Version History
Current published version
Today's Business, Issue 2B. pp. 277-278. Revised published proposal.
Official Resolution Source Text
Resolution: 2-02A
Canonical number: 2-02
Committee: International Witness
Source: Today's Business, Issue 2B
Printed pages: pp. 277-278
PDF pages: 25-26
Version: revised, current-published-proposal
Source reference: Issue 2B, pp. 277-278
Line numbers follow Today's Business, Issue 2B, with numbering reset on each printed page, so delegates can compare this page with the official PDF.
Page 277
- To Direct Districts and Encourage Congregational Participation in Global Mission
- through Prayer, Partnership, and Support
- RESOLUTION 2-02A
- 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
- 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, FORO is a Spanish word for “forum”: A FORO connects missionaries with partners (individuals,
- churches, organizations, or schools) who are interested in the mission in that place for conversation, support, and prayer.
- FOROs were created to provide a means of relationship to fill those needs through networking, learning, volunteering,
- and planning; 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
Page 278
- WHEREAS, 2023 Resolution 2- 07A, “To Commend the Use and Attendance of FOROs,” 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 the 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 an 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’s international mission work, committing themselves especially to faithful prayer and, as they are able, to
- financial support; and be it further
- Resolved, That the OIM develop and implement a communication plan to assist congregations and districts to
- expand opportunities 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.
