To Encourage Church Planting throughout the Synod and Supporting the “Mission Field: USA” Initiative
RESOLUTION 1-02
Report R1.2 (CW, p. 21); Overtures 1-10–11, 1-13 (CW, pp. 311–313)
WHEREAS, A mission priority of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) is planting Lutheran congregations; and
WHEREAS, The Office of National Mission (ONM) was charged by the 2013 Synod convention (Res. 1-04A) to encourage congregations and members to pray for and engage in the critical work of church planting; and
WHEREAS, The LCMS has historically been a planting church body (at one time planting a new church each week) and this has rapidly been reduced along with the tools that are needed; and
WHEREAS, The LCMS needs to locate churches where the greatest populations of people are located; and
WHEREAS, LCMS congregations many times do not reflect the diversity of the neighboring communities around them; and
WHEREAS, The average age of LCMS members is older than the average age of the American population; and
WHEREAS, The LCMS is called to be faithful in reaching the lost through our word and sacrament ministry and by showing love to our neighbors and bearing witness to them; and
WHEREAS, “Mission Field: USA,” an initiative of the LCMS, will offer services to support church-planting efforts throughout the Synod (CW, R1.2, p. 21); therefore be it
Resolved, That concerted effort be made to equip and support the Mission Field: USA church planting initiative beyond raising awareness of the need, and that the use of these resources be commended as a flexible framework for technical support, training, equipping, and organizing church planting in multiple settings and contexts nationwide; and be it further
Resolved, That as the Synod supports districts in their mission efforts, greater emphasis be given to reaching new people groups within the USA through church planting and new ministries; and be it further
Resolved, That investment be made in domestic mission work, especially in rebuilding struggling inner city and rural communities, helping to lift people out of poverty, and preparing and sending national missionaries into the margins of the USA; and be it further
Resolved, That the ONM work through districts to track the number of churches that are planted; and be it finally
Resolved, That this convention encourage and support the districts of the Synod to plant 150 congregations through the Mission Field: USA initiative, and that the ONM partner with districts to send out 18 new domestic missionaries in the next triennium.
[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.]