LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 121

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MISSIONS
urgently to bring forward plans to strengthen the evangelistic outreach of existing congregations and to share the
Good News of Jesus in areas and among people where the
name of Jesus is not yet known; and be it finally
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod,
in convention assembled, commit itself to support the major
fund-raising effort approved by the Board of Directors of
the Synod and administered by the Mission Support Unit,
with a goal of raising $100 million above the regular LCMS
World Mission budget in time to celebrate God’s blessings
by the 2010 synodical convention.
Action: Adopted (4)
(The resolution was adopted as presented by the committee
after further explanation and extensive discussion [Yes: 653; No:
533].)

To Establish Ablaze! National Goals
RESOLUTION 1-05A
Overture 1-03 (CW, p. 133)
WHEREAS, Jesus set the hearts of His disciples ablaze
when He opened the Scriptures to them on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:32); and
WHEREAS, LCMS World Mission put before our congregations the Ablaze! challenge of working with national and
international partners to celebrate the 500th anniversary
of the Reformation in 2017 by sharing the Good News of
Jesus with 100 million unreached and/or uncommitted people between now and then (Luke 24:45–49); and
WHEREAS, LCMS World Mission has set a goal of sharing
the Gospel with 50 million unreached and/or uncommitted
people in the United States (Acts 1:8); and
WHEREAS, LCMS World Mission has set the goal to begin
2,000 new congregations by the 500th anniversary of the
Reformation; and
WHEREAS, The Board for Mission Services has assigned
to the Associate Executive Director for National Missions
and his staff that task of working with partners on the national level to implement the national goal of sharing the
Gospel with 50 million unreached and/or uncommitted people; and
WHEREAS, The Board for Mission Services has established an Advisory Group for National Outreach to serve as
“a catalyst and advocate for igniting mission movements on
the national level through partnerships at all levels”; and
WHEREAS, A united effort by individuals, congregations,
schools, Districts, colleges, universities, seminaries, auxiliaries, RSOs, synodical boards, corporate entities, mission
societies, and Synod departments is needed to accomplish
the Ablaze! goals; and
WHEREAS, One of the best ways to reach new people and
groups is to start new congregations; and
WHEREAS, One of the best ways to reach one person is
through what has been identified as the critical event,
which is “when one Lutheran Christian gives witness about
Jesus of the hope that is within him or her to another person so that person may encounter Christ”; and
WHEREAS, Without the sharing of the Gospel message
people have no hope of eternal life; therefore be it

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Resolved, That the Synod in convention affirms the urgency of the national goal to reach 50 million unreached
and/or uncommitted people with the Gospel; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod, in convention, sets a national
goal to begin 2,000 new congregations by the 500th anniversary of the Reformation; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod, in convention, requests individuals, congregations, schools, Districts, colleges, universities, seminaries, auxiliaries, RSOs, synodical boards, corporate entities, mission societies, and Synod departments
to work with the national mission office to accomplish these
goals; and be it finally
Resolved, That each congregational member throughout
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is encouraged to
share the Good News of Jesus when the Holy Spirit provides opportunity.
Action: Adopted (4)
(The resolution was adopted as presented [Yes: 871; No: 309]
following clarification by the committee and discussion.)

Reassignment of Outreach Ministry
RESOLUTION 1-06
Reports 1-8, 1-8-01, 2-01 (CW, pp. 2, 17−18, 52, 54)
WHEREAS, In grateful response to God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments,
the mission of the LCMS is vigorously to make known the
love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities, and the world; and
WHEREAS, Evangelism/Outreach Ministry was once a
part of LCMS World Mission; and
WHEREAS, The majority of District staff people with mission responsibilities also have responsibilities for outreach,
and it is desirable that national and District structures correspond; and
WHEREAS, It is important that a commitment to mission
and evangelism outreach has a single focus and powerful
voice in the LCMS; and
WHEREAS, LCMS World Mission, both nationally and internationally, is responsible for administering the new and
bold effort to reach 100 million people with the Gospel by
2017 under the theme Ablaze!; and
WHEREAS, LCMS World Mission is working with Districts, congregations, and their members to establish realistic and coordinated Ablaze! goals for North America; and
WHEREAS, The 2004 Synod convention Floor Committee
for Missions and the Floor Committee for District and Congregational Services support a modification in responsibility; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Director of Outreach Ministry in
North America function under LCMS World Mission and
that this be funded by LCMS World Mission starting in the
2005−2006 fiscal year.
Action: Adopted (10)
(This resolution was introduced during session 4 but returned
to the committee for clarification whether the convention has the
right to take the proposed action. Supported by an opinion of the
Commission on Constitutional Matters affirming the right of the
convention, the committee moved the resolution’s adoption during

2004 Convention Proceedings