LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 120

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120

RESOLUTIONS

To Promote “Mission Outpost” Attitude
RESOLUTION 1-02
Overture 1-05 (CW, p. 134)
WHEREAS, God’s desire is that all be saved (1 Tim. 2:4)
and only under the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12); and
WHEREAS, Our Lord has given to all who are baptized
the opportunity and responsibility to spread the Gospel
(2 Cor. 3:2–3) as part of the priesthood of all believers, declaring the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His wonderful light (1 Pet. 2:9); and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has
as the structural foundation of its church body the gathering of baptized Christians into congregations; and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has
always seen its schools as important educational and outreach ministries; and
WHEREAS, Our congregations, ministries, and schools are
not only ministries for the teaching and edification of the
saints but provide the foundation for the laity to be involved in mission; therefore be it
Resolved, That each congregation, ministry, and school
within our Synod, being led by the Holy Spirit through a
determined study of the Scriptures and prayer, not only understands itself as a mission outpost to all the unchurched
“in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the
ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8) but also sees that its own community is a mission field today; and be it further
Resolved, That the laity be encouraged to: understand
and engage the diversity in our culture, learn languages in
order to witness and serve particular groups, train leaders,
and thereby effectively undertake as members of mission
outposts the ministry of spreading the Gospel of Jesus
Christ; and be it further
Resolved, That the pastors, teachers, and other professional workers of the LCMS be encouraged to accept responsibility for encouraging and equipping the laity involved within their congregations, ministries, and schools
to be missionaries sent out by that mission outpost; and be
it further
Resolved, That each congregation, ministry, and school
within our Synod be encouraged—partnering with other
congregations and ministries, its District, and national missions within LCMS World Mission—to develop at least one
new mission outreach objective concentrating on connecting to the unchurched of its own community; and be it further
Resolved, That each District within our Synod be encouraged to assist congregations, ministries, and schools
with resources to expand their vision for mission and ministry that fulfills Acts 1:8; and be it finally
Resolved, That LCMS World Mission be encouraged to
develop resources for congregations, ministries, schools,
and Districts to encourage and equip the laity in their mission outposts.
Action: Adopted (4)
(The resolution was adopted as presented by the committee
[Yes: 1,003; No: 190] after discussion.)

2004 Convention Proceedings

To Commend Emphasis
on “One Message, One Mission,
One People”
RESOLUTION 1-03
Overtures 1-01−02 (CW, p. 133)
WHEREAS, President Kieschnick and other leaders in the
Synod have used the theme “One Message, One Mission,
One People” to encourage our entire church body toward a
stronger zeal for mission outreach, evangelical confession,
and efforts to achieve peace and concord in our midst; and
WHEREAS, This appeal expresses the heart of what it
means to be Christ’s people in mission and is included in our
convention theme, One Mission—Ablaze!; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention endorse and respond enthusiastically to this appeal, encouraging our
brothers and sisters throughout The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod to do the same.
Action: Adopted (4)
(The resolution was adopted as presented by the committee
[Yes: 927; No: 256] after discussion.)

To Commit to $100 Million Ablaze!
Fund-Raising Effort
RESOLUTION 1-04
Overture 1-04 (CW, pp. 133−134)
WHEREAS, The peoples of the world are in desperate need
of the message of freedom and hope, of peace and joy, of forgiveness and reconciliation, and their need can find fulfillment only in Jesus; and
WHEREAS, Active hostility to Christianity is growing in
many parts of the world, and so, action must be taken at
once if people are to hear the Gospel; and
WHEREAS, Many people in the United States are also unreached and/or uncommitted; and
WHEREAS, God is bringing to our shores large numbers of
people who have no saving faith in our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ; and
WHEREAS, There is great need to plant new ministries
and congregations and revitalize existing congregations;
and
WHEREAS, LCMS World Mission has put before our congregations the Ablaze! challenge of celebrating the 500th
anniversary of the Reformation in 2017 by sharing the
Good News of Jesus with 100 million people between now
and then; and
WHEREAS, The opportunities that God has placed before
us require additional resources at the congregational, District, national, and international levels; therefore be it
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
in convention assembled accept the challenge of Ablaze!
and commit itself under God’s guidance to the task of working together to share the Good News of Jesus with 100 million people by the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in
2017; and be it further
Resolved, That the staff of LCMS World Mission be
charged to work with the synodical Districts in North
America and with our partner churches around the world