LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 120

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To Reaffirm Faithful Church Revitalization
as a Priority of the Office of National Mission
RESOLUTION 3-08A
Report 1-7-CMO (CW, p. 13); President’s Report, Part 2 (TB,
pp. 19–21); Overtures 3-31, 3-33–35, L3-45 (CW, pp. 157–159)
Whereas, The 2007 LCMS convention adopted Res. 1-01A, “To
Support Revitalization of LCMS Congregations,” stating: “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
Whereas, The 2010 convention adopted Res. 8-08A, “To
Realign the National Synod Ministries Around Two Mission
Boards,” wherein it was
Resolved, That an Office of National Mission [ONM] be
responsible for coordinating national office ministry that
is directed toward or serving domestic ministries and especially congregations and schools through their districts. Such
ministries may include but not be limited to Lutheran school
ministries and accreditation, human care and domestic mercy
efforts, stewardship, evangelism, church planting and revitalization, and youth ministry.
And
Whereas, The President’s Report, Part 2 (TB, p. 20) urges the
floor committee to “[p]repare a resolution supporting and encouraging the efforts of ONM, districts … and others to help revitalize
congregations”; and
Whereas, LCMS congregations and districts have been
utilizing various programs and processes for sustaining and revitalizing (e.g., Refocus, Church Turnaround, In Focus Church,
Natural Church Development, and Transforming Churches Network [TCN]—the latter a recognized service organization [RSO]
of the LCMS); and

ners committed to reaching the lost, nurturing disciples, and
bearing witness through Word and Sacrament to the Lord and
Savior of the Church, Jesus Christ.
And
Whereas, The Chief Mission Officer’s report further states:
ONM believes that revitalization is the key, so much so that
it is focusing its revitalization efforts around the other mission priorities, lifting up the mission priorities of the Synod
(including the goals and priorities of Ablaze!) so that districts
and congregations can be supported in spreading the Gospel
to the ends of the earth.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention reaffirm church revitalization as a priority of the Office of National Mission; and be it
further
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention direct the Office of
National Mission to increase its ongoing focus on revitalizing congregations; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention direct the Office of
National Mission to continue to review, evaluate, and recommend
faithful resources (with the assistance of seminaries, CUS, COP,
and CTCR as needed) for districts and congregations to revitalize
LCMS congregations; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Office of National Mission report the progress of these efforts to the 2016 convention.
Action: Adopted (7)
(During the brief discussion of Res. 3-08A, the committee
agreed to friendly amendments that removed references to “sustaining” in the second and third resolve paragraphs and added
“CUS” after “seminaries” in the third resolve paragraph. The resolution was adopted as amended [Yes: 915; No: 39].)

Whereas, LCMS in convention in 2010 adopted Omnibus Resolution A which included Ov. 1-11, “To Ask CTCR and Seminaries
to Evaluate Transforming Churches Network,” referring it to the
Office of National Mission for evaluation; and

To Continue to Support and Promote
Black Ministry in The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod

Whereas, The Office of National Mission formed a working
group of representatives from the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR); Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne; the Council of Presidents
(COP); and the Praesidium of Synod to evaluate TCN; and

RESOLUTION 3-09

Whereas, The working group has identified strengths and
weaknesses of TCN and has called for a substantial review and
rewrite which is underway to strengthen TCN as one process for
revitalization; and
Whereas, The Chief Mission Officer’s report considers mission planning priority #1 to be to “Plant, sustain, and revitalize
Lutheran churches,” stating:
Foremost among mission priorities is planting, sustaining,
and revitalizing a global network of spiritually healthy, vibrant,
and orthodox Lutheran congregations and international part120

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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

Report 1-7-CMO (CW, p. 16)
Whereas, Gospel outreach to Blacks in America has been an
important part of the Lutheran landscape in America since the
Synodical Conference challenged its president in 1877 to begin the
work; and
Whereas, The constituents of the Synod involved in Black ministry have been gathering in convocation regularly since 1976; and
Whereas, The purpose of the Black Ministry Family Convocation is to enhance Black ministry in the LCMS by
• Developing policies that will assist congregations in
reaching out more effectively with the Gospel of Jesus
Christ among African Americans
R e s olu t i on s