LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1979, Page 65

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PRESIDENT’S REPORT 65

who have walked with us for so long a period, and we
certainly bear them no malice. In the case of many, they
were people who were considerably at variance with the
doctrine and/or the polity of the Synod. While certainly
we ask no one to walk with us who is in doctrinal
disagreement with our position, we also know that
many of these people were carried away by emotion and
partisanship and that the cleavage is not only one of
doctrine. This is most regrettable.

On the other side, I think it has to be said very clearly
that for that limited number who chose to leave the
Synod, over 6,000 congregations implicitly or explicitly
made decisions to remain with the Synod, and for all of
this we thank God. It was a period during which time
the autonomy of the congregations to come and go as
they please was something that was in the mind of
many people. The fact that such an enormous percent-
age elected to remain is one of the greatest sources of
comfort we can have. And this is demonstrating itself in
a change of mood and tone which is most encouraging.
One senses a great desire as we move into the ’80s to
work together, to confess together, and together to carry
out the mission which Christ has given to His church. I
have never in my years in the Synod as President seen
So positive a mood in the Synod as presently exists.

One cause for this situation, I believe, is the 55
conferences held by the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations, which were attended by over half of
the pastors in the church. I believe the various convo-
cations that have been held under the leadership of our
District Presidents and our CTCR have also been
extremely helpful. Efforts have been made to talk over
differences, to reexamine our confession of faith, our
position on church fellowship, and the whole matter of
whether the Missouri Synod really had a confessional
reason to exist as a church. I believe that we have
concluded that we do have such a reason and that we
must be about the work of spreading the Gospel of
Christ and testifying to the faith as expressed so
beautifully in our Lutheran Confessions.

Another factor which has played a major role was
the 1978 series of District conventions. These conven-
tions in many cases were almost 180-degree turns from
the conventions of 1972, 1974, 1976. I am so pleased at
the makeup and caliber of the Council of District
Presidents. We have a very fine group of men who are
positive in their thinking, who want to work together,
and who are supportive of the mission of the church of
Jesus Christ. I want to say a sincere word of thanks to
our District Presidents and to their boards of directors.
This has resulted in an improvement in increased
evangelism, in the establishment of new congregations,
in the finances, and in a general improvement in the
morale both of the Council of Presidents and of the
church at large.

Particularly and above all I believe that the people of
Missouri have clearly and decisively said that they
want to remain firmly standing on the old foundations
of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. They have
determined that no amount of conflict or political
activity is going to movethem from our historic position.

We spent many years getting into the condition we were
in, and it has taken ten years to get out of it, but we have
emerged more united, stronger in our conviction and
firmer in our determination to be a Biblical and confes-
sional church. May God, who has blessed us hitherto, be
with us that we continue in our faith and never deviate
from it. We are ready to move into the ’80s with unity,
determination, and renewed dedication and vigor.

Missions

This convention is a missions convention, and the
purpose of such a convention is not just to talk about
missions, pass pious resolutions, and then go home and
forget about it. We have invited some wonderful people
from overseas to come and tell us about their work, but
even all of thatis besidethe point if we as achurch body
do not get genuinely excited about the whole matter of
the doors which God has opened to us. This excitement
needs to be transmitted to every pastor, teacher, and
every congregation in the Synod. The whole idea of
personal evangelism, establishment of new mission
stations, support of existing mission opportunities both
here and abroad ought to receive the very highest
priority in our planning on the Synod, District, and
congregational level, and in the hearts and minds of all
of our people.

I wish to compliment the Board for Missions for their
29 “Challenges for the ’80s”’ appearing in the Conven-
tion Workbook. Some are saying these are “pie in the
sky” goals impossible to achieve. I support those goals
and ask all boards, commissions, officers, and staffs of
the Synod andits Districts, as well as all congregations,
to work toward achieving them.

If we really believe that the Lord Jesus Christ came
into the world to seek and to save that which was lost,
and if we really believe that the doors are open, as they
have been ever since the time of the apostles, then it is
time that we really rise to meet these challenges and get
on with the job. The time is short.

So I hope that every delegate will attend the Mission
Fair and attempt to meet the presidents of the overseas
partner churches, talk with missionaries and mission
board personnel, and really get acquainted with and
excited about the open doors which stand before us
ready to be entered.

In this connection we are all aware of the fact that it
costs money. I strongly urge that the Synod also go on
record as approving the proposals of the Board of
Directors regarding a collection of $40,000,000 which
could be used for missions and for the education of
church workers. We are constantly falling behind in
meeting the challenges which daily face us. I am
constantly amazed at the number of requests that come
to us for opening new fields, opening new mission
stations throughout the world, the need for additional
workers, and meeting opportunities. We do need to gird
up our loins and get busy on this matter of really
meeting the challenge of the ’80s and of the rest of this
century. We are on the verge of the greatest era in the
history of our church.