BWM to meet in world mission field
Filed Under: Arizona, BWM, World Missions
WELS Board for World Missions (BWM) will meet at the Apache Mission in East Fork, Ariz., Jan. 25-28. This is the first time the streamlined board will meet in an actual mission field. The synod convention last summer resolved to reduce the size of the board from 13 members to five, in part to make possible this type of on-site meeting.
"It is important for the board to travel to the world mission sites so they can make objective decisions," says Rev. Dan Koelpin, administrator for World Missions. "There are some very enormous needs around the world. Places like Hong Kong will need an extra infusion of funds for Asia Lutheran Seminary. The new field in Mozambique will require additional resources. A fourth missionary is needed in India. A seminary program needs to be carried out in Indonesia. So we want these men to be informed and enlightened so that they can see which fields need the resources the most."
Koelpin says he doesn't anticipate many large-scale decisions will be made at this meeting, but the groundwork will be laid for important budget allocations that have to be determined before the new fiscal year, beginning July 1. Discussion will focus on the needs, opportunities, and long-range direction of several fields.
The need for greater objectivity and exposure of the board's members to all fields were just two of the reasons the board was restructured at the 2007 synod convention. The convention also called for more flexible, global strategic planning.
"These men are taking their charge seriously," says Koelpin. "If we want to impact the world around us, then things are not going to fall into neat little packages. We have to look at which operations are advancing and have the possibility of becoming self-dependent. Resources will have to be put to the initiatives that seem to show promise for reaching many souls, as opposed to those initiatives, which in spite of hard effort, appear to be plateaued."
New board member, Mr. Keith Moore of Flagstaff, Ariz., will also be attending this meeting. Moore replaces Mr. Ray Solofra, who recently resigned because of personal reasons.
