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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 154

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

154

LIFE TOGETHER

Resolved, That the 2012 Wyoming District Convention memorialize the 2013 LCMS convention to consider continuing the current
theme of Witness, Mercy, Life Together for the 2013–16 triennium.
Wyoming District;
Central Illinois District
3-17

To Adopt Campus Ministry as a Mission
and Ministry Emphasis
Whereas, The 2010 LCMS convention encouraged congregations, circuits, and districts to submit mission and ministry emphases;
and
Whereas, The number of students continues to grow at colleges
and universities; and
Whereas, Our college students are exposed to greater challenges
to their faith in increasingly secular campus settings; and
Whereas, Colleges and universities remain fields ripe for harvest; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod adopt campus ministry as one of its mission and ministry emphases for the next triennium.
Central Illinois District
3-18

To Recommend Mission Focus for LCMS
in 2013–16
Whereas, The Scriptures teach that the mission fields are ripe for
harvest but the workers are few (Matthew 9:38); and
Whereas, The immediate mission fields are among us, as well as
around the world (Acts 1:8); and
Whereas, The number of unchurched people in the United States
is significant; and
Whereas, A majority of LCMS congregations are located in
communities with populations of 15,000 or less (Rural/Small Town
Ministry Web page, http://www.lcms.org/rstm); and
Whereas, The family serves as a primary location of faith formation (Deuteronomy 11:19); and
Whereas, The Synod has encouraged circuit forums and districts
to recommend mission and ministry emphases to the Synod each triennium; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Nebraska District in convention recommend
that the 2013–16 mission focus of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod and her member congregations be to seek those who have not
heard the healing balm of the Gospel and to seek those brothers and
sisters in Christ who have become disconnected from the gifts of God
in Christ offered through the church, to include specific emphases on
Family Life Ministry and Rural/Small Town Ministry.
Nebraska District
3-19

To Recommend Mission and Ministry Emphases
for National Ministry Priorities
Whereas, Synod Bylaw 4.2.1 (d) requires that districts in convention shall through delegate vote forward to the national convention a
list of triennial mission and ministry emphases for consideration; and

2013 Convention Workbook

Whereas, During the latter part of 2011 and early 2012, a straw
poll was conducted through the circuits and pre-convention meetings
of the Southeastern District; and
Whereas, The results of that polling revealed an overwhelming
support for outreach, evangelism, faith sharing; renewal, revitalization, refreshing of existing congregations; resources for developing
disciples; and planting new missions; and
Whereas, The Southeastern District in convention has affirmed
the priority of these top four mission areas; and
Whereas, The Southeastern District is actively promoting and
supporting these top four priorities; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Southeastern District in convention request the
Synod to consider the following mission and ministry emphases in
developing national priorities for mission and ministry in the coming
triennium: outreach, evangelism, faith sharing; renewal, revitalization, refreshing of existing congregations; resources for developing
disciples; and planting new missions.
Southeastern District
3-20

To Suggest Triennial Mission and Ministry
Emphases
Whereas, In walking together as the Synod, we have agreed
to move toward a unified triennial mission and ministry emphasis
(Bylaw 4.2.1 [d]); and
Whereas, The North Dakota District tasks its Planning Council
to formulate an integrated district work plan; and
Whereas, The Church has always had a vision before her (e.g.,
Luther, Walther, Constitution, Art. III Objectives, Synod Presidents);
and
Whereas, The Church has set her vision from the Word of God
and the Confessions in addressing the culture and issues of the day
(e.g., Luther—Rome and the Turks; Chemnitz—waning Lutheranism;
Walther—Lutheranism in a new land); and
Whereas, The district has/is experiencing financial concerns; and
Whereas, Pastors are expressing a growing concern for their life
in the ministry dealing with depression, burnout, anxiety, declining
memberships; and
Whereas, The Rural Ministry Task Force has identified four areas
of focus: pastors; equipping the people for outreach; networking in
the sharing of ideas; and a joint vision as a district; and
Whereas, The Planning Council in 2010 defined three areas of
focus for the district: Bible-based; mission-minded; and grateful stewards; and
Whereas, The district adopted similar focus areas in 2006 and
2009; and
Whereas, The board of directors, with the outside help of Dr.
Ross Steuber from Concordia University Wisconsin, defined three
critical areas of mission and ministry in the North Dakota District:
pastors, outreach, and stewardship; and
Whereas, The 2011 Planning Council concurred with the board
and defined three outcomes for the district: faithful pastors, bold witnesses, and empowered stewards; and
Whereas, President Matthew Harrison and his administration
have set before the Church Witness, Mercy, Life Together; and
Whereas, The board of directors has filtered faithful pastors,
bold witnesses, and empowered stewards through Witness, Mercy,
Life Together; and