To Support Lutheran Congregations and Schools in Urban Contexts

Rationale Throughout its history, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has had congregations and schools in urban contexts.Many of these congregations and schools have ceased operations or have greatly curtailed ministries due to shifts in demographics, even as more people live in urban contexts in the United States. Assisting with parish operation and governance, developing sustainable funding models, encouraging networking for mutual conversation and consolation, and encouraging workers to serve in urban contexts would be ways to invest in urban contexts so that people may continue to hear the good news about Jesus and so that existing congregations and schools may be supported and new congregations and schools may be planted. Therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention give thanks for congregations and schools in urban contexts; and be it further

Resolved, That districts encourage networking among those serving in congregations and schools in urban contexts within circuits and districts so that support and resources may be offered for workers and agencies; and be it further

Resolved, That the Officeof National Mission (ONM) work with districts to foster networking for congregations, schools, and workers in urban contexts throughout the Synod for the sake of sharing resources and best practices; and be it further

Resolved, That, as part of the networking, grant opportunities be shared regularly with districts for use in circuits, congregations, and schools in urban contexts to assist with funding ministries; and be it further

Resolved, That the ONM work with districts to provide congregations and schools in urban contexts with administrative assistance for governance that could include payroll services, sharing a bookkeeper, insurance recommendations, strategic planning, and the like; and be it further

Resolved, That demographic resources from the ONM, LCMS Rosters, Statistics, and Research Services, the Lutheran Church Extension Fund, Lutheran Hour Ministries, Concordia Plan Services, and other data-collecting entities be shared with congregations, schools, and workers in urban contexts so that plans for outreach to people in urban contexts may be developed locally;

and be it further

Resolved, That the ONM work with districts to plant new congregations and schools in urban contexts; and be it finally

Resolved, That progress on these fronts be reported by districts and other entities of the Synod to the 2029 Synod convention.