Version History
Current published version
Today's Business, Issue 2B. pp. 277-278. Revised published proposal.
Official Resolution Source Text
Resolution: 2-02
Canonical number: 2-02
Committee: International Witness
Source: Today's Business, Issue 1
Printed pages: pp. 69-70
PDF pages: 69-70
Version: original, superseded
Source reference: Issue 1, pp. 69-70
Line numbers follow Today's Business, Issue 1, with numbering reset on each printed page, so delegates can compare this page with the official PDF.
Page 69
- To Direct Districts and Encourage Congregational Participation in Global Mission
- through Prayer, Partnership, and Support
- RESOLUTION 2-02
- Overtures 2-01–02 (CW, 295)
- WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus Christ has commanded His Church to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19); and
- WHEREAS, The Lord exhorts His people to “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His
- harvest” (Matt. 9:38), and assures His Church that He “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think”
- (Eph. 3:20); and
- WHEREAS, The Church is called to be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3),
- including fellowship and cooperation in the work of the Gospel across nations and cultures; and
- WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has long carried out this mission through the sending of
- missionaries and the support of partner churches throughout the world; and
Page 70
- WHEREAS, The Synod presently carries out its support of missionaries through the significant contributions of agencies
- like Mission Central (an extension of LCMS Mission Advancement), the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, and
- others; and
- WHEREAS, The FORO model aligns congregations, districts, and the Synod in Lutheran missiology (spreading the
- Gospel, planting Lutheran churches, and showing mercy), keeping funding and accountability unified in mission together;
- and
- WHEREAS, The Synod has established structures, including the Network Supported Missionary (NSM) model, which
- aids missionaries, as well as—through partnerships that foster prayer, financial support, and active participation in Synod
- mission projects among districts, recognized service organizations, congregations, and other Synod entities—the FORO
- model; and
- WHEREAS, 2023 Resolution 2-07A encouraged the use, attendance, and expansion of the FORO model in all four
- regions of the Office of International Mission (OIM); and
- WHEREAS, During the last triennium, the OIM has expanded the number of FOROs from 11, in one region, to 20,
- across all four regions; and
- WHEREAS, Some congregations have not yet been connected to specific mission efforts, whether through financial
- limitations or lack of awareness, and thus may be missing opportunities to participate more fully in the Lord’s mission;
- therefore be it
- Resolved, That the Synod in convention give thanks to God for the many blessings that have come forth from the
- FOROs in Honduras, Panama, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Chile, Belize, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru,
- Uruguay, Bolivia, Cuba, Germany, Spain, South Africa, Malawi, Eritrea, Rwanda, and the Philippines, with more in
- development; and be it further
- Resolved, That Synod in convention direct each district to assess the feasibility of adopting a FORO partnership and
- present it for consideration at their next district convention; and be it further
- Resolved, That the congregations of the Synod be encouraged to include regular prayers in corporate worship and in
- their life together for the Lord’s mission, for His Church throughout the world, and for the raising up and sustaining of
- faithful workers in the harvest; and be it further
- Resolved, That all Synod congregations be encouraged to actively participate in LCMS international mission through
- the FORO model, as faithful stewards of the Gospel and all of God’s gifts; and be it further
- Resolved, That congregations be encouraged, where possible, to adopt and support one or more missionaries of the
- Synod through the NSM model, committing themselves especially to faithful prayer and, as they are able, to financial
- support; and be it further
- Resolved, That the OIM continue to expand opportunities for congregations to be connected meaningfully to mission
- work—whether through missionary support, FORO partnerships, or other faithful means; and be it finally
- Resolved, That these opportunities be commended to all congregations of the Synod for prayerful consideration, that
- they may participate more fully in the Lord’s work of gathering His Church from all nations.
