# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2016_S473
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

CHURCH AND CULTURE
Whereas, In recent years, we have witnessed numerous examples of government speech and action that have ignored or depreciated
this fundamental right or sought to limit its scope—for example, by
consistently referring to it in more restrictive terms such as our “freedom of worship”; and
Whereas, Many powerful interests within our culture (media,
education, entertainment, and law) frequently portray the Christian
faith as irrational and declare as illegitimate any attempt to allow
that faith to inform a person’s words or actions in the public square;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the Minnesota South District (MNS) in convention
express its great concern at the severe erosion of religious freedom;
and be it further
Resolved, That we encourage our state lawmakers to have a heightened awareness of this threat and to oppose any legislation or other
action which would have the effect of continuing to diminish this
right; and be it further
Resolved, That we encourage our state legislature to enact new
legislation, similar to the federal “Religious Freedom Restoration
Act,” that would further define and protect a robust understanding of
what is meant by the concept of religious freedom; and be it further
Resolved, That pastors and congregations of the MNS District
be encouraged to discuss frequently the meaning and importance
of religious freedom; that they be encouraged to exercise their religious freedoms regularly and not be hesitant to speak out publicly
on those select issues on which the church has historically spoken;
and that they be encouraged regularly to include petitions in their
public prayers calling on God to safeguard our religious liberty; and
be it finally
Resolved, That the MNS District in convention memorialize the
2016 LCMS convention to encourage these and similar efforts in
every district.
Minnesota South District
14-20

To Encourage Intentional Leadership
in Matters of Public Policy
Preamble
As Lutheran Christians, we have always followed Scripture’s
lead in recognizing government as a good and God-ordained part of
God’s created order (Rom. 13:1−7). We have followed Paul’s apostolic advice in offering prayers and other support for “our leaders and
all in authority” so that, living in a peaceful and well-ordered society,
the Gospel might be freely shared. We have understood this ordering
to be “pleasing to God, who wants all men to be saved and come to
the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:2). Indeed, historically we have
been very deferential to the authority of our elected and appointed
governmental officials acting in their proper sphere of influence (kingdom of the left) even as they have been deferential to the church in
its proper sphere (kingdom of the right). In the American context in
particular, we have rarely felt it necessary or helpful to invest much
denominational energy in trying overtly to influence government decisions. Even in those rare instances where we have felt such efforts to

473

be necessary, we have preferred to do so almost exclusively through
the independent political activity of our individual members as they
exercise their citizenship. Indeed, this remains our preferred mode
of influence.
In recent years, however, it has become clear that something fundamental has changed in the relationship of church and state so that a
relationship of mutual respect no longer exists. Which is to say, from
the perspective of the church, it is clear that an increasingly secular
state now views the church with great suspicion and with increasing frequency is making decisions that encroach on the sphere of
the church and other mediating institutions of society, especially the
family. In response to this changed circumstance, we offer the following resolution.
Proposed Action
Whereas, It has become obvious that the relationship of the
church and the culture in which it carries out its ministry is increasingly marked by tension and conflict; and
Whereas, This conflict is making it increasingly difficult for the
church to give a clear and unfettered witness to the words of Law and
Gospel that she is called to proclaim; and
Whereas, The church is finding it increasingly difficult to carry
out the acts of love and mercy which are also her calling; and
Whereas, This conflict and these restrictions are now more frequently expressed not just in generalized cultural trends but in specific
actions of our own government (legislative, judicial, and executive),
leaving the church marginalized and falsely labeled as “divisive and
bigoted”; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Minnesota South (MNS) District in convention encourage its pastors, teachers and other called workers to be
more intentional in sharing the counsel of Scripture with our congregational members as they relate to the social and public policy issues
of the day, so that our lay members can, in turn, be more confident
and effective in witnessing to the love of God and the truths of the
Bible both to their neighbors in the course of everyday life and to the
authorities that shape our public policy; and be it further
Resolved, That the MNS District president’s office provide the
called workers with the appropriate background materials and training opportunities needed to speak knowledgeably to those areas of
public policy where the church finds it necessary and appropriate to
speak. These areas include the life issues, marriage and family issues,
religious freedom issues, and matters related to parental choice in education; and be it further
Resolved, That the members of the MNS District (both congregations and called church workers) work cooperatively with other
church bodies, organizations, and individuals who share our goals
with respect to these matters of public policy, so that together we
might share the love of Christ by contributing to the common temporal good, by fostering the spread of a biblical worldview within our
common culture, and by removing any obstacles that might prevent
the full and free proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ within
the public square; and be it finally
Resolved, That the MNS District in convention memorialize the
2016 LCMS convention to encourage these and similar efforts in
every district of the LCMS.
Minnesota South District

2016 Convention Workbook