LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 144

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144 CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES

Resolved, That dually affiliated Lutheran school association
schools be encouraged to continue to depend on the wisdom of
their member congregations for affiliation and RSO decisions; and
be it finally

Resolved, That this principle be applied to other RSO agencies
currently dually affiliated with the ELCA.

St. Peter, Brooklyn, NY; St. John, Holbrook, NY; Circuit
9, Atlantic District; Resurrection, Garden City, NY; Circuit
8, Atlantic District; St. Luke, Dix Hills, NY

2-33

To Encourage Support of Pan-Lutheran High Schools

WuerEAS, A number of Lutheran high schools are owned and
operated by Lutheran congregations who belong to different church
bodies; and

Wuereas, A special task force has recommended that certain
pan-Lutheran high schools should be denied the Synod’s Recog-
nized Service Organization status unless they first change their
character as pan-Lutheran high schools, thereby denying those as-
sociations certain advantages such as loan availability and official
roster status of faculty members; and

WHEREAS, The rationale behind this recommendation is the
claim that recent ecumenical decisions of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America have compromised our ability to operate those
high schools together; and

Wuereas, LCMS congregations currently participating in such
associations, in a number of cities, believe that such associations
can continue to operate with full biblical and confessional integrity;
and

WHEREAS, Synodical policy for Recognized Service Organiza-
tion status does not require that all members of the association be-
Jong to churches that are in full altar and pulpit fellowship with the
LCMS, but only that the organization “respects and does not act
contrary to the doctrine and practice of the Synod” (Bylaw 14.03
a), a policy that is not violated by the ecumenical involvement of
the ELCA; and

WHEREAS, The existing standards have worked well in protect-
ing appropriate LCMS interests; therefore be it

Resolved, That the 2001 synodical convention decline the rec-
ommendations of the task force; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod encourage the individual LCMS con-
gregations who are involved in the ownership and operation of such
pan-Lutheran high schools to reexamine this practice to make sure
that the well-being of the students in these schools is not impaired
in any way; and be it further

Resolved, That whether or not the LCMS denies Recognized
Service Organization status to such associations, the LCMS con-
gregations involved in those associations be encouraged to con-
tinue their participation and to offer their help in terms of faculty
roster status and in finding alternate loan resources, if desired; and
be it finally

Resolved, That the congregations of the Synod involved in co-
operative high school associations continue to give the Christian
education and well-being of students the highest priority in consid-
ering the future of Lutheran high school education.

Concordia
Kirkwood, MO

2-34

To Encourage All Congregations to Implement
Effective Evangelism Programs

Rationale

The membership of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has
diminished in the past several years at a time when the population
surrounding many of our churches has increased dramatically. That

2001 Convention Workbook

increase includes large numbers of unchurched and unsaved indi-
viduals and families. God’s Word promises that His Word will not
return empty. Christ, in the Great Commission, commands and em-
powers us to make disciples of all nations; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage all congre-
gations to implement effective, ongoing evangelism programs in
their local communities in the United States; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod support congregations by making ap-
propriate resources available for this evangelism effort.

Abiding Savior

Lake Forest, CA

2-35

To Encourage Follow-Up for Members Who Move
WHEREAS, We live in an increasingly mobile society; and

WHEREAS, Many of our people living in small towns or rural
settings need to move to larger metropolitan areas to go to school
and/or to find work; and

WHEREAS, Many may have difficulty finding our churches in
their new location; and

WHEREAS, Many who do visit our churches do not always feel
at home in their new location; therefore be it

Resolved, That congregations do all they can to keep in touch
with their members who have moved to new locations; and be it
further

Resolved, That congregations whose members move also send
the names and addresses of these members to the nearest church(es)
in the community in which they now live; and be it further

Resolved, That congregations receiving these visitors or names
do all they can to follow up with these members of the body of
Christ and welcome them into the fellowship of their congregation,
and be it further

Resolved, That the Evangelism Board of both the sending and
receiving congregations accept this as their responsibility; and be it
finally

Resolved, That we all remember in our prayers these members

of our congregation whose lives are in transition so that they would
be kept faithful to Christ and His church.

St. John
Wadena, MN

2-36

To Commend Church Growth Document
for Guidance and Study

WHEREAS, The Church Growth Study Committee has produced
its report, “For the Sake of Christ’s Commission,” in response to
synodical 1995 Res. 3-09; and

WHEREAS, “For the Sake of Christ’s Commission” is a faithful
expression of how Lutherans carry out the Great Commission; and

WHEREAS, “For the Sake of Christ’s Commission” presents a
model for church growth that is mindful of the role of both pastors
and laypeople; and

WHEREAS, “For the Sake of Christ’s Commission” points out
the major flaws of the so-called “Church Growth Movement’; and

WHEREAS, “For the Sake of Christ’s Commission” is a very use-
ful and encouraging resource for congregations that want to be and
remain genuinely Lutheran congregations; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod com-
mend this document for the guidance and use of all members of the
Synod, that is, all rostered church workers and congregations; and
be it further

Resolved, That “For the Sake of Christ's Commission” be dis-
seminated widely to every rostered church worker and congrega-
tion with a letter encouraging its careful study and use.

Lamb of God
Pleasant Prairie, WI