LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 310

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308 EVANGELISM

2. Key 73

Already at the 1969 Denver convention the Synod re-
solved to have a Synodwide evangelism effort in 1973 to
coincide with the pan-Christian nationwide evangelism effort
known as Key 73. The Milwaukee convention repeated that
emphasis, resolving to be a part of the Key 73 movement as
a Synod and recommended that congregations involve them-
selves in every way possible, which does not violate our
doctrinal principles.

In March 1972 the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations issued the Key 73 Guidelines emphasizing the
unique Lutheran contribution that Lutherans could make
to the Key 73 program and asked the Board for Evangelism
for materials that were “distinctively Lutheran.”

The year of Key 73 is half over and we continue to do
what the opening paragraph of the CTCR document sug-
gested, that:

We thank and praise God for all those who with us realize that

the Gospel of Christ is His power unto salvation to all who

believe it and for the opportunity that the Key 73 program
represents to proclaim that saving message in ‘Calling Our Con-
tinent to Christ.”

The following lists the involvement of the Synod in
Key 73:

The Key 73 Program

— participation on the Central Committee

—an annual contribution of $4,424

— individual participation on state and area committees

— District organization to work separately or coopera-
tively

— individual congregational planned activities: separately,
simultaneously, or cooperatively

Materials Prepared

— Congregational Planning Manual

~~ A Panoramic View of Key 73 — for mass distribution

— Bulletin Announcements Booklet

— Banner Instructions Booklet

—- Bible Study Guides
on Luke, “A Repentance Bible Study”
on Acts, “Learning from the Early Church”

—A Call to Prayer, a study and prayer guide for mass
distribution

—A Festival order of service

—A Key 73 Bulletin cover

— Suggestions for Lenten evangelism emphasis

— Tract, “Personal Faith”

— Witness Survey Form

— Cassette on “A Theology of Evangelism” for all Circuits

— Publicity materials: Window decal, bumper stickers,
lawn sign

Involvement of other Boards and Groups

a. Board for Parish Education:

— Parish Education Month (September materials on the
relation of evangelism to Christian education entitled
“Sharing Our Joy in God's Mercy”)

— Adult Bible Study Course in Gate entitled, “Key to
the Kingdom”

— Vacation Bible School course on evangelism entitled:
“Tell the News — Share the Love"

b. Concordia Tract Mission

— Tracts on Evangelism

— Publicity in The Evangelist

ce. Lutheran Television

— Development of series of discussion films condensed
from “This Is the Life” episodes for local study groups
or television talk shows entitled “Tension Point” series.
These were prepared with a grant from Aid Association
for Lutherans.

— Development of minute spot announcements designed
for local showing during prime children's viewing time.
These are being financed with a grant from the Lu-
theran Women's Missionary League.

d. Lutheran Laymen’s League

—Six-lesson Bible correspondence course entitled. “Man
Alive”

— Articles in The Lutheran Layman

— Radio spot announcements

— Lutheran Hour Program

e. Lutheran Women's Missionary League

~~ Bible Study on Evangelism

— "Share the Word” packet to all LWML Societies with
guidelines for Bible study and Bible distribution

— Prayer service entitled “Women in Evangelism”

f. Cooperatively with LCA and ALC

— Retreat Leadership Kit. Manual with two filmstrips,
with a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans

— Sharing of materials

Key 73 began in the congregations on Dec. 3 when a
“Key 73 Call to Repentance.” issued by the President, Dr.
Jacob A. O. Preus, was read in our congregations. Advent
was the time for studying Luke and for every-member visits.
Christmas began a “Noon Call to Prayer,” whereby every
day at noon until Jan. 6 Christians stopped to pray, as in-
dividuals, with a prayer partner. or in groups often while
church bells rang. The TV Launch Special. "Faith in Ac-
tion.” Jan. 6, was the official launch followed by special Epi-
phany services Jan. 7. Some activities that followed in-
cluded: Bible Distribution, Witness Surveys, Evangelism
Festivals, Witness Training. During Lent there was much
emphasis on bringing friends and neighbors to the services
and a recommitment to Jesus Christ. The Bible study for
groups meeting in homes was the Book of Acts. Since Easter
the major summer activities have been receiving attention:
Youth Outreach Weeks, Fair Ministries. poster and banner
contests, and plans are being made for fall Open House ser-
vices and rallies.

The interest in Key 73 throughout Synod has been at
a high level. The enthusiasm of the lav people is amazing.
We ask the members of the Synod. in the words of the clos-
ing statement of the CTCR Guidelines, to

implore the blessing of almighty God that the efforts of the
Key 73 program, under His grace and by the power of His Holy
Spirit, may lead many to faith in Jesus Christ and salvation,

Recommendation 2—Key 73

We recommend:

a) that we thank almighty God for the blessings that
have come to the Synod and to all participants in Key 73

b) that we thank those Boards, Committees, and or-
ganizations within the Synod who have cooperated in mak-
ing 1973 a year of evangelism

c) that we urge all boards. committees, and organizations
to continue to include a healthy evangelistic concern in all
of their materials and programs even after 1973

d) that we pray that God by His grace and by the power
of the Holy Spirit continue to lead many to faith in Jesus
Christ through our evangelism efforts under Key 73 and
after Key 73.

3. Organized for Evangelism

In order to better understand where we are, the Board
for Evangelism during 1973 surveyed the North American
Districts, examining both the type of organization the Dis-
trict used, the programs they developed and the effectiveness
of their outreach measured in terms of communicant mem-
bers won from the outside and lost to the outside (these
three — children confirmed from non-Lutheran homes, adults
confirmed or baptized, and professions of faith — totaled and
compared to defections). Some of the results of the survey
are summarized here:

— 21 of the 36 Districts had minus figures for the out-
reach check referred to above. There seemed no con-
sistent pattern, although some of the Districts with the
largest losses were on the coasts: Southern California,
California and Nevada, Atlantic (1.3, 1.2. .9 percentage
of communicant members). The Districts with the
largest percentage gains formed a cluster, Southern,
Mid-South, Florida-Georgia (.7, 1.6, .5 percentage).
Notable exceptions to any pattern, however, were Dis-
tricts like Montana with an 8% outreach gain and
Alberta and British Columbia with a loss of 1.3%.

— The District organization varies from elected Board,
a separated appointed committee. a committee of the
Mission Board or Parish Services Board, and varying
in size from 1 to 10. There was a definite lack of youth,
teacher, and auxiliary organization involvement.

— The major activity of the District appears to he: spon-