LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 133

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1. MISSIONS

1-01

To Reaffirm Foreign Mission Work as Top Priority

WHEREAS, Our Lord’s call and commission to His Church
throughout time is to go into all the world and make disciples of
all nations (Matt. 28:19 and Mark 16:15); and

Wuereas, One of the primary objectives of Synod is to “spread
the Gospel by means of ... missionary endeavor throughout the
world” (Articles of Incorporation II f); and

WuerEAS, Most of the world’s 6.5 billion people still do not
know “the one true God, and Jesus Christ Whom He has sent” and
therefore do not have eternal life (John 17:3); and

WHEREAS, In recent years some of Synod’s foreign missions
have been closed or consolidated and one fourth of its career mis-
sionaries have been brought home due to lack of financial support
(Mission Board Cuts 28 Overseas Positions LCMS News—No. 80
Dec. 26, 2002); therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS reaffirm foreign mission work as a
top priority; and be it further

Resolved, That no current or future missionary positions be
“consolidated” or eliminated for reasons of funding; and be it fi-
nally

Resolved, That the LCMS Board of Directors be given the re-
sponsibility and authority to redirect any and all Synod resources
that might be needed to achieve this goal.

Martini
Baltimore, MD

1-02

To Encourage Mission Planting Partnerships

WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus Christ commissioned His disciples
to take His Good News to the people of all nations; and

WHEREAS, One of the proven ways of reaching the lost is
through planting new congregations and ministries; and

WHEREAS, We limit our ability to start new missions at the local
level when we rely only on Synod and district staff actions to initi-
ate new congregations; and

WHEREAS, We can begin more new missions and ministries
when we use creative local partnerships of congregations, circuits,
and circuit networks as the primary focus through which we begin
new missions and ministries; and

WHEREAS, New missions and ministries are more viable when
we provide opportunities for people within local congregations to
apply their God-given gifts and participate in mission development
at the local level; therefore be it

Resolved, That congregations, circuits, and circuit networks
throughout the Synod be urged to identify models for new mission
and ministry planting that would be most effective in their area;
and be it further

Resolved, That congregations, circuits, and circuit networks
throughout the Synod develop creative local partnerships to sup-
port the identifying and planting of new ministries, congregations,
and schools; and be it finally

Resolved, That congregations, circuits, and circuit networks
which initiate new missions and ministries report those new starts
to the appropriate office within the Synod and be recognized at the
2010 Synod convention as being Ablaze! for Jesus Christ.

Board of Directors
Southeastern District

1-03

To Support Revitalization of LCMS Congregations

WHEREAS, The Ablaze! goals of LCMS World Mission to touch
50 million unchurched or uncommitted people with the Christian
Gospel in North America by the year 2017 and begin 2,000 new

missions will be accomplished by the committed outreach activi-
ties of individuals in local congregations; and
WHEREAS, Church revitalization is a significant process devel-
oped by LCMS World Mission, and advances have occurred to fur-
ther the Ablaze! goals through this process; therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention adopt a goal of praying
and working for the mission revitalization of at least 2,000 existing
LCMS churches by 2017; and be it further
Resolved, That the mission revitalization efforts of the LCMS
through its districts, congregations, Lutheran Hour Ministries, the
Lutheran Church Extension Fund, LWML, and LCMS World Mis-
sion, through its national team, be supported as a major component
of Ablaze!
Board of Directors
Southeastern District

1-04
To Improve Communication re Mission Initiatives

Preamble

The Blue Ribbon Task Force for Funding the Mission was con-
vened in response to the 2004 LCMS convention Res. 4-07 and
submitted its report dated July 2006, which includes 11 recom-
mendations highlighting significant challenges facing our beloved
Synod in “funding the mission.” It is our desire to respond and
enter into dialogue regarding these recommendations and, in addi-
tion, to affirm some by resolving to action our Synod in conven-
tion. Such resolutions are as follows:

WHEREAS, Communication of a focused mission is essential to
wholehearted support in any organization; and

WHEREAS, The LCMS has the greatest mission in the world as it
“vigorously make[s] known the love of Christ in word and deed
within our churches, communities, and world”; and

WHEREAS, Structures for effective communications are already
in place within the Synod, (Council of Presidents, district offices,
circuit counselors, pastoral conferences, teachers’ conferences,
etc.); and

WuerEAS, The task force rightly recommends that we “take our

- unified confession and strike the cords of the variety of gifts that

133

make up the song that gives praise to our God and His great work
in the world”; and

WHEREAS, Such a clarion call must be clear and concise as it
also respects the variety of mission applications throughout the
Synod; and

WHEREAS Some districts, circuits, and congregations have many
useful stewardship and evangelism tools already functioning; there-
fore be it :

Resolved, That the Council of Presidents put into effect such in-
ternal procedures in order to demonstrate support of the mission of
the Synod as it serves as a communication conduit to the Synod
from congregations and from the Synod to congregations; and be it
further

Resolved, That districts and their staff coordinate and drive the
mission statement by working closely with circuit counselors and
congregations; and be it further

Resolved, That districts develop a stewardship and mission
communication resource position to gather and share stewardship
and mission initiatives with congregations and districts across the
Synod; and be it finally

Resolved, That congregations of the Synod make diligent use
of shared missional materials (stewardship and evangelism) as best
fits their ministry context, seeking to involve all members of the
local Body of Christ in the Great Commission.

Board of Directors
Michigan District