To Support Lutheran Congregations and Schools in Urban Contexts

Official Workbook overture source text

1-10 
To Support Lutheran Congregations and Schools 
in Urban Contexts 
Rationale 
Throughout its history, The Lutheran Church—Missouri  Synod 
has had congregations and schools in urban contexts. Many of these 
congregations and schools have ceased operations or have greatly 
curtailed ministries due to  shifts in demographics, even as more 
people live in urban contexts in the United States. Assisting with 
parish operation and governance, developing sustainable funding 
models, encouraging networking for mutual conversation and 
consolation, and encouraging workers to serve in urban contexts 
would be ways to invest in urban contexts so that people may 
continue to hear the g ood n ews about Jesus and so that existing 
congregations and schools may be supported and new 
congregations and schools may be planted. 
Therefore be it 
Resolved, That the S ynod in convention give thanks for 
congregations and schools in urban contexts; and be it further 
Resolved, That districts encourage networking among those 
serving in congregations and schools in urban contexts within 
circuits and districts so that support and resources may be offered 
for workers and agencies; and be it further 
Resolved, That the Office of National Mission (ONM) work with 
districts to foster networking for congregations, schools,  and 
workers in urban contexts throughout the Synod for the sake of 
sharing resources and best practices; and be it further 
Resolved, That, as part of the networking, grant opportunities be 
shared regularly with districts for use in circuits, congregations, and 
schools in urban contexts to assist with funding ministries; and be 
it further 
Resolved, That the ONM  work with districts to provide 
congregations and schools in urban contexts with administrative 
assistance for governance that could include payroll services, 
sharing a  bookkeeper, insurance  recommendations, strategic 
planning, and the like; and be it further 
Resolved, That demographic resources from the ONM, LCMS  
Rosters, Statistics, and  Research Services, the Lutheran Church 
Extension Fund, Lutheran Hour Ministries , Concordia Plan  
Services, and other data -collecting entities be shared with 
congregations, schools, and workers in urban contexts so that plans 
for outreach to people in urban contexts may be developed locally; 
and be it further 
Resolved, That the ONM  work with districts to plant new 
congregations and schools in urban contexts; and be it finally 
Resolved, That progress on these fronts be  reported by districts 
and other entities of the Synod to the 2029 Synod convention. 
Board for National Mission 
Ov.