Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 12
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 12

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

————————”—r—————

EVANGELISM 11

8.49 Congregation Evangelism Board

(or Committee)
None

1-02

To Encourage Practical Training
in Evangelism in Seminary Education

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod now
numbers 2 million communicant members who should all be
actively engaged in evangelizing the world by their witness
of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; and

WHEREAS, Jesus Christ in the Great Commission clearly
indicated that His disciples should be actively engaged in
discipling all people in all ages: and

WHEREAS, There are thousands in every community where
our people live who have never heard one of their peer group
effectively share God's grace and mercy in Christ Jesus in a
personal witness: and

WHEREAS, Many pastors of our churches have not been
trained to equip their people for effective witnessing; and

WHEREAS, St. Paul in Eph. 4:1-16 clearly states that the
gifts of ministry are to be used to “equip the saints for the
work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ”; and

WHEREAS, Our seminaries do not have as a part of their
required curricula a course of study combined with “on-the-job
training” for all students who seek to enter the ministry; and

WHEREAS, Most pastors find it difficult to do that for which
they have not been trained; and

WHEREAS, The California and Nevada District in convention
June 1, 1974, has resolved to ask the Synod and its seminaries
to include both classroom study and in-field training in evange-
lism; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod,
in convention July 4-11, 1975, request that the seminaries at
Springfield and St. Louis make every effort to include compre-
hensive training in evangelism as a part of the required cur-
riculum.

California and Nevada District
Theo. A. Iverson, Secretary

1-03

To Create Chair of Evangelism

WHEREAS, The task of proclaiming the Gospel is the heart
of the church’s mission; and

WHEREAS, The Board for Evangelism is entrusted with the
task of furthering the proclamation of the Gospel throughout our
Synod and the world; and

WHEREAS, The Board for Evangelism is currently in need
of an additional staff member; and

WHEREAS, The Board for Evangelism is in need of additional
funding to accomplish its goals; and

WHEREAS, Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield,
Ill., is uniquely qualified to assist the Board for Evangelism by
intensifying the evangelistic training of the Synod’s prospective
pastors, therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention assembled dedicate
itself to greater support of the Board for Evangelism in both
staffing and funding; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
establish a chair of evangelism at Concordia Theological Semi-
nary, Springfield, to assist this work; and be it finally

District boards. The District board shall cooperate
with Synod’s Board for Evangelism and shall assist
and advise congregations concerning evangelism.

8.49 Congregation Evangelism Board
(or Committee)
Each congregation is encouraged to establish
a separate evangelism board (or committee) that
will concern itself with the total evangelism chal-
lenge and program for both congregation and com-
munity.
Erwin J. Kolb, Executive Secretary

Resolved, That the respective Districts of the Synod further
the work of evangelism in every way possible.

Faculty

Concordia Theological Seminary
Springfield, Ill.

Robert Preus, President

Mark J. Steege, Secretary

1-04

To Encourage Training of Adults
in Skills of Evangelism

WHEREAS. Interest in evangelism is at a new high in our
Synod and is the theme of the Anaheim convention; and

WHEREAS, Many adults of our Synod have been equipped
for skillful and joy-filled evangelism following the principle
“that each trainee is given on-the-job training under the direc-
tion of a trained evangelist”: therefore be it

Resolved, That every pastoral candidate be given evangelism
training following the principle “that each trainee be given on-
the-job training under the direction of a trained evangelist”
prior to his certification.

Trinity Lutheran Church
Sturgis, Mich.

Bruce Schaeffer, Chairman
Jack Meyers, Secretary
Erwin A. Ruhlig, Pastor

1-05

To Support Kennedy Plan
of Evangelism

WHEREAS, The members of the church are often anxious to
testify to others of the wonderful Gospel message of salvation
by grace through faith in Jesus Christ: and

WueErEas, The Kennedy Plan of evangelism affords a com-
prehensive study guide and method of individual person-to-
person witnessing; an

WHEREAS, Missouri District Director of Evangelism Leroy
Biesenthal has put together a Kennedy Plan study guide of
evangelism for Lutherans; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod assembled in convention urge
member congregations to become involved in the Kennedy
Plan of evangelism.

St. James Lutheran Church
University City, Mo.

John Essen, President

Carl Meinecke, Secretary
Tom Baker, Pastor

1-06

To Evangelize Non-Christian Cults

WHEREAS, Certain non-Christian cults like the Jehovah’s
witnesses and the Mormons continue to make large member-
ship gains; and