Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 38
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 38

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

38 MISSIONS

WHEREAS, The above items and many more give clear testi-
mony that a new doctrine of mission and missions similar to that
of the more liberal church bodies of the world has crept into both
our Synod and its mission fields; therefore be it

Resolved. That our Synod cal! upon all who belong to Part-
ners in Mission, Evangelical Lutherans in Mission, the Lutheran
Church in Mission, and Seminex either to leave all such groups
and organizations with their respective doctrinal and mission
philosophies or to cease and desist from their efforts to control,
influence, or maintain contact with our Synod’s mission fields
and sister churches overseas: and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod direct the Board for Missions to
call a qualified national from one of our sister churches to repre-
sent our Synod for a period of 2 to 4 years, the exact length of
time to be determined by the Board for Missions, the task of
such representative to be the reestablishment of proper rela-
tions, both doctrinally and in practical matters, between The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and our beloved fellow
Lutheran Christians in the overseas fields; and be it finally

Resolved. That the Synod, in convention assembled, express
its sincere thanks to the Board for Missions for its earnest efforts
to keep the mission program of the Synod both Scripturally
sound and effective in outreach.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church
Bremen, Ind.

Dan L. Miller, Secretary
Raymond A. Mueller, Pastor

2-33

To Request Seminex to Replace
LWML Funds Originally Designated
for Concordia Seminary, St. Louis

WHEREAS. Seminex personnel under the guise of Seminex's
“World Mission Institute’ requested and received funds from
the Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) totaling
over $20,000; and

WHEREAS. Such funds were designated by the LWML in
convention assembled for Concordia Seminary, St. Louis: and

WHEREAS. The taking of such funds in a most improper man-

ner has resulted in the program of mission outreach at Concordia
Seminary, St. Louis, being cut back; therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod assembled in convention strongly
rebuke Seminex personnel for labeling their newly founded
mission venture ‘World Mission Institute.’’ thereby causing
confusion with Concordia Seminary’s ‘World Mission Institute”:
and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod assembled in convention request
the Seminex institution to return or replace those funds desig-
nated for Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

St. James Lutheran Church
University City, Mo.

John Essen, President

Carl Meinecke, Secretary
Tom Baker, Pastor

2-34

To Change Accounting and Reporting
of Mission Funds

WHEREAS, The whole church is Christ’s mission to the whole
world: and

WHEREAS. It is important for boards, Districts, congregations,
and individual Christians to be aware of how mission funds are
being administered, in which areas of the world, and according
to what needs and priorities; and

WHEREAS. Current practice in the Synod and the Districts
includes all synodical mission funds under one general head:
“world missions’; and

WHEREAS, The Missouri Synod had 1,178 ordained mission-
aries in North America in 1973, with 364 in “Special Ministries”
in North America, but only 114 ordained evangelistic mis-
sionaries in the rest of the world (1973 Statistical Yearbook): and

WHEREAS. Over $290 million was contributed for all purposes
in 1973, and $55 million was contributed for World Missions
(1973 Statistical Yearbook), but only about $5.5 million, less than
2¢ of every dollar contributed, was received by OVERSEAS
missions (1973 Convention Workbook); and

WHEREAS. Such listing of mission activity and support under
the general heading ‘“‘World Missions” is often misleading and
gives members a distorted and confused idea of our overseas
mission endeavors; and

WHEREAS, Some Districts have heretofore refused to allow
member congregations to designate mission money for general
overseas use and to receive credit for same; be it therefore

Resolved. That synodical agencies be requested to clearly
define and distinguish between money used in North America
and money used for overseas purposes; and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod promote the education of members
regarding the actual number of missionaries at home and over-
seas, as well as the needs, opportunities, and growth or decline
of mission field areas, and the expenditure of funds to carry on
the mission of Christ ir. these places; and be it further

Resolved. That Districts be encouraged to gratefully receive,
channel, and give credit for all funds designated for general
missions overseas: and be it finally

Resolved. That the Synod report clearly and comprehen-
sively, in the Statistical Yearbook and in other informational
literature, the totals of both money and manpower used over-
seas,

Hope Lutheran Church
Springfield, Oreg.

M. Gary Connor, Chairman
Paul Hellwege, Secretary

2-35

To Declare Congregations Which
Support ELIM Ineligible to Receive
LCMS Mission Funds

WHEREAS, An organization now known as ELIM is not in
harmony with the teachings and confessions of The Lutheran
Church— Missouri Synod and therefore is a serious element of
division: and

WHEREAS, Such congregations as are supported by LCMS
mission subsidies, who by their actions of sympathy direct
moneys in support of ELIM activities and participate in any way
in the installation of Seminex students or graduates, not properly
certified, are compounding the problem of division: be it there-
fore

Resolved. That the Synod in convention instruct its Presidium
to formulate procedures that would establish those congrega-
tions who support ELIM, or similar organizations, ineligible
to receive LCMS mission support.

Peace Lutheran Church
Garland, Texas

Bill Patterson, President
Gary Law, Secretary