To Adopt Triennial Mission and Ministry Emphasis on Clear Gospel Proclamation, Unity in Christ, and Multicultural Ministry

Official Workbook overture source text

4-06 
To Adopt Triennial Mission and Ministry 
Emphasis on Clear Gospel Proclamation,  
Unity in Christ, and Multicultural Ministry 
WHEREAS, “The district convention shall, through the delegate 
vote, forward to the national convention a list of two or three 
triennial mission and ministry emphases for consideration by the 
national convention.” (Bylaw 4.2.1 [d]); and 
WHEREAS, The Apology of the Augsburg Confession (Ap) IV on 
justification confesses the central teaching of the Gospel, namely, 
that we are justified by grace through faith in Christ alone; and 
WHEREAS, Rom. 1:16 (NIV) proclaims, “For I am not ashamed 
of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation 
to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile,” and 
Smalcald Articles (SA) II I states, “The first and chief article is this: 
That Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, died for our sins and was 
raised again for our justification (Rom. 4:25)” (Triglotta); and 
WHEREAS, The temptation of the flesh and the work of the enemy 
continually seek to distort, add to, or replace the Gospel with a false 
alternative, and we confess that members of  the Synod are not 
exempt from this temptation; and 
WHEREAS, Eph. 4:15–16 (NIV) reminds us, “Instead, speaking 
the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature 
body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole 
body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows 
and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work”; and 
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HEREAS, We should celebrate the unity we have in Christ; and 
WHEREAS, Jesus commands His people to “Love one another. As 
I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone 
will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 
13:34–35 [NIV]); and 
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HEREAS, The Church is beautifully diverse in language, 
ethnicity, and life experiences; and 
WHEREAS, The Pacific Southwest District houses both the Cross-
cultural Ministry Center and the Mission Training Center within its 
geographic confines; and