LCMS. Commission on Mission and Ministry in the Church

The idea of studying the way the LCMS handled its mission outreach was conceived in 1963. It was at this time that Dr. Martin L. Kretzmann was asked by the Board of Directors-LCMS to develop and implement a Mission Self-Study and Survey. This survey led to the document known as "The Mission Affirmations." This document was adopted by the LCMS at its Detroit Convention in 1965. (Proceedings, 1965, p.p. 79-81). The same convention also adopted a resolution (Res. 1-37) in which it resolved to form a committee to implement the suggestions of "The Mission Affirmations." (Proceedings, 1965, p.p. 88-89). Now that it had been voted into existence, the commission, comprised of 27 members began its work of “helping the Director of the Mission Self-Study and Survey and "to implement more effective methods of mission outreach." (Proceedings, 1965, Res. 1-37 as noted above). To this end, the commission was elected during the 1965 Convention and began its work in September of that year. As the Synod began to go forth into the Seventies, however, the mood of the conventions changed. In 1973, at New Orleans, the Synod declined a resolution which would have disbanded the Commission on Mission and Ministry in the Church (CMMC). Finally, in 1975, meeting in Anaheim, the Synod did discharge the commission and dissolved it as of January 1, 1976. Dr. Martin Kretzmann had left the CMMC during a 1974 Mission Board Walkout, The material in this, the original collection dealing with the CMMC,is the material used by its consultant, Dr. Martin L. Kretzmann.