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A
Pastoral Letter to
Pastors of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
From President Jerry Kieschnick
April 23, 2008
Dear Brothers in Christ,
More than 20 years ago, the Synod convention said
it's time "to support more fervently the Biblical
mandate to proclaim the scriptural Gospel of Jesus
Christ for the life and salvation of people everywhere"
(1986 Resolution 3-02). Today, our fervency for
spreading the Good News is apparent in the Synod's
support of Ablaze! and its goal of reaching at least 100
million people with the Gospel by 2017.
The mission task is urgent. "Like our Lord, we must
work while it is day, before the night comes when no one
can work (John 9:4)," writes the Commission on Theology
and Church Relations. "The hour of our deliverance is at
hand; but deliverance for us who believe means judgment
for those who do not believe. The love of Christ
constrains us to intensify our missionary efforts as we
see the end drawing nearer, and as we see more and more
people living and dying without true knowledge of the
Lord Jesus Christ.
"The mission is also urgent because the powers of
darkness are constantly at work in these last days,
warring against the children of light and the kingdom of
light. The war grows more intense as the end approaches,
making it imperative for Christ's followers to 'be
strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might' in
order to stand against the schemes of the devil
(Ephesians 6:10-13). With this in mind, we strive to
'keep alert with all perseverance,' to 'pray at all
times in the Spirit,' and to open our mouths boldly 'to
proclaim the mystery of the gospel' of Christ, the
Savior of all (Ephesians 6:18-20)."
+ + +
Theology of mission
The words quoted above are from the CTCR's 1991
report, "A Theological Statement of Mission." This is a
wonderful document that deserves wide circulation and
reading today. It was prepared at the direction of the
1986 Synod convention.
The commission notes that the document "seeks to set
forth the theological framework for understanding our
place in God's mission, including
. "the basis of our participation, God's saving work for
us in Jesus Christ;
. "the nature of our participation, as God's agents
empowered by the Holy
Spirit;
. "the source of our motivation, God's love for us and
the world."
The statement has eight sections, each addressing a
theological theme. Also included are discussion
questions for each section. The CTCR's hope for this
document is that through reading and discussing the
points presented in the statement, "the members of the
Synod will develop a clearer understanding of their
personal involvement in God's mission and be moved to
participate in it with greater joy, fervor, and
enthusiasm."
Take a look at the statement. Perhaps you will want
to use it in a Bible class, with a board, or simply for
your own personal study. In any event, I believe your
time with this document will be well spent. It's
available online at
www.lcms.org?509, or you can purchase printed copies
through Concordia Publishing House (stock number
09-2591).
+ + +
PALS report
You are already aware that the transition of pastors
(and their wives) from seminary campus to life in the
parish is assisted by the PALS initiative (Post-Seminary
Applied Learning and Support). Research recently
completed among the 716 LCMS seminary graduates from
2000 to 2003 has yielded, among others, the following
results:
1. The top three "most helpful" aspects of PALS were:
. the fellowship with other pastors;
. having a "sounding board" for their experiences in
the parish; and
. support of a "mentor" (usually the facilitator).
2. Nine of every 10 PALS participants who completed
the program said PALS had a "positive" effect on their
transition to the parish.
Encouraged by the research, the Commission on
Ministerial Growth and Support (CMGS), which facilitates
PALS, is strengthening the components that participants
have identified as "most helpful" and is incorporating
additional dynamics to further nurture "relational
vitality" among the participants and the congregations
they serve. This is a part of the larger CMGS effort to
help ministers (ordained and commissioned) develop
congregational environments in which people can
encounter the love of Christ in word and deed.
For more information on the PALS research or the CMGS
effort to pursue and nurture "relational vitality,"
contact Rev. David A. Muench at
david.muench@lcms.org
+ + +
Immigration, immigrants, and ministry
Last month, I formally asked the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations to conduct a study and
provide guidance to the Synod on issues related to
immigration and ministry to immigrants. The basis for my
request is a resolution that was prepared for last
year's Synod convention but did not make it to the floor
for convention consideration.
