RESOLUTION 1-01
Reports R1, R1.1, R1.2 (CW, pp. 2–3, 14, 25–26); Overtures 1-01, 1-07, 1-12, 1-13, 1-15–16 (CW, pp. 309, 311– ) 8
WHEREAS, In the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19–20), Christ sets forth the work of the church on earth as “making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”; and
WHEREAS, In 1 Peter 2:9, all believers in Christ are called to “proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness and into his marvelous light”; and
WHEREAS, North America now constitutes the world’s third largest mission field (after China and India based on the number of people who do not confess Jesus Christ) with over 200 million non-churched people; and
WHEREAS, One of the stated objectives of the Synod in the Synod’s Constitution is to “strengthen congregations and their members in giving bold witness by word and deed to the love and work of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and extend that Gospel witness into all the world (Art. III 2); and
WHEREAS, The Synod’s Office of National Mission has initiated Every One His Witness, a theologically sound evangelism program designed to equip Lutherans for being more active and effective witnesses of Jesus Christ in their everyday lives; and
WHEREAS, The Every One His Witness evangelism program includes elements to develop and provide resources for witnessing to people in diverse contexts, cultures, and languages in North America, including other world religions and cults as well as de-churched and un-churched people; and
WHEREAS, Evangelism is essential to the planting, sustaining, and revitalization of Lutheran congregations; therefore be it
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) reaffirm its commitment to the Great Commission as stated in Matt. 28:19−20; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS reaffirm North America as a mission field with the rest of the world; and be it further
Resolved, That the convention commend the current evangelism efforts of our districts, local congregations, recognized service organizations (RSOs), and auxiliaries; and be it further
Resolved, That the convention adopt Every One His Witness as a Synod-wide evangelism program; and be it further
Resolved, That the convention commend the use of the Every One His Witness evangelism program to all LCMS districts, congregations, RSOs, and auxiliaries; and be it finally
Resolved, That the convention authorize Synod-wide offerings for the purpose of creating and distributing print, digital, and other resources in multiple languages for the Every One His Witness evangelism program.
[The estimated cost to implement this proposed resolution appears in the Report of the Finance Floor Committee – found in Sunday’s issue of Today’s Business.]