To Affirm and Continue Making Disciples for Life as Mission and Ministry Emphasis for 2023–26 Triennium

WHEREAS, The Great Commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing themin the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19–20) is our Lord’s mandate and is at the center of the Church’s mission and ministry; and

WHEREAS,Disciples of Jesus are baptized repentant sinners who believe in Christ for salvation by faithfully receiving the Lord’s preaching, catechesis, and sacraments in the fellowship of the Christian congregation; trust in His Word for all aspects of human life; confess faith in Christ before the world; and live in Christ and His forgiveness in Christian vocation toward others; and

WHEREAS, The apostle Peter encourages the disciples of Christ to always be prepared to make a defense of their faith with gentleness and respect to anyone who asks of them about the hope they have in Christ (1 Peter 3:15); and

WHEREAS, The Small Catechism’s Table of Duties describes how being a disciple of Christ touches every station in which Christians find themselves, such as civil authorities and citizens, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, children and youth, employers and workers; and

WHEREAS, Making Disciples for Life was first adopted in 2019 (Resolution 4-03A) as the triennial mission and ministry emphasis of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS); and

WHEREAS, The current triennial mission and ministry emphasis Making Disciples for Life, established in 2019, has only just begun to serve our Synod and give direction to districts and congregations and to guide the policy making work of mission and ministry through the Board for National Mission (BNM) and Board for International Mission (BIM); and

WHEREAS, The BNM and BIM under Bylaws 3.8.2.2 and 3.8.3.2 began conversations with the leadership of every district of the Synod to gather information and input to help facilitate the assessment and evaluation of the Synod’s triennial mission and ministry emphasis with the plan to continue ongoing fraternal communication with district presidents and staffs over the next triennium toward enhancing Synod koinonia, unity, and cooperation in the Synod’s mission and ministry; therefore be it

Resolved, That Synod in convention affirm Making Disciples for Life as its mission and ministry emphasis for the 2023–26 triennium; and be it further

Resolved, That Synod in convention direct the Office of National Mission (ONM) and Office of International Mission (OIM), in response to fraternal discussions with the districts regarding their unique contexts, challenges, and opportunities, and consistent with policies established by the BNM and BIM, to support congregations, schools, circuits, and districts to:

• plant new congregations and schools;

• strengthen existing congregations and schools;

• evangelize the lost;

• retain the faithful;

• care for church workers;

• engage in international mission in partnership with the OIM; and

• engage in domestic mission with the support of the ONM through the district offices;

and be it further

Resolved, That the BNM and BIM increase opportunities for conversation and collaboration with the districts of the Synod toward greater “walking together” under the Synod’s triennial mission and ministry emphasis; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod encourage all LCMS districts, congregations, and schools to ground their local mission and ministry upon the Synod’s emphasis of Making Disciples for Life to the glory of God and for the extension of Christ’s kingdom.