LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 104

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Resolved, That members of the Synod deal with one another in
charity and grace as they seek to be faithful in their personal and
public confession of our faith, life, and ministry.
Action: Adopted (9)
(During discussion, the addition of the words “Lutheran Hour
Ministries, seminaries, and Concordia University System campuses” after “Concordia Publishing House” in the second resolve
paragraph as accepted by the committee as a friendly amendment.
Res. 1-09A was adopted as amended [Yes: 772; No: 11].)

To Develop Spanish and Multi-Lingual
Capabilities in the Synod
RESOLUTION 1-10A
Overture 1-10 (CW, p. 138)
Whereas, Christ has given His mandate to make disciples of
“all nations” by baptizing and teaching (Matt. 28:19); and
Whereas, Scripture tells us that gathered before the throne of
God and before the Lamb is an uncountable multitude “from every
nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” (Rev. 7:9); and

Resolved, That any plans for continuing education among
ordained and commissioned workers be encouraged to include
the study of a second modern language (such as Spanish, Mandarin, etc.) as a part of the curriculum; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod recommend that congregations, where
appropriate, offer ESL (English as Second Language) classes and
other appropriate multilingual ministries for their communities
and classes in Spanish or other modern languages appropriate to
their communities in order to develop relationships with immigrant people; and be it finally
Resolved, That Concordia Publishing House provide distinctively Lutheran resources which teach Spanish and English as
second languages.
Action: Referred to the Office of National Mission (9)
(Res. 1-10A was one of five proposed resolutions (also 1-12;
1-13A; 1-14; and 1-16) which were, without objection, referred to
the Offices of National and/or International Mission with a single
motion from the committee carried by a voice vote.)

To Recruit and Place More Career Missionaries
Resolution 1-11

Whereas, Loving our neighbors as ourselves may include
knowing their language and customs; and

President’s Report, Part 2 (TB, p.2,17)

Whereas, Tens of millions of our neighbors do not know
English as their first language; and

Whereas, Our Lord has commanded His Church to make disciples of all nations by baptizing and teaching (Matt. 28:19–20); and

Whereas, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the
word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17); and

Whereas, The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few (Matt.
9:37); and

Whereas, Other Christian denominations in the United States
have raised their expectations of their pastors and church workers
to include proficiency in a second language; and

Whereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod currently
has 68 career missionaries; and

Whereas, The Synod’s International Center is moving toward
communication in multiple languages; and

Whereas, The opportunities for planting churches, showing
mercy alongside those churches, and teaching in seminaries are
virtually unlimited; and

Whereas, The LCMS is historically an immigrant church, with
worship services and Bible teaching often conducted in the mother
tongue many decades after our forefathers came to this country;
therefore be it

Whereas, The global need for career missionaries vastly
exceeds the present number of workers (e.g., the smallest of our
five regions has 15 career missionaries but needs 70); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod strongly urge that our Lutheran
preschools and elementary schools introduce children to other
languages and cultures; and be it further

Resolved, That The Missouri Synod establish as its mission priority to double the number of career missionaries engaged in church
planting, mercy work, and theological education during the next
triennium; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod strongly urge that our Lutheran elementary and high schools promote the study of a second language;
and be it further

Resolved, That the convention chaplain lead the delegates in
prayer to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

Resolved, That the Concordia University System and our two
seminaries be encouraged to include in the curriculum for those
preparing for church work a requirement for the study of Spanish
or another modern language spoken by an immigrant population
in the United States; and be it further

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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

Action: Adopted
(After brief discussion, Res. 1-11 was adopted as presented [Yes:
936; No: 54].)

R e s olu t i on s