# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1992_S112 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 114 RESOLUTIONS are God’s chosen people in Christ, who has broken down the dividing wall of hostility by His perfect sacrifice for the entire human family (1 Peter 2:8-9 and Eph. 2:14-16); and Wuereas, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations is currently working toward the completion of a major study of racism in the church; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod urge its members to repent of any attitude or practice of racism as individuals and congregations; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod repudiate all racism and urge its members to celebrate God’s love in Christ and their forgiveness and acceptance as God’s children by loving and serving all their fellow humans as they have been loved and served, without any exception of persons, and to work toward social justice in their neighborhoods and work- places and all areas of society; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod assembled in convention urge the rapid completion of the CTCR study; and be it finally Resolved, That the members’ of the Synod be urged to make maximum use of this study upon its completion and to pray the Lord of the church to bless this study and cause it to effect appropriate changes in attitudes and actions. Action: Adopted as amended (4). (In the first resolve, the words any attitude or were substituted for their by common consent.) To Encourage Service of Women in the Church ; RESOLUTION 3-04 Overtures 3-68A-B, 3-70A-B (CW, pp. 202-03) Wuereas, The Synod continues to recognize with thanksgiving all of God’s gifts to the church for the accom- plishment of His mission of bringing the Gospel to the whole world; and Wuereas, “Women and men are equally members of the priesthood of all believers by faith in Jesus Christ. They are both called to ‘declare the wonderful deeds of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light’ ” (CTCR, 1985, Women in the Church, p. 18); and Wuereas, The Synod has commended and encouraged the continuing service of.men and women to our.Lord and His church, in accordance with His will as set forth in the Holy Scriptures; and , Wuereas, Women have not always been accorded the opportunity to give full expression to their privileges and responsibilities as members of the priesthood of all believ- ers; therefore be it Resolved, That the full, appropriate service of women at synodical, District, and congregational levels be en- couraged; and be it further . ‘ Resolved, That the Synod encourage continuing study and discussion of what the Scriptures teach concerning the role of women in the church, making use of the various resources prepared by the CTCR and the President's Com- mission on Women (e.g., the CTCR’s report, Women in the Church and the PCW’s God’s Woman for All-Generations). Action: Adopted (4). (An amendment to add the words and men in appropriate places after the word women was declined after a motion to refer the matter back to committee 3 was declared out of order.) To Urge Completion of Study on Service of Women in All Congregational Offices RESOLUTION 3-05 Overtures 3-63-64C, 3-66, 3-77-79 (CW, pp. 200-02, 204-05) Wuereas, Questions continue to be raised and guidance sought with regard to which congregational offices women may hold in accord with scriptural teaching; and Wuereas, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations has been requested to prepare a study on the eligibility of women for service in all offices of the congre- gation, including that of chairman, vice-chairman, and el- der; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod urge the CTCR to complete this study for distribution to the members of the Synod - one year prior to the 1995 synodical convention; and be it further . . Resolved, That as the study progresses, the CTCR be encouraged to solicit and welcome comments and concerns from interested members, groups, and congregations within the Synod. . Action: Adopted as amended (6). (The resolution was amended by addition of the final resolve. It was also amended by the addition of the words one year in the first resolve, as well as deletion of the words give high priority to the completion of between the words to and this.) To Affirm Proper Relationship Between Congregations and Their Pastors RESOLUTION 3-06A Report R3-01, I, B, 13; I, C, 2; 1, C, 6 (CW, pp. 66-67, 70); Overtures 3-43, 3-45, 3-50-52 (CW, pp. 193-96) Wuereas, God exhorts both pastors and congregations to serve one another in their respective responsibilities.so that no obstacle may be placed in the way of the church’s proclamation of the Gospel; and Wuereas, Mutual edification, support, and encourage- ment yields manifold blessings to the congregations and to the pastors; and Wuereas, The body of Christ is harmed when either the pastor or the congregation attempts to exercise un- scriptural authority over the other; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm the scriptural posi- tion of the church and its ministry as taught in the Lu- theran Confessions that God has instituted the office of the pastoral ministry and that the one who holds this office carries it out on behalf of and with accountability to God and those through whom God has called him; and be it further ' Resolved, That the Synod guard against all distortions of the scriptural position. ‘ Action: Adopted (10).