# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2010_S296
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

296

THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS­­—COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

tions. The synodical bylaw previously quoted indicates that it is
the duty of every pastor to “properly to instruct his people” on the
basis of the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions concerning the
conflict that membership in lodge and fraternal organizations creates for congregation members. A pastoral approach to this issue
should begin with a patient and loving discussion that seeks to
inform congregation members or prospective members regarding
the implications of lodge membership. Since a Christian has been
called “to live for Christ” and to confess the Savior in all actions,
associations, and relationships, the integrity the Christian’s confession will be seriously compromised by membership in fraternal
organizations adhering to tenets that are contrary to the scriptural
Gospel. The pastoral approach urged by the Synod is in keeping
with the approach of C. F. W. Walther who advises great patience
and pastoral care in dealing with individual cases.24
Those who wish to study in more detail the scriptural and confessional basis for the Synod’s position on membership in fraternal
organizations as presented in this document may wish to make use
of a study titled “Christians and Their Affiliations” (available from
the CTCR’s office). An especially helpful section of this resource
provides questions for a Christian to consider when contemplating
membership, or evaluating membership currently held, in a fraternal organization. These questions include:
• Does the organization require any kind of religious subscription or
make any religious pronouncements? (See 1 Jn 4:1–3; 2 Pet 2:1)
• Does it teach or imply that all religions offer a way of salvation
which are equally valid before God? (See Gal 1:6–9; Acts 4:10–12)
• Does it teach or imply that the one true God can be worshipped
under any name or concept of God? (See 1 Ki 18:21; Gal 4:8–9)
• Does it promise or imply eternal rewards for observing the virtues
or principles extolled by the organization? (See Eph 2:8–9; Rom
8:7–8)
• Does the organization teach or imply some kind of universal salvation for all who believe that there is a God? (See Jn 3:36; James
2:19)
• Does it speak in terms of heaven being an advanced lodge or as an
eternal re-assembly of the brotherhood (sisterhood)? (See Jn 17:3;
Rom 6:23)
These questions and others are intended to help the Christian
determine whether membership in an organization will allow a
person “to give witness to the exclusive and distinctive character
of the Christian faith.”25 Pastors will likely find it necessary, from
their personal study and preparation and in their particular context,
to expand such material as they seek faithfully and pastorally to
deal with the problems that arise in this area.
In cases involving lodges whose religious rituals play a less
prominent role than in Freemasonry, other factors may be involved.
Local practices and the degree to which prospective lodge members
are exposed to the official teaching and rituals of the lodge may
vary. Because these organizations continue to be unwilling to share
publicly information about their rituals and practices, it is difficult
to determine if changes in their official positions have occurred. In
many cases it appears that lodges are less rigid in the enforcement
of their membership requirements. Some local lodges may allow
what are in effect “social” memberships to be issued to those who
do not wish to participate in initiation rites or in other rituals. In
addition, in recent times individuals tend to be less conscientious
about examining the specific beliefs and practices of organizations they join. Therefore, the pastor should try to meet with those
involved in the situation, as well as with local lodge officials, to
determine the extent to which the local lodge adheres to the organization’s official standards and practices. In this way the pastor, as

he seeks to provide appropriate counsel, can also determine what
requirements of a religious nature are being placed upon members.
What is crucial here is that no Christian should participate in any
ritual or ceremony that is contradictory to the Gospel. Christians
need seriously to consider the public witness they give by belonging to such an organization.
Education and discussion will perhaps need to continue for a
lengthy period of time, especially where lodge membership has already been established. It is hoped that when a person is led to see
how seriously one’s confession of Christ is to be taken (“to suffer
all, even death, rather than fall away from it”26) he will want to
separate himself from association with religious rituals that compromise that confession. Pastoral care will need to be exercised patiently yet firmly in asserting the need for Christians “to honor the
Son even as they honor the Father” (Jn 5:23).
Eventually it will be necessary to establish a timetable and the
minimal action that will need to be taken with regard to congregation members who have chosen to unite with a fraternal organization whose rituals and services include direct or implied teachings
that contradict the fundamental teaching of the Christian faith. If
deemed necessary, the administration of Holy Communion to those
so involved may temporarily need to be suspended until a final
resolution is achieved.
One of the goals of pastoral instruction and guidance regarding
membership in certain fraternal organizations is to help the Christian to be faithful to the principle established by St. Paul in Romans
16: “watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles
contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught” (16:17). Here,
too, we need to honor our God and His Word concerning those who
have a form of godliness but deny its power (2 Tim. 3:5). At the
same time, pastors must always take care to speak the truth in love
(Eph. 4:15), and to present and defend the truth of God’s Word
“with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:16). Such loving concern
on the part of the pastor will strengthen the sheep of his flock to “be
faithful, even to the point of death” so that they might receive from
the Good Shepherd His gift of “the crown of life” (Rev 2:10).27
Adopted by the CTCR
April 25, 2009

Notes
1. See page 4 of the CTCR’s evaluation of the Loyal Order of the
Moose, which is available online at http://www.lcms.org?2150 together
with evaluations of The Lodge in general (focusing on Masonic Lodge organizations), the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. The CTCR commends the continuing use of these
resources in conjunction with the present document. Also recommended is
How to Respond to the Lodge by L. James Rongstad (St. Louis: Concordia
Publishing House, 1995; order number 12-6003 [www.cph.org]).
2. This document grows out of a request from the 2006 convention of
the Nebraska District (Res. 1.05) that the CTCR prepare a “study on the
issue of ‘Secret Society’ or Lodge membership, including but not limited to
information pertaining to possible changes in teaching and practice in the
last 50 years and also the differences between the wide varieties of these
organizations” and “that the CTCR study include practical guidelines” for
pastors and congregations to follow when dealing with this issue.
3. The confessional citations here are taken from The Book of Concord, Robert Kolb and Timothy J. Wengert, eds. (Minneapolis: Fortress
Press, 2000).
4. 2007 Handbook, 176 (Bylaw 3.9.6.3.1 [a]).
5. 2001 Res. 7-27A “To Combine Commission on Organizations and
Commission on Theology and Church Relations and Revise CTCR Bylaws”
(2001 Convention Proceedings, 174–75).
6. 2007 Handbook, 176 (Bylaw 3.9.6.4.1 [a]).

2010 Convention Workbook

2010 Convention.indb 296

4/15/10 2:40 PM