# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2016_S351
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS
Whereas, Twenty-one years have passed since this resolution
was adopted, and there are many congregations that do not offer the
Lord’s Supper each Lord’s Day; therefore be it
Resolved, That in their regular visitation of congregations, district presidents actively promote and encourage the faithful practice
of offering the Lord’s Supper each Lord’s Day and other feast days;
and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod and districts equip congregations with
resources that encourage this practice; and be it finally
Resolved, That congregations again be encouraged to offer the
Lord’s Supper every Lord’s Day and other feast days.
Winona Circuit
Minnesota South District
5-21

To Encourage Synod to Complete Work
on Transforming Churches Network,
Joint Prayer with Those Who Deny Christ,
and Role of Women in the Church
(Reference 2015 District Convention Overtures
01-08-15; 01-09-15; 01-10-15)
Whereas, The district received overtures encouraging the
Synod to continue and complete its work on the evaluation of the
Transforming Churches Network, joint prayer with those who deny
that Christ is the only way to the true God, and the authority of women
over men in the church even in humanly established offices; and
Whereas, The Synod in convention has received overtures
addressing the concerns brought forth in these referenced overtures;
and
Whereas, The study of these concerns continues to be ongoing
through the appropriate channels within Synod; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Mid-South District in convention encourages
the work, study, and evaluation leading to the completion of these
concerns; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod give a final report on these overtures
to the Mid-South District when available or by the next district convention in 2018.
Mid-South District
5-22

To Direct CTCR and Seminaries to Evaluate
Transforming Churches Network
Whereas, The Transforming Churches Network (TCN) is listed
on the Synod’s website as a Recognized Service Organization; and
Whereas, Although it is concerned for the health of existing
LCMS congregations, TCN determines a congregation’s health based
chiefly on numerical measurements and sociology such as attendance
numbers and financial giving but not on its adherence to the teaching
of the Scriptures or the Lutheran Confessions; and
Whereas, TCN advocates changing the main emphasis of a pastor’s duties from “being the lead caretaker of the existing congregation
to the lead missionary to lost people in the community” (TCN, “Pastor
Survey,” question 7a*), thus diminishing the pastoral care of the Law
and Gospel that pastors have historically provided to members of the
congregations they serve (John 21:15−17); and
Whereas, TCN initially asks pastors to see how comfortable they
are with this statement: “If we do not achieve the 5% growth goal

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in the next 24 months, and 5% growth annually thereafter, I will put
my name out for another call” (“Pastor Survey,” question 8d*), thus
suggesting that the man who is divinely called to be a pastor is only
effective if he meets preset worldly standards, even though both Jesus
and Paul did not always find such worldly success in their ministries
(John 6:60ff.; 2 Tim. 4:9−16; Acts 17:1−9); and
Whereas, TCN also asks congregation leaders to determine if
“the leaders of this church hope to initiate a style of worship service
that appeals to unreached people” (TCN, “Leader’s Survey,” question 3e), thus suggesting that a congregation’s worship style should be
based on sociology instead of the Word of God as it has been taught
in the Lutheran Confessions, or that a congregation’s worship style
should be changed even if it exclusively uses the approved hymnals
of the Synod; and
Whereas, The Holy Spirit alone is responsible for converting
people to saving faith by His Word and Sacraments, when and where
He pleases; and
Whereas, Jesus in Matt. 23:15 teaches that a strong missionary
zeal without the proper biblical and Christ-centered doctrinal teaching is spiritually dangerous; and
Whereas, We as Christians are called to be in this world but not
of it; 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 of the premise, methods, and materials of Transforming Churches Network; and
be it further
Resolved, That this theological evaluation be completed and published in The Lutheran Witness within a year of the completion of
this convention.
Zion
Chippewa Falls, WI
*This overture refers to a previous version of this survey. These
quotations are no longer on the official TCN website.
5-23

To Suspend Application of “Reduction in Force”
to Pastoral Office Pending CTCR Decision
Whereas, In 2010, the Synod’s 64th Regular Convention adopted
Res. 2-02 “To Assist Congregations and Support Workers in Planning
and Implementing the ‘Reduction in Force’ Policy”; and
Whereas, The reduction in force policy document specifies that it
should not apply to the Pastoral Office, cited in ‘Theological Position
of LCMS’ on page 23; and
Whereas, The reduction in force policy is being used to remove
rightly called ordained pastors from their called position as pastors;
and
Whereas, The reduction in force policy mistakenly implies that
not all called pastors on the staff of a congregation are members of
the pastoral office; and
Whereas, These ordained pastors are wrongly dismissed from
their called positions as pastors; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod and its districts examine the application
of Res. 2-02 reduction in force policy on its ordained pastors and congregations; and be it further
Resolved, That the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations (CTCR) examine the impact of the “Reduction in Force
Policy” upon the theology and practice of the divine call and its effects
2016 Convention Workbook