LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 99

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Resolutions
1. Witness
To Highlight and Strengthen
the Global Seminary Initiative
RESOLUTION 1-01A
President’s Report, Part 2 (TB, pp. 17–18)
Background
The Lord has blessed The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
(LCMS) with gifts of faithful, biblical theological education found
in two strong seminaries and many fine theologians who are capable of training pastors and other church workers. For this reason,
partner churches and other Lutheran churches around the world,
are seeking the assistance of the LCMS in training their church
workers.
As one example, in early 2013, after the 6.1 million member Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) broke altar and
pulpit fellowship with the Church of Sweden and the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America, representatives from the EECMY
requested the LCMS to provide leadership in the area of theological education to its central seminary and five regional seminaries
as it seeks to train and ordain 10,000 pastors over the next decade.
As a mission priority, the LCMS has historically established and
supported seminaries in response to the opportunities the Lord
has presented. Noteworthy are the seminaries in India, Brazil, and
Nigeria.
Whereas, The LCMS has a global reputation for theological
education based on the Holy Scriptures as the Word of God and
on the Lutheran Confessions as a true exposition of God’s Word.
In recent years dedication to true doctrine and biblical Christianity has weakened in many places, but growing churches around the
globe are seeking this identity; and
Whereas, There are now over 40 Lutheran seminaries and Bible
institutes globally that are looking to the LCMS for leadership precisely because of the Synod’s dedication to God’s Word and the
Lutheran Confessions; and
Whereas, The LCMS has partner churches worldwide who recognize that one of its best qualities is its theological education; and
Whereas, The LCMS is well-positioned to assist these partner
churches by providing teaching; and
Whereas, It is imperative that the LCMS act boldly by doing
everything it can to identify and secure resources and teachers to
spread God’s Word and teach the Lutheran Confessions among all
who thirst for truth; and
R e s olu t i on s

Committee 1 Chairman James Baneck

Whereas, Even as the founders of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (C.F.W. Walther, Friedrich Wyneken) dared enough to
create a seminary before there was even a synod, so also the LCMS
today is energized and prepared to invest venture capital to support and enhance theological education in its partner churches;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS, in response to the plea of bishops,
seminary presidents, faculties, and pastors, and in consultation
with the International Lutheran Council (1) send qualified instructors to teach at and support their seminaries and (2) make it possible
for the next generation of teachers and church leaders to study at
our two seminaries in Fort Wayne and St. Louis; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention recognize that the
Global Seminary Initiative agrees with the Synod’s mission priority
of strengthening confessional Lutheranism by providing confessional Lutheran theological education around the world.
Action: Adopted (3)
(After discussion, Res. 1-01A was adopted as presented [Yes:
986; No: 12].)

To Recognize and Give Thanks
for Missionaries and Their Families
Resolution 1-02
President’s Report, Part 2 (TB, p. 18)
Whereas, Jesus “rejoiced in the Holy Spirit” when celebrating
the ministry of the returning seventy-two (Luke 10:17–24); and
Whereas, The apostle Paul encourages us to “give recognition
to” those who devote themselves to the service of the saints and
bring refreshment to the soul (1 Cor. 16:15–18); and
Whereas, Missionaries and their loved ones, past and present,
have courageously answered the call “to ventures of which they
2 0 1 3 C o n v e n t io n P r o c e e d i n g s

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