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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 151

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

LIFE TOGETHER
to match up willing earthly shepherds with those congregations less
able to support a full-time pastor.
Shepherd of the Hills
Isabella, California
3-07

To Encourage and Support Ministry of All
Congregations Regardless of Demographics
and Size
Whereas, Our Lord Jesus Christ has promised, “Again I say to
you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be
done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or more are
gathered in My name, there am I among them” (Matthew 18:19–
20); and
Whereas, The church is the congregation of saints in which the
Gospel is purely taught and the Sacraments are correctly administered (AC, Art. VII); and
Whereas, Each congregation, therefore, in which the Gospel is
purely taught and the Sacraments are correctly administered, has all
the dignity, gifts, and authority of the church of Christ, regardless of
demographics or size; and
Whereas, “Through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Spirit is given, [who] works faith, when and where
it pleases God, in those who hear the Good News that God justifies
those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ’s sake”
(AC, Art. V); and
Whereas, The dissolution of a congregation, regardless of demographics or size, would eliminate the teaching of the Gospel and the
administration of the Sacraments in a given location, thus eliminating the means by which the Holy Spirit is given; and
Whereas, Christian congregations have supported one another
in times of need from the time of the Early Church, as seen in Acts
2:42–47 and 2 Corinthians 8; therefore be it
Resolved, That the congregations of the Montana District of the
LCMS be encouraged to support one another in their ministries, financially or spiritually or otherwise, regardless of demographics or size;
and be it further
Resolved, That the circuit counselors of the Montana District be
directed to ascertain the welfare of their congregations and address
any support that may be necessary, reporting any dire need to the district president; and be it further
Resolved, The Montana District president be directed to make
known to the board of directors and to member congregations any
areas of need, so that support may be shared among sister congregations; and be it further
Resolved, That the Montana District continue to uphold the equal
dignity, gifts, and authority of all member congregations, regardless
of demographics or size, and to try to prevent the dissolution of any
member congregations; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Montana District in convention memorialize
the LCMS 2013 convention to encourage these or similar efforts in
every district.
Montana District

151

3-08

To Advocate Koinonia Project Implementation
as Mission and Ministry Emphasis
Whereas, Dr. Matthew Harrison, both before and after his election to the presidency of the Synod, described the potential for a
process called the Koinonia Project, which seeks to bring about
agreement under God concerning controverted matters of doctrine
and practice through disciplined study of Scripture and the Lutheran
Confessions and intense brotherly conversation; and
Whereas, “The Koinonia Project cannot be a political process,
but must be a spiritual process centered in the Word of God, repentance and prayer, forgiveness and charity. A resolution of the Synod
will not resolve our problems” (draft of the Koinonia Project dated
3/2/11); and
Whereas, The goals of the Koinonia Project are laudable goals
for which we all fervently pray; and
Whereas, The Koinonia Project has been in its initial stages since
the 2010 Synod convention; and
Whereas, The 2010 convention adopted Res. 8-30B, “To Study
Article VI of Synod’s Constitution” (“Conditions of Membership”),
and Res. 8-32B, “To Study Article VII of Synod’s Constitution”
(“Relation of the Synod to Its Members”); and
Whereas, Synod Bylaw 4.2.1 (d) states: “The district convention
shall, through delegate vote, forward to the national convention a list
of two or three triennial mission and ministry emphases for consideration by the national convention”; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Missouri District encourage widespread support for and participation in the Koinonia Project throughout all levels
of the Synod; and be it further
Resolved, That the Missouri District forward the Koinonia Project
to the 2013 LCMS convention for consideration as a triennial mission
and ministry emphasis, and that the Koinonia Project include, as content for its implementation, Article VI (“Conditions of Membership”)
and Article VII (“Relation of the Synod to Its Members”).
Missouri District

3-09

To Acknowledge, Thank God for, Build Upon,
and Guard Our Doctrinal Unity
Whereas, We, the LCMS, have been blessed by the Lord of the
Church with a vast body of Christian doctrine in which we are in
agreement (such as, the Trinity; the deity of Christ; the virgin birth
of Christ; the physical resurrection of Christ; the inerrancy of the
Bible; justification by grace alone through faith in Christ alone based
on Scripture alone; the Sacraments as means of grace; the real presence; eschatology [teaching on end times]; and other doctrines); and
Whereas, This unity is the work of the Holy Spirit alone; and
Whereas, Such great agreement in doctrine is lacking in many
other denominations; and
Whereas, We desire that the areas of doctrine and practice that
still divide us be resolved in a God-pleasing manner under Scripture
and the Lutheran Confessions; therefore be it
Resolved, That we give thanks to the Lord of the Church for preserving His pure and saving doctrine among us; and be it further
Resolved, That we commit ourselves under the guidance of
God’s Word and the Lutheran Confessions to engage in discussion

2013 Convention Workbook