# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2016_S345
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS
5-06

To Ask CTCR and Seminaries to Evaluate
Fellowship with AALC
Whereas, The LCMS in convention from 1967 through 1995 has
repeatedly reaffirmed its historic position of closed Communion; and
Whereas, The 2007 convention entered into fellowship with The
American Association of Lutheran Churches (AALC), which officially does not practice closed Communion (“Do you practice open
or closed communion? We practice ‘responsible communion,’ which
is neither open nor closed”; http://taalc.org/FAQ/CommunionInThe
AALC.html); and
Whereas, Remaining in fellowship with a church body that does
not practice closed Communion is inconsistent with our LCMS practice of closed Communion; and
Whereas, The AALC sends its theological students to Concordia
Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, for pastoral education and maintains its national office on that campus; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the CTCR,
Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, and Concordia Theological
Seminary in Fort Wayne to give a theological evaluation and opinion about reentering discussions with the AALC and/or remaining in
or breaking fellowship with the AALC, to be presented at the next
Synod convention; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod encourage the faculty of Concordia
Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, to discuss the matter of our differences regarding whom we admit to the altar in Holy Communion
with the students and officials of the AALC in their midst.
Zion
Chippewa Falls, WI
5-07

To Warn Against Occult Pseudoscience Practices
Whereas, The technique of Reiki and other occult pseudoscience
therapies are being practiced in various healthcare institutions; and
Whereas, The origins of such practices are rooted in beliefs that
are contrary to the Christian faith; and
Whereas, Many of our members lack understanding of this occult
nature and the dangers that such occult pseudoscience practices pose
to the Christian faith; therefore be it
Resolved, That the district encourage its members not to participate in ungodly occult pseudoscience practices; and be it further
Resolved, That the district encourage the dissemination of information contained in the CTCR’s evaluation of Religious Organizations
and Movements; and be it finally
Resolved, That the district in convention memorialize the Synod
to do the same.
English District
Farmington, MI
5-08

To Instruct CTCR to Provide Suggested
Guidelines/Policies for Implementing Social Media
Whereas, Every LCMS congregation, members of the Synod
(both ordained and commissioned), and Synod employees or representatives desire to reach people with the Gospel and remain faithful
in witness and confession; and

345

Whereas, Social media is defined as “forms of electronic communication through which users create online communities to share
information, ideas, personal messages, and other content” (merriamwebster.com); and
Whereas, Numerous agencies of the Synod, both seminaries,
every Concordia university in the LCMS system, and countless congregations and professional church workers actively participate and
engage in social media in ways that are potentially both beneficial
and detrimental to the Gospel; and
Whereas, The St. Louis Post Dispatch demonstrated on July 15,
2015, the willingness to quote and widely circulate the social media
content created by Synod President Matthew Harrison as “critical”;
and
Whereas, St. Paul encourages us to be “eager to maintain the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3); and
Whereas, In Martin Luther’s explanation to the Eighth
Commandment we confess, “We should fear and love God so that
we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or
hurt his reputation, but speak well of him, and explain everything in
the kindest way”; and
Whereas, The 2013 Handbook of the Synod clearly states that
“the Commission on Theology and Church Relations shall provide
guidance to the Synod in matters of theology and church relations. …
It shall bring matters of theology and church relations through special
studies and documents to the membership of the Synod and to conferences” (Bylaw 3.9.5.2.1); and
Whereas, The Handbook also states that the CTCR “shall suggest
and provide studies of contemporary issues, including also current
social issues, as they affect the church and as the church may affect
such social issues” (Bylaw 3.9.5.2.1 [c]); therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2016 LCMS convention direct the CTCR to
study the use and benefits of social media among and in the LCMS;
and be it further
Resolved, That the CTCR prepare, with its study, a report with
suggested guidelines and/or policies beneficial to LCMS officers,
pastors, and congregations for implementing social media in their
respective ministries; and be it further
Resolved, That the CTCR publish and distribute this report
throughout the Synod in its usual manner; and be it finally
Resolved, That the 2016 LCMS convention direct the CTCR to
issue this report prior to the next Synod convention.
Circuit 1
Texas District
5-09

To Evaluate Theological Implications
of Practice of Cremation
Whereas, The practice of cremation is gaining acceptance in the
United States; and
Whereas, Our church body has stated nothing official regarding
the practice of cremation; and
Whereas, Many pastors have encouraged the use of cremation,
and may have for themselves drawn plans to be cremated; and
Whereas, Requests concerning the scriptural acceptance or condemnation of cremation continue to increase; and
Whereas, The Rev. Dr. Alvin Schmidt (LCMS) has written a
book entitled Dust to Dust, Ashes to Ashes: A Biblical and Christian
Examination of Cremation (Salisbury, MA: Regina Orthodox Press,
2005) which condemns the practice of cremation; and
2016 Convention Workbook