Version History
Current published version
Today's Business, Issue 1. pp. 74-76. Original floor committee resolution.
No later published versions have been added.
Official Resolution Source Text
Resolution: 2-05
Canonical number: 2-05
Committee: International Witness
Source: Today's Business, Issue 1
Printed pages: pp. 74-76
PDF pages: 74-76
Version: original, current-published-proposal
Source reference: Issue 1, pp. 74-76
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 74
- To Give Thanks to God for 125 Years of Gospel Ministry, Partner Churches, and Mission
- in the Latin America and Caribbean Region
- RESOLUTION 2-05
- Report R1.2.2 (CW, 19–28)
- WHEREAS, The Office of International Mission (OIM) carries out the Church’s Christ-given task to spread the Gospel,
- plant Lutheran churches, and show mercy among the nations, grounded in Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions;
- and
- WHEREAS, The year 2025 marked the historic milestone of 125 years since The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
- (LCMS) began its vital mission work in Brazil, establishing a long legacy of planting the Gospel seed across the Latin
- America and Caribbean (LAC) region; and
- WHEREAS, Through the power of the Holy Spirit, missionary church planting has led to recognized fellowship with
- ten church bodies across the LAC region, specifically Iglesia Evangélica Luterana Argentina (Argentina), Iglesia
- Cristiana Evangélica Luterana de Bolivia (Bolivia), Igreja Evangélica Luterana do Brasil (Brazil), Iglesia Luterana
- Confesional de Chile (Chile), Iglesia Luterana en Guatemala (Guatemala), Église Évangélique Luthérienne d’Haiti
- (Haiti), Sinodo Luterano de Mexico (Mexico), Iglesia Evangélica Luterana del Paraguay (Paraguay), Iglesia Luterana
- San Pablo (Uruguay), and Iglesia Luterana de Venezuela (Venezuela); and
- WHEREAS, Our missionaries directly and indirectly support church planting across ten countries, prioritizing the
- faithful preparation of local pastors to gather believers around Word and Sacrament where Jesus promises to give His life-
- giving forgiveness; and
- WHEREAS, The Lord has graciously provided faithful alliance missionaries from our partner churches who, with their
- families, leave their homes to teach and plant churches alongside LCMS missionaries; and
- WHEREAS, The Gospel mission in Hispanic contexts is being strengthened through extensive theological education,
- church planting, and mission support through FORO partnerships across the region; and
- WHEREAS, The VDMA (Verbum Domini manet in aeternum) project provides orthodox Lutheran theological
- resources in Spanish and Portuguese to pastors and seminarians in 22 countries, with more than 420 recipients and over
- 54 titles distributed, greatly expanding access to Lutheran teaching where previously resources were scarce; and
- WHEREAS, Spanish-language theological resources have grown significantly, including the full Confessional Lutheran
- Dogmatics published by Luther Academy in Spanish and the development of accessible materials such as the Spanish
- hymnal, Himnario Luterano, for use in mission settings; and
- WHEREAS, Lutheran theological education in Hispanic contexts continues to expand through seminaries such as the
- Concordia the Reformer Seminary in the Dominican Republic (CMSCR), which is forming pastors (since 2017, 44
- graduates from 12 countries, 99 deaconesses from 5 countries) and preparing future church leaders (currently 34
- seminarians from 13 countries and 68 deaconess candidates from 11 countries), for Spanish-speaking communities; and
- WHEREAS, CMSCR has become a source of joy, unifying the Hispanic churches as pastors are prepared for Word and
- Sacrament Ministry; and
- WHEREAS, Lutheran church planting continues to grow among Hispanic populations, with new congregations
- established in multiple countries including Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic; and
Page 75
- WHEREAS, The Church’s mission among Hispanic peoples reflects the incarnational and ecclesial nature of the Gospel,
- bringing Word and Sacrament ministry into local communities and forming faithful Lutheran congregations; therefore be
- it
- Resolved, That the Synod in convention give thanks to God for the 125 years of faithful work being carried out in
- Brazil and among Hispanic populations through the OIM, offering highest praise for the continuous growth of the Gospel
- across the LAC region; and be it further
- Resolved, That the Synod formally express its deep gratitude for our ten partner churches in LAC; and be it further
- Resolved, That the Synod express its profound thanks to the Lord of the harvest for the dedicated alliance missionaries
- and their families, who faithfully serve under our supervision and support; and be it further
- Resolved, That the Synod commend and encourage continued expansion of Spanish-language theological resources,
- pastoral formation programs, and church planting efforts in Hispanic contexts; and be it further
- Resolved, That districts, congregations, recognized service organizations, and individual members be encouraged to
- support the LAC mission fields and international Hispanic ministry through fervent prayer, financial contributions,
- stewardship, short-term teams, and participation in FORO partnerships; and be it further
- Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its commitment to planting and strengthening faithful Lutheran churches among
- Hispanic populations worldwide, so that the pure Gospel may be preached, the Sacraments rightly administered, and Christ
- confessed among all nations; and be it finally
- Resolved, That all glory be given to God for the continued spread of the Gospel and the life-giving signs and gifts of
- Christ shared throughout the region, trusting that His Word will not return empty but accomplish His saving purpose.
Published Proposed Amendments
This amendment is printed as a proposal and is not incorporated into the current resolution text unless official convention action confirms adoption. The printed amendment may reference an earlier version of the resolution.
Published Proposed Amendment to Resolution 2-05
Issue 2B, p. 299, Issue 2B, p. 299, lines 16-30; Issue 1, p. 75, after line 3; Issue 1, p. 75, after line 17, status: Proposed
Submitted by Joshua Salzberg, Lay Delegate, Pacific Southwest District
To insert, at TB 1:75, after line 3, the additional whereas: WHEREAS, God has been working through faithful LCMS clergy, congregants, and community members from Latin America and Caribbean regions to do vital work for the kingdom, even as they are losing their protected and religious worker status; therefore be it To insert, at TB 1:75, after line 17, the additional resolved: Resolved, That Synod entities, such as the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty, are encouraged to leverage their religious liberty advocacy and lobby the United States government to reinstate R1 Religious Worker visas to currently suspended Latin American and Caribbean countries; and be it finally
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