RESOLUTION 6-04

Report R1 (CW, p. 3)

Preamble

The Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) was conceived in 2011 to assist world Lutheranism with theological education by bringing future Lutheran leaders and seminary instructors to the Synod’s two excellent seminaries for advanced study, by sending professors from the Synod’s seminaries and other qualified instructors to teach short term at seminaries of International Lutheran Council (ILC) member churches and other requesting church bodies, and by holding conferences and seminars to assist in continuing education in these church bodies. The GSI helps support approximately 25 international students at both The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) seminaries each year, helps support students from the Global South to attend seminaries at ILC partners, 1 supports about 60 graduate level students in Ethiopia per year, provides for training in Tanzania, Madagascar and elsewhere, provides theological training to over 1,000 students and conference attendees worldwide, and impacts many more thousands through their study.

Based on requests received by the Synod, our partners’ greatest need is assistance with theological education. Lutheran leaders worldwide see faithful, confessional, theological education as a key to maintaining Lutheran doctrinal integrity in their church bodies and providing good and faithful leaders for the future of their churches.

A significant reason for the requests for theological education is the anti-scriptural stance Western churches have taken on same-sex marriage and the ordination of practicing homosexuals into the ministry. The churches of the Global South have begun seeking a Lutheran church that teaches the truth of the Holy Scriptures in accordance with the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. As a result, these churches in the Global South greatly desire the teaching found in the ILC and the Synod. Churches around the world greatly desire the treasures of faithful and sound teaching. As holders of this precious treasure, rather than bury it in the field, the Synod is called and compelled to share it with the world.

For example, three years ago, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) asked for the Synod’s assistance to train students at the graduate level at their Mekane Yesus Seminary (MYS) to be instructors in their 10 regional seminaries and 40 Bible schools. The objective is to train 10,000 pastors to meet EECMY’s rapid growth. (EECMY’s current membership is approaching 8 million people.) Some dioceses in Tanzania also have requested in-country training of pastors and evangelists. To date, twenty have graduated from this program. We anticipate that the five-million member Lutheran Church in Madagascar will begin requesting additional training from the Synod over the next three years. This past year, the one-million member Anglican Church of South Sudan approached the LCMS seeking to become Lutheran. These requests are stretching the capacity of the GSI to meet expectations.

WHEREAS, The LCMS has a global reputation for theological education based on the Holy Scriptures as the Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions as a true exposition of God’s Word; and

WHEREAS, In recent years, dedication to true doctrine and biblical Christianity has weakened in many places, but growing churches around the globe are seeking the treasure the LCMS possesses as a gift from God; and

WHEREAS, There are now over 60 Lutheran seminaries and Bible institutes globally that are looking to the LCMS for leadership precisely because of the Synod’s dedication to God’s Word and the Lutheran Confessions; and

WHEREAS, The LCMS has the ability and the experience to assist these churches by providing sound theological education; and

WHEREAS, Because the support and expansion of theological education is a mission priority of the Synod (2013 Res. 3-06A), the LCMS is called to act boldly to share resources and teachers to spread God’s Word and teach the Lutheran Confessions among all who thirst for truth; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention affirm that the GSI is imparting great blessings to world Lutheranism at this crucial moment; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod send qualified instructors to teach at and support seminaries requesting assistance; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod support the formation of the next generation of international teachers and church leaders by enabling them to study at LCMS and regional seminaries; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod sponsor conferences and continuing education seminars particularly in East Africa; and be it further

Resolved, That these aforementioned initiatives be undertaken when sufficient resources are designated and secured for that purpose; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage individuals and congregations to support the continuation of this good work with their prayers and financial support: www.lcms.org/makeagift/gsi.

[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.]