Office of National Mission
Strong Faith, Fervent Love
A Vision for Revitalization
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our mission,
our promise
In grateful response to God’s grace and empowered
by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments,
the mission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod is vigorously to make known the love of
Christ by word and deed within our churches,
communities and the world. (Adopted by
Convention in 1995)
to support our
synod’s mission
The Office of National Mission will enliven,
equip, coordinate and engage domestic
districts, congregations and Recognized Service
Organizations in order to enhance their local and
regional missions and ministries.
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Strong Faith, Fervent Love
“Christians live outside themselves: they live in
Christ by faith and in their neighbor by love.”
That was one of Dr. Luther’s most brilliant “aha’s”!
It runs right along with his observation that the
nature of sin is “to be curved in on yourself.”
The effect of Christ’s Gospel in His appointed
means of grace as it seizes hold is that it begins
unbending you. It begins lifting up your eyes to
behold with joy the certain promises of God in
Christ. To know them as true for you. To begin to
be filled with the hope that flows from them. And
at the same time, it opens your eyes to recognize
and meet the needs of your neighbor with a fiery
love, a divine compassion.
“For in Christ Jesus neither
circumcision nor uncircumcision
counts for anything, but only faith
working through love.”
— Gal. 5:6 esv
Luther encapsulated this “aha” in the words of the
post-communion prayer in our Divine Service.
“We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You
have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and
we implore You that of Your mercy You would
strengthen us through the same in faith toward
You and in fervent love toward one another...”
Every time you gather with your fellow saints at
the altar, your Jesus comes to you in His body and
blood to strengthen your faith by His promises and
to set your heart on fire with divine love. Which is
just another way of saying: He comes to give you a
share in His own divine life, for He IS perfect trust
in the Father and perfect love for the neighbor.
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Because His life is given us as our own, the
Church of Christ remains an enigma in this world.
It’s a colony from the future, an outpost of the
Age that will triumph when our Lord appears
in glory. When LOVE will have vanquished all
hatred and thanksgiving will have replaced all
grumbling. It’s true that we only experience that
in a fragmentary, a partial way, due to the sin
that clings to us right up to the grave. But despite
our weak grasp of the new life, the Holy Spirit
still causes the bright light of the coming Age
to shine through God’s people - like a door to a
room filled with light, opening to spill out into the
darkness outside, inviting those lost and alone in
the darkness to come in with us to the Feast of Joy
that has no end.
The Office of National Mission exists to serve our
rural, inner-city and suburban congregations, our
schools, our pastors, our youth and youth workers,
our teachers and deaconesses in “holding open the
door of the Kingdom,” letting the light of the Age
to come spill out of each “unbent” life through
strengthened FAITH and fiery, fervent LOVE so
that congregations are renewed and new “outposts
of the future” are planted and flourish.
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Will you prayerfully consider walking with us into
the rural areas and small towns, into the urban
settings and inner cities, into the suburbs here in
the U.S., bearing Christ’s love to our neighbors,
whom we are called to serve? Will you prayerfully
and generously support our national mission focus?
Rev. J. Bart Day
Executive Director,
Office of National Mission
What is the Office of National Mission?
Background
In July 2010, delegates to the 64th Regular
Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod (LCMS) adopted a number of resolutions
that have since affected our headquarters’
structure and governance.
One resolution in particular, Res. 8-08A, called
for a reorganization of the various boards and
programs that serve our districts, congregations
and communities. While the reorganization
resulted in the elimination of eight volunteer
program boards and commissions, it also
established a new policy board focused on
national mission efforts. National mission efforts
that are organized, accountable, seamless.
Benefit
The new structure positions the LCMS to carry
out Witness, Mercy, Life Together efforts in a
focused, unified and coordinated way, increasing
the effective and efficient use of the church’s
resources.
The result is that we deliver our Lord’s mercy and
compassion to people all across the United States,
and it goes hand-in-hand with the same strong
message of forgiveness, life and salvation that we
treasure as Lutherans.
From youth and schools to stewardship and
worship, all of the previously isolated boards and
commissions of the LCMS that were involved in
domestic missions or human care work are now
drawn together and connected under the Office
of National Mission. Unified and synchronized,
these various ministry and emphasis areas
within the Office of National Mission support
a compelling and compassionate proclamation
of the Gospel, in both word and deed, right
here in the United States. By collaborating
and communicating more effectively, the
Office of National Mission has the ability to
boost the efficacy and impact of our Synod’s
districts, congregations and Recognized Service
Organizations in their ministry here at home.
Policy and Oversight
A convention-elected Board for National Mission
establishes policy that supports the various
ministry efforts of districts. The Office of National
Mission is led by an ordained LCMS minister, who
as the executive director reports to the Synod’s
president through the Chief Mission Officer.
