To Increase Church Planting at the Parish Level

WHEREAS, The Synod Office of National Mission (ONM) currently is supporting church planting ministry across the Synod through resources, training, and grants; and

WHEREAS, The districts and congregations of the Synod maintain numerous mercy missions and ministries to care for those in their communities; and

WHEREAS, The process of planting new congregations is a priority of the work of the ONM; and

WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus Christ wants all people to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4) and has commanded His Church to make disciples of all nations by baptizing and teaching (Matt. 28:19); and

WHEREAS, Acts2:42 shows that the Church of baptized believers gathered around the ministry of the Word and the Sacraments, which are foundational to the life and mission of the Church both in function and in goal; and

WHEREAS, The early Christians, having been gathered around Word and Sacrament, were sent into the world and established new churches as they went; and

WHEREAS, The Synod has historically planted most of its congregations effectively through daughter congregations, beginning with preaching stations that grew into new congregations; and

WHEREAS, The establishment of preaching stations through existing congregations and their pastors represents a faithful and cost-effective means of planting new churches by leveraging existing congregational structures; and

WHEREAS, This historic pattern of Word and Sacrament expansion allows the local congregation (uniquely suited as the front-line mission outpost) to be the driving force in church planting; and

WHEREAS, the Synod’s human care efforts and community outreach provide natural connection points for the proclamation of the Gospel, which can lead to the formation of preaching stations and, eventually, new congregations; and

WHEREAS, Special attention should be given to regions where people do not have access to the seven marks of the Church, as outlined in Luther’s Church and Ministry (Luther’s Works AE 41:148–65); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod encourage districts, circuits, and congregations to plant churches through preaching stations supported by existing congregations and their pastors; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod encourage congregations to consider ways in which their human care efforts may be paired with Word and Sacrament ministry, so that new worshiping communities may form around the Means of Grace; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod commend this model of church planting as a faithful, practical, and historically grounded approach to fulfilling Christ’s command to make disciples of all nations.