To Increase Church Planting at the Parish Level

Official Workbook overture source text

1-06 
To Increase Church Planting at the Parish Level 
WHEREAS, The Synod Office of National Mission  (ONM) 
currently is supporting church planting ministry across the Synod 
through resources, training, and grants; and 
WHEREAS, The districts and congregations of the Synod maintain 
numerous mercy missions and ministries to care for those in their 
communities; and 
WHEREAS, The process of planting new congregations is a 
priority of the work of the ONM; and 
WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus Christ wants all people to be saved (1 
Tim. 2:4) and has commanded His Church  to make disciples of all 
nations by baptizing and teaching (Matt. 28:19); and 
WHEREAS, Acts 2:42 shows that the Church of baptized believers 
gathered around the ministry of the Word and the Sacraments, 
which are foundational to the life and mission of the Church both in 
function and in goal; and 
W
HEREAS, The early Christians, having been gathered around 
Word and Sacrament, were sent into the world and established new 
churches as they went; and 
WHEREAS, The  Synod has historically planted most of its 
congregations effectively  through daughter  congregations, 
beginning with preaching stations that grew into new 
congregations; and 
WHEREAS, The establishment of preaching stations through 
existing congregations and their pastors  represents a faithful and 
cost-effective means of planting new churches by leveraging 
existing congregational structures; and 
WHEREAS, This historic pattern of Word and Sacrament 
expansion allows the local congregation ( uniquely suited as the 
front-line mission outpost ) to be the driving force in church 
planting; and 
WHEREAS, the Synod’s  human care efforts and community 
outreach provide natural connection points for the  proclamation of 
the Gospel, which can lead to the formation of preaching stations 
and, eventually, new congregations; and 
WHEREAS, Special attention should be given to regions where 
people do not have access to the seven marks of  the Church, as 
outlined in Luther’s Church and Ministry ( Luther’s Works AE 
41:148–65); therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod encourage districts, circuits, and 
congregations to plant churches through preaching stations 
supported by existing congregations and their pastors; and be it 
further 
Resolved, That the Synod encourage congregations to consider 
ways in which their human care efforts may be paired with Word 
and Sacrament ministry, so that new worshiping communities may 
form around the Means of Grace; and be it finally 
Resolved
, That the Synod commend this model of church 
planting as a faithful, practical, and historically grounded approach 
to fulfilling Christ’s command to make disciples of all nations. 
Board for National Mission