“No matter the emphasis on individual
faith, individual prayer, individual
vocation, and so on, whether in the
person of Jesus or among believers, the
great New Testament sweep of divine
action is plural. It is an ingathering.
… Together ‘the entire Church
confesses that eternal life is obtained
through mercy.’ ”
— Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison (Christ Have Mercy, 117)
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Why a focus on national mission?
Our work at home is critical. The world is
coming to our doorstep!
While The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is
sending a growing number of missionaries out to
the four corners of the globe through the Office
of International Mission, we no longer have to
travel very far to share the Gospel with those
whom Christ has already redeemed — but who
do not yet know Him or believe in Him. There is
much work to be done in the U.S. The Gospel has
not yet reached all people in this country. As we
enter an increasingly secularized age, the LCMS is
poised to bring Christ to those who live alongside
us in our communities and who are overwhelmed,
suffering and separated from our loving Lord.
“And all who believed were together
and had all things in common. And
they were selling their possessions and
belongings and distributing the proceeds
to all, as any had need. And day by
day, attending the temple together
and breaking bread in their homes,
they received their food with glad and
generous hearts, praising God and
having favor with all the people. And
the Lord added to their number day by
day those who were being saved.”
— Acts 2:44–47 esv
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The restructuring of the LCMS positions the
Office of National Mission to work collaboratively
in new ways, through strengthened connections
to our 35 districts — and by extension, to each of
our more than 6,000 congregations. The Office
of National Mission exists to support, reinforce
and encourage the important local and regional
work our districts and congregations do as LCMS
representatives in a specific place.
Why is this so important? Strong districts,
congregations and Recognized Service
Organizations (RSOs) are best able to share
Christ’s mercy and forgiveness locally. At the
same time, an enduring LCMS, made up of strong
districts and congregations at home, allows us
to expand evangelism and mercy efforts through
and to our neighbors on other continents.
International mission work is tied to our internal
strength as a Synod!
The Three-Fold Lens for National Mission
The long-range goal of the Office of National
Mission is to serve and support our districts and
congregations which serve as mission outposts in
one of three distinct venues:
Rural and small town
Urban and inner-city
Suburban
The approach recognizes the contextual
challenges of building strong ministries within
a unique venue. For example, the challenges of
ministering to youth living in a rural setting are
not the same as those faced in an urban or innercity environment. The resources of the Synod,
available through each of its areas of emphasis
(see sidebar), are best utilized and managed when
they are focused under this three-fold lens model.
Emphasis Areas
While each emphasis area focuses on a specific
topic, purpose or group, all have the same goal: to
bring Christ’s forgiveness and mercy into the lives of
people — in various places and differing stations in
life — always pointing them to the altar, pulpit and
font. When you hear these ministry names, know
they are integral to the Office of National Mission:
Witness
• Rural & Small Town Mission
• Urban & Inner-City Mission
• Suburban Mission
• Black Ministry
• Hispanic Ministry
• Witness & Outreach Ministry
–The 72
Mercy
• Disaster Response
• Life and Health Ministry
• Deaconess Ministry
• Specialized Pastoral Ministries
• Church and Community Engagement
–Veterans of the Cross
–Soldiers of the Cross
–Gospel Seeds
• Domestic Grants
Life Together
• Youth Ministry
• School Ministry
• Stewardship Ministry
• Worship
• Recognized Service Organizations
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Effective. Efficient. Relevant.
By reaching into rural, urban and suburban venues
as a servant of the church, the Office of National
Mission supports districts and congregations in
their quest to share Christ with the people in their
distinctive local or regional places, and in ways
that are specifically tailored to their needs. This
model boosts success.
In the past, each separate ministry emphasis
area of the LCMS (youth, stewardship, life,
health, etc.) was independently funded. Equally
challenging was that each was disconnected and
isolated from the work of other ministries within
our Synod. While the Gospel still went out into
the world and people were still served in mercy,
this new model of collaboration and organization
presents new opportunities not previously
available. By integrating the national ministry
emphasis areas under one department, the Office
of National Mission will move our Synod to
become more efficient and relevant with its
available training resources, books and seminars
and offer much more potent real-life support to
districts and congregations as they joyfully labor
in the ripe mission fields of the U.S.
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Whether supporting God’s people living in a rural,
urban or suburban location, the Office of National
Mission will help each congregation become more
nimble in delivering the Gospel within its own
setting and in concert with other congregations
in the district that knows them best. We will walk
together to proclaim Christ to the lost.
