LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 100

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cannot see the ending, to paths as yet untrodden, through perils
unknown” (from a collect of the church); and

Statement of Mission for the 21st Century” to be completed by the
end of 2014; and be it further

Whereas, These mission ventures have often included hardship and sacrifice; and

Resolved, That the 1991 CTCR document “A Theological Statement of Mission” and 2004 mission statement be used as resources
in the development of this study; and be it further

Whereas, The eternal legacy of missionaries continues beyond
their death (Rev. 14:13); therefore be it
Resolved, That saints of God throughout the LCMS “rejoice in
the Holy Spirit,” celebrating and giving thanks for all missionaries and their families—those presently serving, those home after
serving, and those who have joined the saints in light (Col. 1:12);
and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS gathered in convention express its
gratitude and praise to God for the blessing of these servants by
standing to sing, “Lift High the Cross,” stanzas 1, 3 (in Spanish),
5, and 6.
Action: Adopted (3)
(Res. 1-02 was adopted by voice vote without discussion.)

To Complete and Engage in a Synodwide
Study of the “Theological Statement of Mission
for the 21st Century”
RESOLUTION 1-03A
Overtures 1-01, 1-05 (CW, pp. 135–136)
Whereas, Numerous resolutions dealing with the church’s mission have been adopted by the LCMS in convention (1979 Res. 1-21;
1989 Res. 1-01; 1989 Res. 3-01; 1992 Res. 1-01; 2004 Res. l-01A; 2010
Res. 1-02); and
Whereas, It is our Lord’s desire to seek and to save the lost
(Luke 19:10), and the Lord is not willing for any to perish but that
all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9); and
Whereas, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations
in 1991 completed an assignment given by the 1986 LCMS convention to “initiate, facilitate, and develop a theological Statement
of Mission” to “reflect the urgency, vitality, and joy of our historic
confession of Christ’s forgiveness by grace alone as taught in Scripture alone” (Res. 3-02); and
Whereas, The Boards for National and International Mission
have already begun to develop the “Theological Statement of Mission for the 21st Century”; and
Whereas, It is the Lord’s intention to use His Church to reach
every nation through Word and Sacrament; and
Whereas, The church is born, nourished, and preserved only
through the means of grace, the Gospel and the Sacraments; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Offices of National and International Mission, together with their respective boards, develop a “Theological
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2 0 1 3 C o n v e n t io n P r o c e e d i n g s

Resolved, That during the three years following the publication
of this document, “A Theological Statement of Mission for the 21st
Century,” every district use this document for an in-depth study
of the mission of Christ’s church through its convocations, conferences, and/or conventions, and that every circuit convocation
and forum, every congregation, and every school of the Synod be
encouraged to study, discuss, and use the materials developed by
the Synod; and be it finally
Resolved, That all members of the Synod be encouraged to
develop a clearer understanding of their involvement in God’s mission and be moved to participate in it with greater joy and fervor.
Action: Adopted (7)
(When introducing Res. 1-03A, the committee agreed to remove
the reference to “campaign” at the end of the third resolve paragraph. During discussion the committee also agreed to the addition
of the words “and 2004 mission statement” after the reference to the
1991 CTCR document in the second resolve paragraph. A motion
to add the new whereas paragraph “Our church body has faced
challenges in sharing the saving Gospel of Jesus in the public sector of today’s secular culture, especially in times of community
crisis” and the new resolve paragraph “That this ‘Theological Statement of Mission for the 21st Century’ provide many God-pleasing
Scriptural options and ways to proclaim Jesus in the public sector,
especially in times of community crisis” was not carried. When
debate was ended, Res. 1-03A with the changes agreed to by the
committee was adopted [Yes: 922; No: 62]).

To Encourage Church Multiplication as Means
of Making New Disciples
RESOLUTION 1-04A
Overture 1-03 (CW, p. 135)
Whereas, Church planting or church multiplication is part of
God’s strategy to make disciples (Matt. 28:18–20; Acts 1:8); and
Whereas, Jesus Himself, as Lord of the Church, has promised
to build His Church (Matt. 16:18); and
Whereas, The local church is God’s mission agency in its local
context; and
Whereas, The Lord Jesus directs His church to pray for workers in the harvest (Matt. 9:37–38); and
Whereas, New churches re-energize and refocus existing congregations on the mission of God; and
Whereas, The LCMS at its 2004 convention determined to start
2,000 new churches in North America by 2017; therefore be it
R e s olu t i on s