Constitution, By-Laws, and Resolutions
Elders by-law change with regard to how many elders may serve.
Church Resolution with regard to the Condemnation of the Conscription of Women into the military. Also see this resolution from the LC-MS in it’s 2016 convention.
Congregational Policies
Strategic Planning
Every congregation does at least some basic planning for the future, whether that be with a church budget or a list of things the congregation plans to do. We at Redeemer engaged a professional strategic planning company called True North, with the help of a generous grant from the Lutheran Foundation. This process helped us to focus our Vision, Mission, and Core Values.
Strategic planning is a process of gathering information (documentation), evaluating the findings (evaluation), and then acting on the results (implementation) through the appointed offices within this congregation. It is a process, and is not something you do one time and abandon, only to move on to “the latest and greatest ministry idea.” Strategic planning has to be constant in the life of the congregation, the pastoral staff, and the church leaders.
Vision is what one hopes to become. We want to become more of what we already are: “A neighborhood Lutheran church with a global influence.” That means we want to focus on our immediate context in Fort Wayne, but also keep an eye to providing Biblical, homiletical, and liturgical resources for the Lutheran Church around the world. This we can do in our building and through our websites.
Mission is what we do. It is not unique to us as if no other congregation can do this, but it’s what we have chosen as our focus. “Receiving and demonstrating Christ’s love through word and deed.” (1 John 4:19, Colossians 3:17). We felt that it was of utmost importance that our first “action” is to receive what God gives in His Word and Sacraments. Only then can we also act in love toward our neighbor, extending Christ’s love to them in His Word and by our acts of mercy. “We love because God first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
Core values are not unique to any one congregation. Many, if not most congregations (especially in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod), share the same values. We could have chosen any number of other values, but these six are what we feel are integral to who we are. We also felt compelled to establish our core values from God’s inerrant Word.
Liturgical Worship
We value liturgical worship centered on receiving God’s gifts in Word and Sacrament and the singing of Lutheran hymns. (Romans 12:1; Colossians 3:16)
Biblical Teaching
We value biblical preaching and teaching that properly distinguishes between Law and Gospel. (John 1:17; 2 Tim 3:16-17)
Daily Prayer
We value a rich devotional life centered in the Word of God and intercessory prayer. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, 1 Timothy 2:1)
Respecting Tradition
We value the heritage that God has handed down to us in the doctrine and practice of our fathers, especially in the Small Catechism, and see ourselves as stewards for future generations. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 2 Thessalonians 2:15)
Family Focused
We value a family environment where each person experiences love, care, and support from one another. (John 15:17; Ephesians 4:32)
Pursuing Excellence
We value excellence by using the best of what God has given to us. (Philippians 4:8; Colossians 3:23)
If you would like to read more about our Strategic Plan, you may download it here.