We can accomplish more when we work together
for the sake of the Gospel.
challenges facing districts, congregations
and recognized service organizations
Changing Demographics
Every day, it becomes more and more apparent
that the United States is transforming from a
“melting pot” into a “tossed salad,” with many
unique parts making up a whole but increasingly
reluctant to become homogenized. The LCMS
recognizes the changes taking place in our nation’s
ethnic, intellectual, religious and philosophical
demographics. More importantly, congregations
are faced with responding to dramatic changes in
their communities. The face of the LCMS must
change today if we hope to be healthy and vibrant
tomorrow. The Office of National Mission will
deliver support services and resources to help
districts, congregations and Recognized Service
Organizations (RSO) address these types of
challenges.
Detached Youth and Young People
Like a mirror, the next generation reflects the
future of the Church. Our young people are vital
and valuable members of our congregations. It
is our God-given responsibility to bring up our
children and grandchildren (and through them,
their young friends and neighbors) in the one
true faith. One way we can do that is to revitalize
and strengthen our Synod’s school system — the
second largest parochial school system in the U.S.
We also see college campus ministry as one of the
most critical points of evangelism and outreach in
North America. The Office of National Mission
will do everything it can to point our youth and
young people to Christ as their hope for the
future.
An RSO is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that
is independent of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod but whose operations foster the mission and
ministry of the church, whose program activities
are in harmony with the Synod, and who agrees to
respect and not act contrary to the doctrine and
practice of the Synod.
Struggling Churches
The near absence of resources and support has
made church planting a difficult task. There
is no shortage of opportunities in every part of
the U.S. for new, faithful LCMS churches to be
planted, grow and continue. In addition, many
congregations are pleading for help in their
revitalization. With the right resources, our Synod
can effectively assist with the renewal of these
congregations, so they can continue to share the
life and hope of Christ in their communities.
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By God’s grace, what will be the impact
of the Office of National Mission?
•Strengthened faith by encouraging growth
in the way God’s Word has free course in our
congregations and homes;
•Strengthened love by nurturing ministries
of mercy (local, national and international)
flowing from the gifts received at the font,
pulpit and altar;
•Strengthened hope by encouraging partnerships
in the Gospel that clearly confess Christ;
•Strengthened workers by fostering intentional
care of body, soul and healthy relationships;
•Strengthened schools by championing renewed
clarity and commitment to the mission of
Lutheran education;
•Strengthened youth work, nurturing our
young people within a community shaped by
Lutheran values: devotion to the Means of
Grace and vigorous service to our neighbor.
We will provide for our young people a sturdy
apologetic for the faith once delivered to the
saints; and
•Strengthened congregations by fostering a
faithful Lutheran approach to confessing
Christ to neighbors and to planting daughter
congregations.
We give thanks to You, almighty God, that you have
refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore
You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us
through the same in faith toward You and in fervent
love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your
Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Post-Communion Collect, Lutheran Service Book
Office of National Mission (ONM) Finances
2013–14 Budget: $11,854,827
ONM Administration
$1,313,428 (11%)
Mercy
$3,935,859 (33%)
Youth Ministry
$2,719,975 (23%)
National Mercy
$3,935,859 (33%)
School Ministry
$1,391,344 (12%)
Witness
$1,434,232 (12%)
Life Together
$6,484,736 (55%)
Black Ministry
$284,488 (2%)
Hispanic Ministry
$184,961 (2%)
Stewardship Ministry
$545,958 (5%)
Urban & Inner-City Mission
$303,034 (2%)
Rural & Small Town Mission
$295,805 (2%)
Worship
$325,559 (3%)
Witness &
Outreach Ministry
$365,943 (3%)
RSOs
$188,472 (2%)
2013–14 Fundraising Goals: $5,935,859
National Mercy
$3,935,859 (66%)
ONM Administration
$142,741 (2%)
Youth Ministry
$40,725 (1%)
School Ministry
$154,123 (2%)
RSOs
$152,872 (3%)
Black Ministry
$274,988 (5%)
Hispanic Ministry
$164,961 (3%)
Urban & InnerCity Mission
$202,159 (3%)
Stewardship Ministry
$245,358 (4%)
Witness & Outreach Ministry
$212,743 (4%)
Rural & Small Town Mission
$195,805 (3%)
Worship
$213,525 (4%)
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You have a vital role in our Synod’s
Office of National Mission!
When concerns center on the life of our Synod
as it relates to strengthening and enhancing the
health and vitality of our congregations, the need
for planting more churches, and the necessity of
solving the ministry challenges unique to rural,
urban or suburban congregations, the Office of
National Mission stands ready to partner with you.
We invite you to walk with us into the rural areas
and small towns, into the urban settings and inner
cities, into the suburbs here in the U.S., bearing
Christ’s love to our neighbors, whom we are called
to serve. Will you prayerfully and generously
support our national mission focus?
