LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Sheet 147

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

130 MISSIONS

1-20

To Recognize Need for Variety in Church Practice

Wuereas, The congregations and professional church workers
belonging to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod have volun-
tarily affiliated with that church body because they agree with its
confession and its objectives; and

WHEREAS, The Constitution of the LCMS has as one of its pur-
poses “to strengthen congregations and their members in giving
bold witness by word and deed to the love and work of God, the
Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit, and extend the Gospel witness
into all the world” (Constitution, Art. III, 2); and

WuerEAS, This Constitution, while encouraging uniformity of
church practice, also encourages its congregations “to develop an
appreciation of a variety of responsible practices and customs
which are in harmony with our common profession of faith” (Con-
stitution, Art. III, 7); and

WHEREAS, There are many areas of church life that are neither
commanded nor forbidden by the Holy Scriptures, that are left to
the Christian freedom of congregations to determine for them-
selves; and

WHEREAS, In some parts of the Synod efforts are being made to
impose customs and practices that may be desirable and effective in
one area of the Synod upon other areas or cultures; and

WHEREAS, For the sake of the Gospel, Christian congregations
must adapt their customs and practices so as to effectively bring
the Gospel to people of various races and cultures; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention recognize that differ-
ences among the various cultures that we seek to serve wil] require
differences of approach; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention rejoice at all the cre-
ative ways that are being employed by many within the Synod to
bring the Gospel to their communities; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod remind any who seek to impose a uni-
formity of practice throughout the Synod that such uniformity is
not required by the Scriptures or the Confessions, so long as the
confessional basis of the Synod is not violated; and be it finally

Resolved, That we implore God’s blessing upon all efforts to
share the Good News of Jesus Christ in a great variety of ways.

Holy Cross, Arlington, TX; Family of Faith, Houston, TX;
Lord of Life, Leawood, KS

1-21

To Encourage Diversity of Leadership

WHEREAS, The Pentecost 2000 initiative of the LCMS Board for
Mission Services highlighted the need to reach the world with the
Gospel in North America; and

WHEREAS, The success of that outreach effort, coupled with on-
going District mission efforts throughout the Synod, most espe-
cially in local congregations, has brought people from all countries
of the world into LCMS membership; and

WHEREAS, The makeup of most boards and commissions of the
LCMS and its regional entities is still primarily Caucasian and
male, almost to the point of exclusivity; and

WHEREAS, Synodical elections as well as synodical Circuit rep-
resentation allows and encourages the continuation of primarily to
almost exclusively Caucasian male representation, therefore dis-
couraging gifted and talented leaders from more diverse represen-
tation in service to Lord and church; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS in convention in 2001 affirm its de-
sire to utilize the gifts and talents of all its laity and clergy in ser-
vice to Lord and church at the elected and appointed levels of syn-
odical service; and be it further

Resolved, That the LCMS celebrate the diversity of peoples
being brought into LCMS congregational membership and resolve
to increase substantially the amount of elected and appointed lead-
ers from other than male Caucasian background in the next trien-

2001 Convention Workbook

nium by the special recruiting efforts of local and national church
leaders.

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

1-22

To Apportion Mission Dollars for Collaboration
with Like-Minded Church Groups

WHEREAS, The LCMS membership comprises about 3% of all
Christians in the United States, and what we say as a church body
often goes unreported by the news media; and

WHEREAS, Competent surveys repeatedly demonstrate the neg-
ative impact the media is having on our Christian brothers, sisters,
and children in forming moral judgments that are inconsistent with
God’s Word; and

WHEREAS, The Word of God calls upon us to let our light shine
and to witness to the truth; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS canvas other church groups to find
oneness of mind on the moral issues of abortion, euthanasia, the
death penalty, the gay lifestyle, immoral sexual behavior, adultery,
and bearing false witness; and be it further

Resolved, That the LCMS collaborate with those groups with
oneness of mind and author a joint statement based on the truth of
Holy Scripture for each of these issues; and be it further

Resolved, That these statements be published nationally as a
witness to our Christian brothers, sisters, and children as these is-
sues are debated in the press; and be it finally

Resolved, That the LCMS apportion some mission dollars in
support of this effort.

Prince of Peace
Waukegan, IL

1-23

To Encourage Continued Emphasis
on Prison and Jail Ministry

WHEREAS, The 1998 convention of our Synod resolved that the
Synod in the year 2000, prior to its next convention, sponsor a
prison and jail ministry training and equipping retreat for clergy
and Jay volunteers; and

Wuereas, The resolve for a Synod-wide prison and jail training
retreat was not realized due to the lack of funding; and

Wuereas, Each District of the Synod has within its region some
large prison institutions and many jail settings; and

WHEREAS, Prison and jail ministry includes not only prisoners,
but also ex-prisoners, their families, prison staff, and victims of
crime, which directly affects more and more of our congregations
and church membership; and

WHEREAS, Prison and jail ministry also offers many opportuni-
ties to share the Gospel with persons who do not yet know Jesus
Christ; therefore be it

Resolved, That, in an effort to recruit, train, and equip clergy
and lay volunteers for prison and jail ministry, funding for a Syn-
odwide prison and jail training retreat under the auspices of Human
Care Ministries be applied for by way of grant requests; and be it
further

Resolved, That this retreat be made available to all clergy and
lay volunteers interested in all types of prison and jail ministry and
be sponsored prior to the 2004 synodical convention; and be it fi-
nally

Resolved, That we give thanks for the increased endeavor of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod by way of the Synod, Dis-
tricts, and congregations to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with
prisoners, ex-offenders, families of prisoners, prison staff, and vic-
tims of crime.

Southern Illinois District