The Crux of the Matter - From the Executive Chair

The Bi-Monthly Newsletter of the Augsburg Lutheran District

Vol. 1, No. 4 (February 2002)

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New Mission Starts

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from the executive chair ...

Lenae Rasmussen

This issue of the Crux of the Matter is devoted to introducing our mission congregations and our Seminary Debt Relief Fund, which helps connect first-call pastors with churches that need them. I can think of no better way for people to learn about the Augsburg Lutheran District (ALD) than to share this part of the story of what our members are doing in mission for Christ.

We Start Churches!
As a lifeboat for confessing Lutherans, the ALD is focused on helping mission churches get off to a good start, and offering a helping hand to redeveloping churches looking for a new start. As the synods of old existed in part to buy the steamship tickets for missionaries, our fellowship and association exists to serve and support those who proclaim the gospel today. At the dawn of the new millennium we face the startling reality that one of the largest untapped mission fields in the world is none other than the United States of America. While one might speculate about the reasons for this state of affairs, the Augsburg Lutheran District is focused on seizing it as an opportunity for the mission of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Great Commission
ALD mission starts are brand new churches that have never been affiliated with another church body. Their founding members are building up the body of Christ by starting new congregations that reach out to people who do not have a church home in the community in which they live.

First Call Pastors
In addition to starting new churches, the ALD provides structured financial assistance and guidance for first-call pastors. Through programs like the Seminary Debt Relief Fund, the ALD enables congregations to call young pastors at the beginning of their vocation. The increasing cost of seminary education combined with the decline of financial support for seminarians from their home churches has put their needed pay and benefits package beyond the reach of many smaller congregations who have traditionally embraced first-call pastors.

Mission and Ministry
I believe that supporting the ministry of these churches and pastors is one of the most important aspects of the mission of the ALD. Indeed, it is literally a matter of death and life-for it is in this mission and ministry that the message that Christ died and rose “for you” is proclaimed and his children are brought from sin and death to forgiveness and life everlasting.