# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2016_S332
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

332

LIFE TOGETHER

Whereas, There is a continuing need for equipping God’s saints
to share their faith in the context of their various vocations and everyday relationships; and
Whereas, With regard to ministry emphasis, the Synod has a
well-defined process of dispute resolution (Bylaw section 1.10), with
each district of the Synod having four reconcilers appointed by the
district’s board of directors to six-year terms (Bylaws 1.10.10 and
1.10.10.1); and
Whereas, These reconcilers are called on to assist in informal and
formal reconciliation efforts involving (1) members of the Synod, (2)
the Synod itself, (3) a district or an organization owned and controlled
by the Synod, (4) persons involved in excommunication, or (5) lay
members of congregations of the Synod holding positions with the
Synod itself or with districts or other organizations owned and controlled by the Synod (Bylaw 1.10.2); and
Whereas, The training of the reconcilers includes the use of
resources from Ambassadors of Reconciliation™, a recognized service organization (RSO) of the LCMS, a ministry that makes its
resources available to the public; and
Whereas, The use of Ambassadors of Reconciliation™ Bible
studies and other resources by congregations and schools of the
Synod, and the availability of the district reconcilers to lead studies and training in biblical peacemaking will serve to help God’s
people appreciate the gift of reconciliation with God that is theirs
in Christ (Rom. 5:10–11; 2 Cor. 5:18–19) and will improve their
service as ambassadors of Christ and peacemakers in daily life (cf.
2 Cor. 5:20); therefore be it
Resolved, That the South Dakota District encourage our Synod
to continue to develop and make available resources that will assist
our professional church workers and laity in their personal witness
of Jesus Christ; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations, schools, and other entities of the
Synod be informed by district officials of the ministry of Ambassadors
of Reconciliation™ and its resources; and be it finally
Resolved, That districts offer their reconcilers to congregations
and schools as trainers and teachers in biblical peacemaking.
South Dakota District
4-11

To Forward Priorities to Synod
for Its Consideration
Resolved, That the 2015 Southern District convention forward the
following priorities to the Synod for its consideration:
• Work toward the elimination of poverty and hunger within the United
States
• Increase and improve multicultural relations within the LCMS church
body
• Strengthen and support Black/African-American ministry efforts
• Actively engage in keeping Concordia College Alabama viable as an
LCMS mission
• Support Dr. Rosa J. Young’s legacy and the development of Rosa J.
Young academies

Southern District
2016 Convention Workbook

4-12

To Commemorate the 75th Anniversary
of The Lutheran Hymnal
Whereas, This year 2016 marks the 75th anniversary of the
publication of The Lutheran Hymnal, which was issued in 1941 by
the Intersynodical Committee on Hymnology and Liturgics for the
Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America; and
Whereas, The Lutheran Hymnal stands as a reminder and is one
of the finest products of the cooperative relationship that united the
principal confessional Lutheran church bodies in the United States
in the old Synodical Conference; and
Whereas, During the four decades in which The Lutheran
Hymnal served the Synod as its primary hymnal, the Synod experienced unprecedented numerical growth, doubling its size while
witnessing the tremendous expansion of its schools and institutions
of higher education; and
Whereas, The enduring character of The Lutheran Hymnal is
evidenced by its continued use to the present day and by the incorporation of its beloved texts in Lutheran Service Book; and
Whereas, New technologies make it possible to keep in print and/
or provide for free download the numerous resources created in connection with the publication of The Lutheran Hymnal, which remain
invaluable for purposes of reference, scholarship, and worship; and
Whereas, It is meet and right that the Synod in convention give
thanks to God for the liturgical and hymnological treasures of the
church contained in The Lutheran Hymnal, and ensure that the same
are readily accessible today and to future generations; therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2016 Synod convention commemorate the 75th
anniversary of The Lutheran Hymnal by giving thanks to God for the
liturgical and hymnological treasures of the church contained therein;
and be it further
Resolved, That Concordia Publishing House be directed to maintain the availability of The Lutheran Hymnal and related resources,
including but not limited to the organists’ editions, The Music for
the Liturgy, the Agenda, the Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal, the
Concordance to the Lutheran Hymnal, and The Lutheran Hymnal
Sight Saving Edition, by keeping them in print, by keeping them available for publication on demand at reasonable rates, and/or by making
.pdf downloads available gratis, in such manner as shall to it seem
best, and by including The Lutheran Hymnal materials in Lutheran
Service Builder.
St. Paul
Brookfield, IL
4-13

To Provide for Doctrinal Review of Non-SynodApproved Worship and Catechetical Materials
Whereas, There is a wide diversity in the worship and catechetical materials used by the congregations of the Synod, and there is
no provision for the doctrinal review of such materials that are nonSynod approved; therefore be it
Resolved, That present Constitution Article VI 4 be amended by
adding the following paragraph at the end of present point 4:
PROPOSED WORDING
…
4

Exclusive use of doctrinally pure agenda, hymnbooks, and catechisms in church and school. The doctrinal purity of official agenda,
hymnbooks, and catechisms shall be determined by the national con-