LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 10

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EVANGELISM 9

Resolved. That the retreats be 3 days in length. conducted
in a “retreat setting.’ and use small-group discussion techniques
with sufficient time for private discussion. reflection. and prayer:
and be it further

Resolved. That each participant in the retreats be asked to
evaluate his own personal mission in terms of sharing the Gospel
of Jesus Christ, to set personal goals, and to plan how he can
help motivate and equip others to share the Gospel: and be it
further

Resolved. That in the retreats the District. circuit. and con-
gregation each evaluate their evangelism activities and plan an
aggressive program of outreach: and be it further

Resolved. That the goal be that 90 percent of the professional
workers of the church and congregational leaders together with
their wives experience a renewal retreat: and be it further

Resolved. That the following be the pattern of the retreats:
1. Regional Renewal Retreats (RRR)-—six retreats for syn-
odical officers and District leaders, conducted by the Board for
Evangelism:
2. District Renewal Retreats ‘DRR) for District executives
and circuit counselors, conducted by the District leaders who
attended an RRR:

3. Circuit Renewal Retreats (CRR) for each circuit. con-
ducted by those who attended a DRR:

4. Congregational Leaders Renewal Retreats (CLRR). at
least one for each congregation by those who attended a CRR:
and be it further

Resolved. That the Board for Evangelism seek a grant from
outside the Synod to fund regional renewal retreats and the
production of materials for the renewal retreats. but if this fails.
that the Board of Directors set aside a special fund for the
retreats: and be it finally

Resolved. That the Districts be asked to fund the District
renewal retreats and congregations fund the circuit and the
congregational leaders retreat.

Recommendation 2—Conrention Eva ngelism

WHEREAS. Those who planned the 1975 convention have set
aside convention time and provided special activities for the
delegates to implement the evangelism theme of the convention:
therefore be it

Resolved. That the convention encourage all the delegates
to participate in the following ways:

1. Use the convention New Testament for private reading.
in the Bible classes provided. and for witnessing to those they
meet during the convention:

2. Participate in the Saturday afternoon activity either by
going to one of the parishes that have invited delegates to join
them in an evangelism afternoon or by attending one of the
evangelism workshops at the convention center:

3. Invite people from the community. the hotels. and wher-
ever they meet others to the Inspiration Night. Sunday evening
in the Arena.

4. Make use of the Prayer Chapel to remember in prayer
the convention. the delegates. the officers. the floor committees.
and those to whom they witness: and be it further

Resolved. That we thank those individuals connected with
Irvine College who raised the funds to provide the convention
New Testament

Recommendation 3—One Day a Week for Outreach

WHEREAS. Through His Great Commission the Lord of the
church has made “making disciples” top priority in all that we
do: and

WHEREAS. Pastors are so pressured by other concerns of
the ministry that it becomes increasingly difficult to find time to
make evangelism outreach calls and to teach evangelism to
members of the parish: and

WHEREAS. The growth rate of the Missouri Synod continues
to decline and the defections continue to increase: therefore
be it

Resolved. That the convention encourage the pastors of the
Synod to provide the kind of guidance and leadership that

motivate and equip lay people to share the Gospel in their
community both in their daily contacts and in structured pro-
grams of visitation: and be it further

Resolred. That we plead with pastors to make a commitment
to the Lord of the church to devote at least 1 day a week or its
equivalent to outreach. that is. in making evangelism calls and
in training members to witness.

Recommendation 4—Bicentennial Evangelism Thrust

WHEREAS. The United States in 1976 will observe the 200th
year of its founding with a variety of activities and celebrations
that remind us of its heritage and history: and

WHEREAS. Religion has played an important role in the
founding of the United States and in shaping the principles and
philosophy of its government: therefore be it

Resolved. That Evangelism Festival 1976 (Jan. 25) recognize
the public consciousness of the Bicentennial and address itself
to the place of religion in the celebration by providing Bible
study materials (which can also be used as family devotions and
given to friends and neighbors) which:

a. Consider the place of religion in the history and develop-
ment of the United States:

b. Ask for repentance for the failures of both the church and
the nation:

c. Issue a call for rededication to Christ and to Christian
citizenship: and be it further
Resolved. That the convention urge each congregation to
organize a program to share this Bible study with those living
in the community around the parish.

Recommendation 5— Additional Staff Person

WHEREAS. The Evangelism Department formed only 3 years
ago is still in the process of building its staff and developing its
program of service: and

WHEREAS. Evangelism staff assistance is needed to direct
the program of direct outreach and growth for the LCMS: and

WHEREAS. Evangelism staff assistance is needed to expand
and invigorate outreach and membership growth of sister
churches overseas. for which a position has already been
authorized by the last convention but unfilled see Recom-
mendation 6): and

WHEREAS. Evangelism staff assistance is needed to realize
greater membership growth through such activities as evan-
gelistic use of national radio and television programs in the
Jocal parish. renewal retreats, press evangelism. ete.: and

WHEREAS. There must be immediate research and program
development to sharply reduce defections: and

WHEREAS. The service of the evangelism department must
continue to expand to meet the increased requests from Dis-
tricts, congregations, and individuals: therefore be it

Resolved. That the convention instruct the Board of Directors
to authorize the calling of an additional staff person to the
Evangelism Department at once.

Recommendation 6— Relating to Overseas Churches

WHEREAS. The Board for Evangelism, as requested in New
Orleans resolution 1-09. has worked in conjunction with the
Board for Missions in seeking to evaluate the best way to offer
help in evangelism to the overseas churches: and

WHEREAS. The response from 11 overseas churches indicates:

1. That there is a need for help in evangelism:

2. That none of the approaches in the past are satisfactory

to all of the churches:

3. That there is resistance to any program that creates the
impression that the church in the United States has all
the answers in evangelism and will give them to the
overseas churches:

4. That the problem of different cultures and languages
makes it extremely difficult for one man to serve all the
churches:

_ ‘That the overseas churches want to relate to the Synod

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