The matters presented in the resolution are worthy of
consideration. Among significant issues presented in its
"whereas" clauses are these:
. Immigration and immigration reform is a
contentious societal issue.
. Behind views on immigration, legal and illegal,
are "profound biblical
and confessional insights, principles, and
directives with practical
applications and implications for congregational
and community life."
. "A clear, soundly biblical and confessional
statement" from the Synod
would give our congregations needed guidance "in
the difficult, and
potentially illegal, decision of ministry to
undocumented immigrants."
The resolution's "resolved" clauses asked the CTCR
"to research thoroughly the historical and theological
foundations relevant to this crisis issue affecting LCMS
congregations across the country, where many immigrants
attend" and "that such study address the issues of
church and state that impact Christian response to
neighbors who find themselves in ambiguous legal
circumstances."
The subject of immigration and ministry to immigrants
is vital to the mission of the church. In my memo
requesting the study, I told the CTCR that its
"attention to this important matter in an efficient and
timely manner will be highly regarded by the church,
especially those whose ministry opportunities include
outreach and ministry to immigrants-which possibly could
be true of every community in this country!"
+ + +
Pastoral Education Month
May is Pastoral Education Month in The Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod. A variety of resources for this
observance is available online at
www.lcms.org?11630. These resources are designed to
assist pastors and others in LCMS congregations t
. identify, inform, and encourage prospective
seminary students;
. emphasize the pastoral ministry in worship and
Bible study;
. encourage prayer for our seminaries;
. encourage financial support of our seminaries;
. encourage continuing education for our pastors;
. encourage physical, emotional, and fiscal health
for our pastors; and
. use theological resources provided by our seminary
faculties.
These resources are not date specific, so they can be
used throughout the year. Rev. Glen Thomas, executive
director of the Board for Pastoral Education, would
welcome your comments and suggestions for resources that
would be helpful to you in the future. Please feel free
to contact him at (314) 996-1254 or via e-mail at
bpe.info@lcms.org
+ + +
Muslim ministries
Estimates of the number of Muslims in the United
States range widely-from just over 2 million to as many
as 8 million. One thing is for sure, though: Islam is
one of the fastest growing religious groups in the
country.
The LCMS National Mission Affiliate that works among
Muslims is POBLO, People of the Book Lutheran Outreach.
Its main offices are in metro Detroit, which has the
largest Arab Muslim population outside of the Middle
East. (California has the largest total number of
Muslims in the United States.)
POBLO, which started in 1993 with one missionary,
today has outreach ministries in 15 U.S. cities and has
planted more than a dozen churches. In partnership with
LCMS World Mission, POBLO also has international
ministries in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and
India.
For more information, go to POBLO's Web site at
www.poblo.org.
+ + +
A parting word of encouragement
I leave you with these words from "A Theological
Statement of Mission":
"As we strive to carry out faithfully the mission
mandate of our Lord, we are comforted, refreshed and
strengthened by the assurance that the mission is the
Lord's. Although he has entrusted it to us, he continues
to guide and direct it, sustains it with his presence
and promises, and empowers it by providing the divine
means through which the mission accomplishes its divine
purposes.
"'For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and return not thither but water the earth, making it
bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and
bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth
from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it
shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in
the thing for which I sent it' (Isaiah 55:10-11).
"Led by God's Spirit through Word and sacrament,
therefore, the Christian lives in hope, confidently
trusting in the completed work of Christ and eagerly
longing for the consummation of Christ's mission at his
second coming. While death, decay and disappointment are
present everywhere, the church nevertheless presses on
in the knowledge that the Lord's promise is sure:
'Behold, I make all things new' (Revelation 21:5)."
Jerry Kieschnick
Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, President
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
e-mail:
president@lcms.org
Web page:
www.lcms.org/president
"Transforming lives through Christ's love ... in time
... for eternity ..." John 3:16-17 |
