LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 193

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

To Encourage Faithful Teaching of Stewardship
to People in Their Daily Vocations
RESOLUTION 10-04
Report R6 (CW, pp. 32, 62–63); President’s Report, Part 2 (TB,
pp. 21–31)
Whereas, “Christian Stewardship is the free and joyous activity of the child of God and God’s family, the church, in managing
all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes” (2001 Res. 2-07A,
Proceedings p. 130); and
Whereas, Growing in our Christian life into the freedom and
“joyous activity of the child of God” is called sanctification (1 Thess.
4:1–12); and
Whereas, Understanding sanctification through the various
vocations (callings, holy orders, positions) God has given to each
Christian in the home, church, and community is a prized rediscovery of the Lutheran Reformation; and
Whereas, Martin Luther placed Scriptures that exhort Christians to faithful stewardship of financial resources (1 Cor. 9:14; Gal.
6:6–7; 1 Tim. 5:17–18) within the section of Luther’s Small Catechism (Section 3, Table of Duties) that deals with “various holy
orders and positions”; and
Whereas, The entire Table of Duties narrates our sanctification and living out of the Christian life through the vocations of
clergy, hearers, civil government, citizens, husbands, wives, parents, children, workers, employers and supervisors, youth, widows,
and every Christian; and
Whereas, The Apology of the Augsburg Confession (XV)
narrates the preaching and teaching that is characteristic of the
Lutheran Church in this way: “On the contrary, in our churches
all the sermons are occupied with such topics as these: of repentance; of the fear of God; of faith in Christ, of the righteousness of
faith, of the consolation of consciences by faith, of the exercises of
faith; of prayer, what its nature should be, and that we should be
fully confident that it is efficacious, that it is heard; of the cross; of
the authority of magistrates and all civil ordinances [likewise, how
each one in his station should live in a Christian manner, and, out
of obedience to the command of the Lord God, should conduct
himself in reference to every worldly ordinance and law]; of the distinction between the kingdom of Christ, or the spiritual kingdom,
and political affairs; of marriage; of the education and instruction
of children; of chastity; of all the offices of love”; and

has given to each one, in the sure and certain confidence that it is
“God who works in us” (Phil. 1:12–13).
Action: Adopted (7)
(The assembly agreed by voice vote to proceed to a vote on the
resolution without discussion, and by voice vote Res. 10-04 was
adopted as presented.)

To Encourage Greater Use of LCMS
Communication Resources
RESOLUTION 10-05
Report R1 (CW, p. 10); President’s Report, Part 2 (TB, pp.
21–31)
Whereas, Under God’s blessing, the national and international
work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) generates
a wealth of inspiring stories and other resources for proclaiming
the Gospel, teaching the faith, serving our neighbor in need, nurturing the family, standing up for biblical values, defending our
religious liberties, and a host of other positive examples of mission
and ministry activity and Christian witness; and
Whereas, Considerable time, talent and treasure go into
preparing and publishing The Lutheran Witness, Reporter, and
Lutherans Engage the World and the online counterparts of these
periodicals; producing content for an array of other communication vehicles like the Synod’s website, social media channels,
LCMS ministry blogs, KFUO Radio, e-news and e-blasts; and creating the videos, photography, graphic design, and downloadable
resources instrumental in telling the stories and sharing the news
of the church; therefore be it
Resolved, That we rejoice in our Synod’s information resources,
and encourage pastors and church leadership to urge the people to
make use of LCMS communications so that through the greater
sharing of information we come to a fuller knowledge of the work
of our national church walking together for the furtherance of the
Lord’s kingdom.
Action: Adopted (7)
(The assembly agreed by voice vote to proceed to vote on the
resolution without discussion, and by voice vote Res. 10-05 was
adopted as presented.)

Whereas, The Rite of Ordination requires our preachers to
promise to “admonish and encourage the people to confidence in
Christ and holy living”; therefore be it
Resolved, That the pastors and congregations of the Synod
hereby be encouraged faithfully and forthrightly to teach the people their vocations in home, church, and community from the Table
of Duties in Luther’s Small Catechism, which includes proper stewardship; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention hereby encourage each
and every member of our congregations to live out the calling God
“10. Stewardship: Funding the Mission”

U P O N T H I S R O C K • Resolutions

|

193