The Kentucky Baptists and the Missouri Lutherans have a similar quandary. Given a VERY finite amount of financial and human resources, how much should we devote to international and how much to domestic mission work? There is no easy answer to the question.

As an LCMSer, I think it is important to remember that the LCMS is, essentially, a church that is national in scope. We don’t attempt to missionize Canadians without working through the Canadian Lutheran church body with which we are in fellowship.

I think it is very important for the LCMS to provide “coverage” all over the United States. As many people as possible should have an LCMS congregation within easy driving distance. I think serving the US in this way is our first priority. God called us (as a church body) to provide word and sacrament ministry to this country.

This task would be helped immensely if the thrust of our outreach was with traditional, distinctive Lutheran worship instead of the praise band model.

This is a process that Kentucky Baptists have used with great success in the past to deal with big, important issues. Assuming messengers approve the proposal, it should position Kentucky well to be able to respond to whatever actions or recommendations come out of the SBC’s Great Commission Task Force report next June.