LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 152

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152

LIFE TOGETHER

concerning those areas of disagreement that do exist among us, as we
will be doing in the Koinonia Project; and be it finally
Resolved, That the 2012 convention of the Northern Illinois
District of the LCMS send this resolution to the 2013 LCMS
convention.
Northern Illinois District
3-10

To Respect and Put Best Construction on All
Things with Each Other
Whereas, In these turbulent times, Synod officials, pastors, congregations, and individual Christians are often called upon to make
difficult decisions in complex and critical situations; and
Whereas, Our Lord admonishes us to address private offenses
privately first (cf. Mt. 18:15); and
Whereas, St. Paul addressed a public offense swiftly and publicly first (Gal. 2:11–14); and
Whereas, The Word of God does not always directly address or
provide final answers in many such situations; therefore be it
Resolved, That we encourage each other to approach such situations with prayer, the study of God’s Word and the Lutheran
Confessions, the counsel of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and
the desire to act boldly and faithfully on behalf of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ; and be it further
Resolved, That we recognize that because such situations vary
from place to place, local pastors, congregations, and officials are
ordinarily in a better position to make responsible decisions than
those who are farther away; and be it further
Resolved, That we put the best construction on each other’s decision and avoid negative judgments and charges against each other in
such circumstances except where there has been a clear violation of
the Word of God; and be it further
Resolved, That when we disagree with the decisions of a pastor,
congregation, or official in such situations, we encourage one another
to address those differences personally and privately before making
our disagreements public or bringing formal charges against each
other; and be it finally
Resolved, That the 2012 Northern Illinois District convention
request the next Synod convention to affirm our godly work of developing greater mutual respect and giving of the best construction for
each other, especially in recognizing and dealing responsibly and
charitably with cases of discretion.
Northern Illinois District
3-11

To Continue Witness, Mercy, Life Together
as Triennial Mission and Ministry Emphasis
Whereas, The 2010 Synod convention adopted a process
whereby the triennial emphasis is established by suggestions forwarded through the adoption of resolutions at the congregational
level, then by circuit forums, then district conventions, and finally
by the Synod convention; and
Whereas, No triennial emphasis could be adopted at the 2010
Synod convention because this process had been newly established;
and

2013 Convention Workbook

Whereas, The Synod President and his staff developed an emphasis for this first triennium based on the ancient description of the
Church; and
Whereas, Congregations, circuits, and districts of the Synod are
asked in Bylaw 4.2.1 to submit mission and ministry emphases for
consideration by the Synod convention; and
Whereas, The current mission and ministry emphasis of Witness,
Mercy, Life Together holds much potential for further spiritual growth
and implementation throughout the Synod; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Indiana District encourage the LCMS President
and 2013 Synod convention to continue the mission and ministry
emphasis of Witness, Mercy, Life Together for the LCMS for the
2013–16 triennium.
Indiana District
3-12

To Encourage Triennial Mission and Ministry
Emphases
Whereas, 2010 Res. 8-09 recognized the benefit of congregations, circuits, and districts becoming more engaged in setting the
mission and ministry goals of the national church body so that the
Synod can better walk together; and
Whereas, Res. 8-09 mandated a change in the LCMS bylaws to
include Bylaw 4.2.1 (d), which 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”; and
Whereas, With regard to the mission emphasis, the theme of the
2012 convention of the LCMS South Dakota District is “Called into
Partnership: For Witness” based on Acts 1:8; and
Whereas, Jesus stated His own mission in Luke 19:10 by saying,
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost”; has extended
that mission to His Church in Mark 16:15, where He says, “Go into
all the world, and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation”; and has
stated in Acts 1:8, “You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth”; and
Whereas, All believers, including pastors, are called to “proclaim
the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9b), and pastors are also called “to equip the
saints for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:12a); and
Whereas, Many pastors could benefit from additional training in
evangelism outreach; and
Whereas, Also with regard to the ministry emphasis, many current national issues, including same-sex marriage, abortion, and
various so-called “church and state issues,” such as the nation’s
infringement of rights understood to be protected under the First
Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, directly involve
the Lutheran doctrine of the two kingdoms; therefore be it
Resolved, That the President of the Synod, whose oversight of
the Synod includes seminary education (Bylaw 3.3.1.3 [f] [3]), be
encouraged to request that both LCMS seminaries expand intentional
training in evangelism outreach as part of their curricula, in order that
pastors may become more proficient both in doing the work of an
evangelist (cf. 2 Tim. 4:5) and in training others as evangelists and
witnesses; and be it further
Resolved, That the South Dakota District in convention encourage
the LCMS to establish an Office of Church and State Affairs both to
provide resources for congregations and individuals living out their
lives as Christians in two kingdoms and to keep current with church