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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 138

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

138

Witness

downturn, making local support of individual ministries more challenging at times; and
Whereas, Our teaching of the individual autonomy of the congregation is often beneficial but can also, because of our sinful pride,
deter thorough consideration and discussion of joint ministry ventures, which should often be considered by local ministries because
of economic efficiencies; and
Whereas, The devil works to destroy the Church by dividing
congregations from one another rather than having them live and minister together in humble respect and in faithful joint ministry under
God’s blessing; and
Whereas, Congregations and pastors of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod should be willing to work together in the unity of
the Spirit and in the spirit of Synod, a true “walking together”; therefore be it
Resolved, The 2013 LCMS convention encourage its congregations and members to pray for the Holy Spirit (James 1:5; Luke
11:13), study the Scriptures, and seek to have a humble spirit to perceive God’s will in these matters; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations and their pastors, circuits, and other
ministries be encouraged to share ministry ventures; and be it further
Resolved, The Synod supply ideas and help when asked for assistance and suggest ideas and offer help where they see such joint
ministry ventures as a possibility; and be it finally
Resolved, That where possible, these joint ministry ventures be
pursued, recognized, and publicized with the blessing and prayers of
all God’s people in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Michigan District
1-10

To Encourage Bilingual Capabilities
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 there will be gathered before
the throne of God and before the Lamb an uncountable multitude
“from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” (Rev.
7:9); and
Whereas, Part of loving our neighbors as ourselves may include
getting to know at least something of their language and customs; and
Whereas, Tens of millions of our neighbors do not know English
as their first language; and
Whereas, Representatives who knock on doors in the neighborhood of many of our churches and schools will often hear the
response, “No speak English!”; and
Whereas, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing the word of
Christ” (Rom. 10:17); 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
Resolved, That church-worker students at our seminaries and in
the Concordia University System be actively and continually encouraged to study Spanish or another modern language spoken by an
immigrant population in the United States; and be it further
Resolved, That our Lutheran high schools be encouraged to promote the study of a second language; and be it further
Resolved, That our Lutheran preschools and elementary schools
be encouraged to expose children to other languages and cultures;
and be it finally
2013 Convention Workbook

Resolved, That the Southern Illinois District in convention submit
this resolution as an overture to the 2013 LCMS convention.
Southern Illinois District
1-11

To Amend Bylaw 6.2.1 (d) re Sending Workers
to Foreign Mission Fields
Preamble
Bylaw 3.8.3 adopted by the 2010 Synod convention established
the Board for International Mission as the only sending agency
through which workers and funds are sent to the foreign mission
areas of the Synod.
Whereas, The Board for International Mission writes polices that
affect the work and workers that are sent to foreign mission fields; and
Whereas, There are many organizations and agencies related
to the Synod that send church workers in foreign mission areas; and
Whereas, It is God pleasing to carry out our mission in an organized and coordinated manner to avoid confusion and offense and to
best utilize the treasures given to us by God; and
Whereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has established protocol documents with our partner churches in foreign
mission fields; and
Whereas, These protocol documents establish the relationships
between the LCMS and partner churches; and
Whereas, The agencies, auxiliaries, and recognized service
organizations of the Missouri Synod are bound by these protocol
documents by way of their affiliation with the LCMS; and
Whereas, The agencies, auxiliaries, and recognized service organizations benefit from the expertise of the Office of International
Mission in their own endeavors in the foreign mission field and
through their status with the LCMS; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Bylaws of the LCMS be amended by adding
the following paragraph (d) to Bylaw 6.2.1:
6.2.1 (d) All RSO and auxiliary personnel serving overseas,
contracted and called, including missionaries, shall
abide by the protocol documents that exist between the
LCMS and its partner churches and shall abide by polices
established by the Board for International Mission.
Board for International Mission
1-12

To Analyze Ministry Done among American
Indians
Whereas, Our Lord has commissioned His Church to “[g]o therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them
to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19–20); and
Whereas, Our Lord has taught His Church to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 19:19); and
Whereas, Many congregations of the North Dakota District are
located within close proximity to American Indian reservations; and
Whereas, A report entitled “Survey of Grant Giving by American
Indian Foundations and Organizations,” recently released by Native
Americans in Philanthropy (NAP), states that even with gaming revenues, poverty among Indians has risen during the past decade and
now more than half of all Indians on reservations live below the poverty level, more than four times the national average; and