Overture 04-31. On Encouraging National, Presbytery, and Synod Leaders to Foster Evangelism—From the Presbytery of the Trinity.

The Presbytery of Trinity overtures the 216th General Assembly (2004) to resolve to encourage our national and synod leaders to foster evangelism by doing the following:

1. Have the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly write each session:

a. including prayer for their growth;

b. asking for them to set voluntary goals and objectives using church growth or church health methods, for example encouraging at least 3 percent growth per year for the next five years beginning in 2005;

c. asking for them to endorse their goals and return them to the presbytery stated clerk and the General Assembly Stated Clerk’s office.

2. Encourage the stated clerk’s office of each presbytery and synod to write a letter of encouragement to each session in their jurisdiction to seek God’s leading and to make plans as lead by God and the session.

3. Encouraging all ministers and elders to pray for God to raise up faithful members for each congregation in our denomination.

4. Set aside a morning worship service at the 219th General Assembly (2010) to report on God’s faithfulness and to celebrate Christ’s daily mercies to our denomination.

Rationale

In the year 2002, our beloved denomination lost 41,812 members, reflecting a 1.68 percent decrease in membership in that year.

Over the years of 1991 through 2001, our denomination has lost 321,040 members reflecting a 9 percent loss in membership in that decade.

Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples” reflects a continuing imperative to “go” (Matt. 28:19).

God is faithful (1 Thess. 5:24) and will never leave us (Matt. 28:20).

The local congregation, its leaders and members remain the place for training, goal setting, and leadership of the local mission (Book of Order, G-11.0103(a)).