LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 305

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NATIONAL/DISTRICT SYNOD RELATIONS 305

8-70

To Celebrate SELC Centennial

WHEREAS, The Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church (later, the
Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches or the SELC) was
organized in convention Sept. 2-4, 1902, in Conneilsville, PA,
and issued a charter on April 25, 1903; and

Wuereas, The original mission of the SELC was to provide a
Word and Sacrament ministry for Slovak immigrants to the
United States and their families, a mission that was conducted
with great zeal and faithfulness throughout the decades of the
twentieth century; and

Wuereas, On Jan. 1, 1971, the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran
Churches became a nongeographic District (the SELC District) of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in the hope that both the
SELC and the Missouri Synod would benefit from that
partnership; and

WHEREAS, The mission of the SELC has broadened through
the years to provide that same Word and Sacrament ministry to
new people in new areas; to provide that Word and Sacrament
ministry to new ethnic groups and to new communities; to plant
churches in new communities so that many more people may hear
the Word of promise about Jesus Christ and perhaps believe in
Him; and

WHEREAS, In pursuing that mission the SELC District has
opened nine new congregations in its thirty years of existence and
is currently exploring two additional areas to plant new
congregations; and

WHEREAS, Numerous individual members of the SELC have
made significant contributions to the work of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod over the years; and

WuereaS, the SELC District has been glad to assist The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in all our joint mission
endeavors with our tithes and offerings; and

WHEREAS, The centennial year of the SELC will be the year
2002-2003; therefore be it

Resolved, That the SELC District in convention in the year
2000 give thanks to our heavenly Father, our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the Holy Spirit for all the blessings the triune God has
bestowed on the SELC in the past one hundred years; and be it
further

Resolved, That congregations and members of the SELC
District be encouraged to join heartily and with thanksgiving in a
centennial celebration during the years 2002-2003, including a
thank offering, to culminate at the SELC District convention in
the year 2003; and be it further

Resolved, That the SELC District in convention affirm our
strong desire to continue to work in the mission of Christ’s
church as a nongeographic District of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod; to continue to support and encourage the
ministries and missions of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod with our tithes and offerings; and to continue to encourage
members of the SELC to give of their time and talents to the work
of the Missouri Synod; and be it finally

Resolved, That the SELC District in convention invite The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to rejoice with the SELC on
its 100th anniversary as an American church body and its 30th
anniversary as a District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod; to affirm the blessings of God on the mission and ministry
of the SELC over the last one hundred years; and to affirm and
encourage the SELC in our mission and ministry as a non-
geographic District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
into the twenty-first century.

Board of Directors
SELC District

8-71

To Celebrate 100 Years of SELC Blessings

WHEREAS, The Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church (later the
Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches or the SELC) was orga-
nized in convention on September 2-4, 1902, in Connellsville, PA,
and issued a charter on April 25, 1903; and

WHEREAS, On Jan. 1, 1971, the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran
Churches was accepted as a nongeographical District (the SELC
District) of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and

WHEREAS, The SELC and the LCMS have walked together in
doctrine and practice as members of the Synodical Conference and
now as a District and Synod; and

Wuereas, The Lord has blessed this relationship throughout the
years; and

WHEREAS, The year 2002 marks the centennial of the SELC,
and the year 2001 marks the 30th anniversary of the SELC District
as a nongeographical District of the LCMS; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod gath-
ered in convention in the year of our Lord 2001 join with the broth-
ers and sisters of the SELC District in celebration and in thanks-
giving to our Heavenly Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy
Spirit for all the blessings bestowed upon the SELC these last 100
years and the SELC District these past 30 years.

St. Lucas, St. Louis, MO; Zion, Clark, NJ

8-72

To Reject Task Force Proposals re SELC District

WHEREAS, The SELC District has functioned for 30 years as a
nongeographic District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod;
and

WHEREAS, This congregation, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of
Parma, OH, has been committed to the joint ministry that the SELC
District congregations have carried out together for this entire time;
and

WHEREAS, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church has strong fellowship
ties with other member congregations of the SELC District; and

WHEREAS, We do not see evidence of such strong fellowship
ties among congregations of the geographic District in which this
congregation is located; and

WHEREAS, We believe it would be ultimately detrimental to the
mission of the church at large and of this congregation in particular
if the SELC District should cease to exist; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church-—-Missouri Synod in con-
vention reject the proposals of the Task Force on Synod and Dis-
trict Relations regarding the dissolution and amalgamation of the
SELC District; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention affirm the past, present. and future ministries and missions
of the SELC District; and be it finally

Resolved, That the congregations of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod be invited to join with their sister congregations
of the SELC District in celebrating the centennial of the SELC in
the years 2002-2003.

Holy Trinity, Parma, OH; Dr. Martin Luther, Chicago, IL;
Calvary, Parma, OH; St. Paul, Whiting, IN; Saints Peter
and Paul, Central City, PA; St. John, Emporia, VA

8-73

To Continue SELC as Nongeographic District

WHEREAS, The SELC District has attempted to faithfully fulfill
the Great Commission of the Savior, “to go and make disciples,”
by establishing Word and Sacrament ministries; and

2001 Convention Workbook