# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S97
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
rich teachings, reaffirms confessional emphases, and answers
many practical questions. It is included in the Appendix and is
available for download at http://www.lcms.org/ctcr.

5. A Snapshot of Trending Tools: Christians and
Social Media (2016 Ov. 5-08)
Omnibus Resolution A of 2016 assigned numerous overtures from the convention to various Synod entities, including the CTCR (see below, “Responses to Overtures”). One of
the overtures was “To Provide Suggested Guidelines/Policies
for Implementing Social Media.” After due consideration, the
CTCR determined that this overture’s concerns could best be
addressed by developing a report that would address the general
topic of social media: its strengths, weaknesses, temptations,
perils, and opportunities. At the CTCR’s February 2019 meeting, the Commission adopted the report A Snapshot of Trending
Tools: Christians and Social Media. As should be evident from
the name, the report reflects an awareness that the matter of
social media is one marked by constant changes and what is
relevant to the topic this year may change in the future. Nonetheless, the teachings of Scripture do not change, and the report
considers such aspects as how social media relates to community, the risk of falsehoods becoming “viral,” an elevation of
opinion over fact, and other temptations. It closes with a focus
on how, within our vocations as royal priests, we might use social media in godly ways. The report is intentionally designed
in a way that anticipates and can accommodate addressing additional topics of concern in the future. It is available for download at http://www.lcms.org/ctcr.

C. Completed Studies and Responses
In recent years, the Commission has had frequent requests
for study materials that could accompany reports. Many believed such study materials would be of special help to lay audiences in more thoroughly engaging the CTCR’s reports.

1. In Christ All Things Hold Together—Bible
Study and Discussion Guide (General request)
At the Commission’s May 2016 meeting (its final meeting
of the 2013–2016 triennium), the CTCR reviewed and then adopted a study guide intended to accompany its 2015 report, In
Christ All Things Hold Together: The Intersection of Science and
Christian Theology. The study materials are offered as a supplement to the CTCR document for use as a study aid. It is available for download at http://www.lcms.org/ctcr and is included in
the Appendix.

2. Responses to Overtures (2016 Omnibus Res.
A)
Omnibus Resolution A of the 2016 convention included
ten overtures for referral to the CTCR (and in some cases also
to other entities; see 2016 Convention Proceedings, 267–270). At
its February 2017 meeting, the Commission approved responses
to those who had submitted these overtures, indicating various
ways that their concerns were being or would be addressed.

3. Intinction Study Guide (Council of Presidents)
In May 2015, President Terry Cripe (Ohio District), a
member of the CTCR, shared a request from the March 2015

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meeting of the COP. The Council asked the CTCR to address
the practice of intinction (dipping the body of Christ into the
cup of His blood to be consumed by the communicant). The
request was for a document for the COP to use to study and
discuss this practice. Meeting in February of 2017, the CTCR
adopted a study document for use by the COP. It is included in
the Appendix.

4. Evaluation of the Statement of Faith and
Statement of Values of Trail Life USA and American Heritage Girls (2016 Res. 16-06; Scouting Task
Force Request)
Two scouting organizations, Trail Life USA (TLUSA) and
American Heritage Girls, while distinctive entities, make use of
the same Statement of Faith and Statement of Values. 2016 Res.
16-06 asked the CTCR to evaluate the statements from a theological standpoint (the CTCR was not asked to evaluate the organizations themselves). The CTCR’s evaluation was intended
for use by the Synod’s Scouting Task Force. The Commission
did not endorse the statements as such, but did determine that
nothing in them “explicitly contradicts Scripture or Lutheran
doctrine.” At the same time, the CTCR stated that “the lack of
any Gospel focus in the TLUSA statement of faith serves as an
important reminder and caveat that the use of TLUSA materials in a local, congregation-based TLUSA troop and participation in TLUSA events should be approached with care and
discernment.” The CTCR forwarded its evaluation for use by
the Synod’s Scouting Task Force in compliance with the 2016
resolution. The evaluation is included in the Appendix.

5. He Is Our Righteousness—Bible Study
(Leader and Participant Guides) (2016 Res. 5-10)
2016 Res. 5-10 reaffirmed the scriptural and confessional
fidelity of the CTCR’s 1983 report Theses on Justification and
encouraged its use in studying the doctrine of justification during the 2017 celebration of the Reformation and beyond. In
addition, the resolution asked the CTCR to provide additional
material for study purposes by members of the Synod. In response, the CTCR began work on four separate studies. He Is
Our Righteousness, a study of the Good Samaritan from the
perspective of justification, was adopted at the CTCR’s April
2017 meeting. It is included in the Appendix and is available for
free download at http://www.lcms.org/ctcr.

6. Justifying Christmas—Bible Study (Leader
and Participant Guides) (2016 Res. 5-10)
“Justifying Christmas” helps users “see how the Scriptures
connected with the birth of Jesus proclaim the good news of
justification by grace through faith.” It was adopted at the CTCR’s September 2017 meeting and is included in the Appendix
and is available for free download at http://www.lcms.org/ctcr.

7. Theses on Justification—Bible Study (Theses,
PowerPoint for congregational use, and accompanying essay, “Luther and the Doctrine of Justification”) (2016 Res. 5-10)
Also at the September 2017 meeting, the Commission
adopted study materials for use by congregations and church
workers together with the 1983 Theses on Justification prepared
2019 Convention Workbook