Resolved, That congregations develop, expand, participate in,
and support ministries in the North American mission field among
international students and their families.

North Wisconsin District; Our Redeemer, Moorhead, MN

1-16

To Promote Urban Mission Partnerships

WHEREAS, The movement of people to the urban metropolitan
areas of the United States has continued at an amazing pace
through the beginning of the new century, until well more than half
of the inhabitants of the country live in these major metropolitan
areas; and

WHEREAS, This concentration of people, particularly new ar-
rivals from other countries with other religious backgrounds or no
religious background, offers a fertile field for mission outreach; and

WHEREAS, Our Lord commanded that His followers were to go
“into all the world,” and the citizenry of the world has arrived in
metropolitan areas like New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago,
and others; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board for Mission Services of the LCMS
continue to operate under the principle that North America is a mis-
sion field; and be it further

Resolved, That the Pentecost 2000 initiative of the LCMS be
continued for the next triennium; and be it further

Resolved, That partnerships of people and other resources
among urban and suburban congregations within Districts and be-
tween Districts be officially encouraged so as to maximize mission
outreach potential; and be it finally

Resolved, That pastoral and lay leaders and missionaries from
the emerging and renewed urban parishes and ministries be brought
together at synodical expense during the 2001-2004 triennium to
further develop these partnerships and opportunities.

St. Peter, Brooklyn, NY; Circuit 9, Atlantic District;
Circuit 8, Atlantic District

1-17

To Be Culturally Sensitive in Mission Activity

WuereaS, Christ has commissioned His Church to bring the
Gospel message to the entire world; and

Whereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has been—
and continues to be—active in worldwide missionary endeavors;
and

WHEREAS, Immigration to the United States of America has
brought people from many parts of the world to our communities,
thus opening new fields ripe for harvest; and

WHEREAS, Many first-generation immigrants can be reached
more readily in their own language and when due respect is paid
to their customs and culture; therefore be it

Resolved, That in its life together The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod give first priority to the missionary task the Lord has
given it; and be it further

Resolved, That, without weakening in any way its commitment
to its scriptural and confessional heritage, The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod recognize the imperative of communicating the
Gospel to people in their own language and in forms that are sensi-
tive to the culture of those to whom we seek to bring the Gospel;
and be it finally

Resolved, That the Board for Mission Services seek out and
train as well as support individuals who have the necessary
God-given abilities to carry out this work.

Holy Cross
Arlington, TX

1-18

To Be Sensitive to Cultural Values

WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus Christ has directed his church to
“make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:18); and

Wrereas, Our Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has as one
of its objectives to extend a “Gospel witness to all the world” (Art.
II 2); and

WHEREAS, God has richly bestowed His blessing upon the mis-
sionary endeavors of our Synod, so that we are now at work in
many parts of the world; and

Wuereas, Immigrants from many parts of the globe are now
coming to the United States, and many of these immigrants trea-
sure their own culture and language, even as they acclimate them-
selves to life in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Many of these people have not yet heard the Gospel
message of salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, and
God is now presenting our LCMS with a challenge that dare not be
ignored; therefore be it

Resolved, That our Synod energetically undertake to bring the
Gospel to such people in the language they best understand; and be
it further

Resolved, That in so doing we be sensitive to the cultural values
and understandings of those people whom we seek to reach with
the Good News of salvation and not impose our own cultural val-
ues and traditions upon them; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Mission Services seek out, train,
and support individuals who have the necessary God-given abili-
ties to carry out such work; and be it finally

Resolved, That we implore God’s continued blessing upon our
church’s goal of bringing a Gospel witness to the world, both here
in our land and throughout the world.

Lord of Life
Leawood. KS

1-19

To Recognize and Share Results of Increased Diversity

WHEREAS, Many individuals in the LCMS have prayed for
many years that the Gospel be brought to all nations; and

WHEREAS, God has answered those prayers and has brought the
nations to the United States through immigration and through indi-
viduals coming to continue their education; and

WHEREAS, Many individuals in the LCMS have prayed for new
mission opportunities and have worked to develop new mission
sites; and

WHEREAS, God has answered those prayers and has established
Korean missions, Chinese missions, Vietnamese missions, and
Hmong missions, as well as Hispanic and African immigrant min-
istries and many others; and

WHEREAS, Our seminaries and educational institutions have
worked to train professional full-time church workers from many
ethnic groups; and

WHEREAS, God has used those individuals to develop new mis-
sion sites, raise mission awareness, and train indigenous workers;
and

WHEREAS, Those ministries have used God’s Word and Sacra-
ments to establish churches, schools, retirement housing, and job
training; therefore be it

Resolved, That the 2001 convention of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod thank God for the rich diversity that He is bringing
to our church; and be it further

Resolved, That we pray that The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod ever more become a church of all nations; and be it finally

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod,
through its official publications, be encouraged to share what God
has done through these exciting new ministries.

Board for Mission Services
on behalf of the Chinese Ministry Committee

2001 Convention Workbook