ST. LOUIS — With no discussion from the floor, delegates to the 62nd Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod today (July 15) passed resolutions to reassign the director of outreach ministry position from the Synod’s Board for District and Congregational Services to LCMS World Mission, and to encourage members to participate in short-term mission work.
“Whereases” in the resolution to reassign the outreach-director position point out that evangelism/outreach ministry was once a part of LCMS World Mission, that most LCMS districts link mission and outreach positions, and that it is an important shift for LCMS World Mission’s Ablaze! initiative.
After the resolution passed, Dr. Robert Roegner, executive director of LCMS World Mission, told the convention that there is “no doubt in my mind that … the Holy Spirit will lead this church” in achieving the Ablaze! goal of reaching 100 million unreached and uncommitted people with the Gospel by 2017.
Roegner also pointed out that a form for counting toward the 100 million goal will be mailed next month to all LCMS congregations, districts, partner churches, auxiliaries, schools, universities and seminaries. The form also is available at http://www.lcmsworldmission.org .
The resolution encouraging participation in short-term mission work notes that “many congregations have been enriched” by sponsoring short-term missionaries, urges those congregations that have not done so to meet with congregations that have, and asks congregations to work through LCMS World Mission and other groups in the church “for such mission participation.”
Posted July 15, 2004
