The Lutheran Ministerium and Synod, LMSUSA (U.S.)
Others (church bodies engaging in conversation and/or ethical statements with the LCMS) Bangladesh Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church, BNELC Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church in Belarus, IELCB Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church in Burundi, HELCB Iglesia Confessional de Columbia, ICC Church of Faithful Confessing Lutherans in Congo, CFCLCO Bible Faith Lutheran Church, BFLC (India) Evangelical Lutheran Conference and Ministerium of Kenya, ELCMK Himalayan Evangelical Lutheran Fellowship, HELF (Nepal) Evangelical Lutheran Church Society, DELK (Norway) Norwegian Lutheran Mission, NLM Lutheran Church of Rwanda, LCR Lutheran Church in Singapore, LCS Lutheran Church of the Republic of China, LCROC Evangelical Lutheran Synod, ELS (U.S.) Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, WELS (U.S.) Anglican Catholic Church, ACC (U.S.) Traditional Anglican Church, TAC (U.S.) Anglican Church in North America, ACNA (U.S.) North American Lutheran Church, NALC (U.S.)
Endnotes 1. In keeping with , following CTCR approval, the Synod President recognized LCMS–ELMDF fellowship on Nov. 14, 2020, subject to 2023 Synod convention endorsement. 2. During dialogue spanning 14 years, the LCMS encouraged the JLC to uphold the clear teaching of the infallible Word of God that only men may be ordained to the pastoral office. Sadly, in its April 2021 convention, the JLC officially adopted the false doctrine and practice of women’s ordination. By this action, the JLC broke the confession and unity of the true faith, making it impossible for the LCMS to continue to recognize and practice altar and pulpit fellowship with the JLC. The very serious matter of formal cessation of altar and pulpit fellowship will be brought before the Synod at its 2023 convention. 3. In keeping with , following CTCR approval, the Synod President recognized LCMS–ELCSS/S fellowship on Sept. 17, 2023, subject to 2023 Synod convention endorsement. 4. The IELE is a church body which is also an active OIM mission, and thus in fellowship with the LCMS. 5. The CELC is a church body which is also an active OIM mission, and thus in fellowship with the LCMS. In accord with , the 2023 Synod convention may consider a request to recognize the CELC as a self-governing partner church of the LCMS. 6. In accord with , recognition of LCMS–LCU fellowship is under consideration at the 2023 Synod convention.
Working under ff. as a member of the Office of the President team, the Chief Mission Officer (CMO) is responsible to the President for all mission, ministry, programmatic, and coordinative functions implementing Board for National Mission (BNM) and Board for International Mission (BIM) policies. He supervises the Office of National Mission (ONM), Office of International Mission (OIM), Office of Pastoral Education (PED), and the Synod’s Mission Advancement (MADV) and Communications (COMMS) units, ensuring appropriate resources, planning, and coordination within and across these teams. The CMO serves on the Operations and Administrative Teams, chairs the Pastoral Formation Committee, represents the Synod and/or its President on several LCMSestablished or affiliated entity boards (including the LCMS Foundation and Concordia University System) and regularly interacts with various agency and auxiliary heads and church partners of the Synod in furtherance of LCMS objectives. For the sake of our common unity and mission in the Gospel, the CMO and units reporting to the CMO strive to serve the Synod’s members in full accord with and fulfillment of the direction provided by our congregations and church workers (i.e., as occurs at the Synod’s national and district conventions), such service and fulfillment often functionally accomplished through district offices and staffs (: “The Synod is not merely an advisory body … but establishes districts in order more effectively to achieve its objectives and carry on its activities”). Over the past quadrennium, units reporting to the CMO have worked diligently to advance the Synod’s current triennial mission and ministry emphasis, adopted under 2019 Resolution 4-03A: Making Disciples for Life (Proceedings, 134–35). That same resolution also reaffirmed the Synod’s current seven mission priorities—which constantly drive planning, implementation efforts, and strategic/operational considerations within ONM, OIM, PED, MADV, and COMMS: • Plant, sustain, and revitalize Lutheran churches;
- Support and expand theological education;
- Perform human care in close proximity to Word and Sacrament ministries;
- Collaborate with the Synod’s members and partners to enhance mission effectiveness;
- Promote and nurture the spiritual, emotional, financial, and physical well-being of pastors and professional church workers;
- Enhance early childhood, elementary, and secondary education, and youth ministry; and finally,
- Strengthen and support the Lutheran family in living out God’s design.
For a summary of accomplishments within the ONM, OIM, PED, MADV, and COMMS units, see Reports R1.2.1–5 immediately following in this convention workbook. Significant accomplishments emerging from the CMO’s office itself over the past quadrennium include (but are not limited to): • Ongoing improvements to collaboration, coordination, cooperation, and communication within and between all units under supervision and with corporate Synod’s other units working from the LCMS International Center. Development and implementation of an effective planning/ reporting template used in strategic planning, operational, and budgeting efforts with the BNM, BIM, and Board of Directors (BOD).
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Management of all units under supervision within annually established operating expenditure budgets.
- Recruitment to fill key vacancies and provide interim management consequent to executive director leadership changes in the ONM, OIM, and COMMS units. Formation of a Ministry Support Team within the LCMS International Center, pooling, cross-training, and leveraging administrative assistant and project coordinator resources under a single manager to provide crucial services in support of ONM, OIM, PED, MADV, and COMMS regular work, special events, and assignments.
- Most notable CMO over arching objectives (among others) for the coming triennium fall under the following categories: Expand the Synod’s mission and ministry to proclaim the Gospel of Christ and further the kingdom of God, making most effective use of all available resources to tell more people about Jesus:
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BNM and BIM—Increased integration of mission board policy-making with mission office strategic and operational plans and budgets, and expansion of mission boards’ and offices’ working connections with districts;
o ONM—Church and school planting in U.S. mission field, expansion of the Synod’s work among ethnic immigrant groups, and growing momentum in mercy work, especially in human care, ministerial support, and disaster response; o
OIM—Recruitment and deployment of LCMS and alliance missionaries in close collaboration with international church partners, and sustaining the Synod’s premier role in global Lutheran theological education, especially through overseas seminaries in all four of the Synod’s international regions;
o PED—Set Apart to Serve church worker recruitment initiative; o MADV—Informing and fully engaging current and new contributors who find fulfillment, gratitude, and joy in their participation in the Synod’s mission and ministry; and o
- COMMS—Increased reach into and engagement of stake holder audiences and a major transition into a new and improved, multifaceted digital platform. Foster outstanding working relationships between units under CMO supervision, and BNM and BIM with congregations, districts, other agencies, Recognized Service Organizations, and auxiliaries of the Synod.
- Fully support and contribute to efforts by the Office of the President, Operations Team, BNM, BIM, and BOD to significantly extend the Synod’s planning horizon.
- Facilitate—through PED, Pastoral Formation Committee, and other Synod agencies—ongoing study, rigorous analysis, and the issuance of appropriate recommendations and guidelines pertaining to beneficial adjustments and/or reaf-
firm ation of LCMS pastoral formation programs and routes to ordination (including residential and non-residential approaches), church worker recruitment, and continuing education. • Address evolving challenges and opportunities among the Synod’s international schools in Asia pertaining to Lutheran identity and operational ethos and strategic alignment with LCMS mission emphases and priorities.