Res. 1-01 — To Celebrate and Encourage All Nations Ministry in North America

WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus Christ gave His Great Commission: “Make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19) and He gave the Holy Spirit so that His disciples would be “witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8); and

WHEREAS, The Church Triumphant in Revelation 7 is shown to be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, redeemed and gathered in praise before God on His throne, and these passages have inspired Synod mission efforts in North America and around the world; and

WHEREAS, God’s Word calls us “to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb. 10:24 –25); and

WHEREAS, In this triennium, milestone anniversaries of mission in North America includes 90 years of Chinese ministry and 100 years of Hispanic ministry in 2026; 150 years of Black ministry in 2027; and 50 years of Hmong ministry in 2028; and these milestones serve as reminders of Christ’s faithfulness and opportunities to stir up one another toward love and good works; and

WHEREAS, The mission efforts have also resulted in the formation of an All Nations Council, made up of representatives of many ethnic ministries in North America , that has convened five times, learning from local ministers and districts, building capacity for collaboration, praying together and discerning opportunities for engagement together in mission. The All Nations Council includes entities such as:

• Black Ministries of the Southeastern District;

• Black Ministries of the Southern District;

• Chinese Lutherans in Mission Building;

• the Eritrean Evangelical Lutheran Mission Society in North America;

• the Evangelical Mekane Yesus Lutheran Fellowship in North America;

• the Hispanic Missionary League and National Hispanic Convention;

• the Hmong Mission Society;

• Messiah for Muslims;

• the Multi Asian Gathering;

• LCMS Native American ministries of the Northern Cheyenne and Navajo Nation;

• the Oromo Evangelical Lutheran Mission Society; and

• the Sudanese Lutheran Mission Society; Therefore be it

Resolved, That congregations commemorate these milestone anniversaries by highlighting the encouraging news in various ways that the Synod is a church of every nation, of all peoples, tribes, and languages (Rev. 7:9); and be it further

Resolved, That congregations provide information to members about the Synod’s resources that make known the Law-36 Gospel faithfulness of Christ for all peoples and the Synod’s condemnation of racism and that provide guidance for outreach and witness to people who are not yet part of the church; and be it further

Resolved, That LCMS Communications regularly spotlight the practical ways that congregations and districts are witnessing across ethnic and language boundaries, especially in their own communities; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod give thanks for the work of Lutheran Heritage Foundation for the many catechetical materials provided to support ministry among multiethnic communities and their work on the recent production of Himnario Luterano (resources.lcms.org/general/himnario-luterano-spanish-lutheran-hymnal); and be it further

Resolved, That the Office of National Mission (ONM) work with Concordia Publishing House (CPH) to prepare materials to facilitate congregational and family ministry among people of many languages and cultures in the U.S., to include exploring the potential of CPH worship material of its Spanish, Chinese, French, and other language hymnals being made available in digital format through Lutheran Service Builder or another platform; and be it further

Resolved, That the ONM work with CPH to explore the potential of adding theologically-sound materials in English that originated in Black/African American, Chinese, Hispanic, Hmong, and other traditions to the materials available in digital format through Lutheran Service Builder or another platform; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod in convention lift our hearts in gratitude and praise to God, standing to sing the d oxology in celebration of His mission in North America among people of all ethnicities and languages, giving thanks for the many individuals who have served in these ministries.