To Commend and Sunset Synod Mission Priorities

Official Workbook overture source text

4-01 
To Commend and Sunset Synod Mission Priorities 
WHEREAS, The Synod in convention instructed the  Board for 
National Mission and Board for International Mission to 
recommend possible revisions to the mission priorities and possible 
Bylaw revisions that would articulate both the process for 
developing mission priorities and how those priorities would 
function in the mission and ministry of the Synod (2023 Res. 4-03, 
“To Affirm and Continue Mission Priorities for 2023– 2026 
Triennium”); and 
W
HEREAS, Bylaws do not specifically require the Synod 
convention to establish “mission priorities”; and 
WHEREAS, The two mission boards have had extensive fraternal 
conversations with every district pertaining to the Synod’s mission 
priorities and their effectiveness for the work of each district; and 
WHEREAS, The districts  expressed general agreement with the 
doctrine and practice articulated in the current m ission priorities, 
yet found them less than helpful for the specific priorities and work 
of their districts; and 
WHEREAS, Many districts have established their own mission 
priorities under the Synod’s triennial m ission and m inistry 
emphasis; and 
WHEREAS, Every priority of the current list of seven m ission 
priorities is already articulated in the objectives of Synod ( Const. 
Art. III); and 
WHEREAS, Conversations with the districts by the two mission 
boards indicated no particular desire to retain the current m ission 
priorities, or establish an elaborate procedure for creating m ission 
priorities in the future; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention commend the district 
presidents and their districts for the constructive fraternal 
conversations they have had with the mission boards over the last 
triennium; and be it further 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention give thanks for how the 
original mission priorities helped shape the work of national and 
international mission during the early years after restructuring; and 
be it further 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention commend and identify 
the Synod objectives (Const. Art. III) as the mission priorities of the 
Synod and a faithful articulation of its work; and be it finally 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention reaffirm the 
responsibility of the respective mission boards (Bylaws 3.8.2, 3), 
under the leadership of the President and pursuant to Bylaw 
3.3.1.1.1, to assist in identifying the specific goals and priorities for 
national and international mission work. 
Board for National Mission; Board for International Mission 
Ov.