An Investment with Eternal Returns
The Office of National Mission is committed to
supporting witness and mercy work to and among
our friends, co-workers and neighbors. National
Mission coordinates, synchronizes and supports
our life together as a Synod. An investment in
National Mission strengthens the capacity of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and its
members to reach out with the saving Gospel of
Jesus Christ. Strong Faith, Fervent Love.
Customized Service for God’s Stewards
Mission Advancement serves both donor and the
Office of National Mission, serving as a conduit
of information and a facilitator of charitable gifts.
Our Mission Advocates act on your behalf, in
your best interest, to align your charitable goals as
a Christian steward with appropriate and costeffective giving strategies. Giving options include:
• Giving online 24/7 by visiting:
https://lcms.org/give/nationalmission
• Sending a check* by mail to:
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Mission Advancement
1333 S. Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, MO 63122-7295
• Setting up a pledge or recurring gift schedule
• Making gifts via appreciated securities, life
insurance or other assets (grain, real estate)
• Remembering National Mission through your
Christian will or estate plan
• Establishing a life-income agreement
• Volunteering
To speak with a Mission Advancement
representative about how you can best support
efforts focused on national mission, call 888-9304438 or send an email to mission.advancement@
lcms.org.
On the memo line of the check or in an accompanying note, designate “Office of National Mission.”
*
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, including its affiliated programs and ministry areas, is a Guidestar
Exchange Gold Participant, demonstrating our commitment to transparency and accountability.
For more information, visit www.guidestar.org
Use Tax ID Number 43-0658188 to locate our Guidestar profile.
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About Mission Advancement
Our Promise
The staff of Mission Advancement will
professionally assist the people of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod in vigorously making
known the love of Christ at home and abroad
through their charitable gifts by offering
appropriate and prioritized (strategic) charitable
opportunities.
Mission Advancement also will deliver absolute
transparency and accountability to donors for the
gifts they have offered up for the Lord’s work, and
strive to maximize the amount of every gift dollar
passed on to the Lord’s harvest fields.
Code of Ethical Principals and Practices
The staff of Mission Advancement will:
7. Ensure accurate use of designated gifts,
optimal management of all solicited funds and
truthful reporting.
1. Seek to serve Christ faithfully and hold His
name as supreme.
8. Comply with all federal, state, municipal and/
or provincial laws.
2. Work for the best interest of the donor.
3. Strive to model and promote the concept
of Christian stewardship among donors and
The Association of Lutheran Development
Executives (ALDE) professionals.
4. Portray accurately the institutional mission in
all communications.
5. Maintain confidentiality in handling donor
and prospective donor records.
6. Offer public recognition and appreciation for
a gift only after donor permission has been
granted.
9. Deal charitably, fairly and honestly with other
professionals and organizations.
10. Maintain and encourage high levels of
professional competence and accurately
present professional qualifications and
experiences to prospective employers.
11. Be compensated by a salary or contractual fee
agreement, not by fees based on a percentage
of gifts secured.
12. Avoid or otherwise disclose all potential
conflicts of interest.
“Code of Ethical Principals and Practices” is used by permission of The Association of Lutheran Development Executives.
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A Donor Bill of Rights
Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for
the common good. It is a tradition of giving and
sharing that is primary to quality of life.
To assure that philanthropy merits the respect and
trust of the general public, and that donors and
prospective donors can have full confidence in the
nonprofit organizations and causes they are asked
to support, we declare that all donors have these
rights:
1. To be informed of the organization’s mission,
of the way the organization intends to use
donated resources and its capacity to use
donations effectively for their intended
purposes.
2. To be informed of the identity of those serving
on the organization’s governing board, and to
expect the board to exercise prudent judgment
in its stewardship responsibilities.
3. To have access to the organization’s most
recent financial statements.
4. To be assured their gifts will be used for the
purposes for which they were given.
5. To receive appropriate acknowledgment and
recognition.
6. To be assured that information about their
donations is handled with respect and with
confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
7. To expect that all relationships with
individuals representing organizations of
interest to the donor will be professional in
nature.
8. To be informed whether those seeking
donations are volunteers, employees of the
organization or hired solicitors.
9. To have the opportunity for their names to be
deleted from mailing lists that an organization
may intend to share.
10. To feel free to ask questions when making a
donation and to receive prompt, truthful and
forthright answers.
Mission Advancement endorses the text of “A Donor Bill of Rights” in its entirety as developed by the American Association of Fund
Raising Counsel, Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, Council for Advancement and Support of Education and National Society of
Fund Raising Executives.
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Will you prayerfully consider walking
with us into the rural areas and small
towns, into the urban settings and
inner cities, into the suburbs here in
the U.S., bearing Christ’s love to
our neighbors, whom we are called
to serve?
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Mission Advancement
[email protected]
888-930-4438
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©2014