# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S109
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

2. THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

To Decline Overture 2-174
on Certain Organizations

RESOLUTION 2-01
Report 2-03, Overture 2-174 (CW, pp. 47, 97)

Wuereas, The fraternal organizations referred to in
Overture 2-174 have not changed their policy regarding
membership requirements as documented by recent cor-
respondence received by our Commission on Fraternal
Organizations; and

Wuereas, The Bylaws of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod do not permit membership in “societies,
lodges, and organizations of an unchristian or antichris-
tian character” (Handbook, p. 217, 14.01a); therefore
be it

Resolved, That Overture 2-174 be respectfully de-
clined.

Action: None. Referred under omnibus Res. 4-47 to
the Board of Directors.

To Retain the Present Structure
of the Commission on Theology
and Church Relations

RESOLUTION 2-02
Overture 2-09 (CW, p. 50)

Wuereas, The present composition of the CTCR rep-
resents a broad cross section of membership (pastors,
professors, teachers, and laymen); and

Wuereas, The present structure of the CTCR pro-
vides for both elected and appointed members; and

Wuereas, After a restudy of the structure and com-
position of this committee between 1969 and 1971 the
Synod approved the present organizational form as de-
fined in the Handbook (2.109); and

Wuereas, The present workload and backlog of as-
signments to the CTCR does not suggest the desirability
of reducing its size; therefore be it

Resolved, That the present structure and organiza-
tional composition of the CTCR be retained; and be it
further

Resolved, That the CTCR be encouraged to continue
seeking help by involving other competent individuals
or groups by referring matters to them for additional
study in accordance with provisions of the synodical
Handbook (2.109 b, c); and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod respectfully decline Over-
ture 2-09.

Action: None. Referred under omnibus Res. 4-47 to
the Board of Directors.

To Accept the Position Paper “A Statement
on Death, Resurrection, and Immortality”

RESOLUTION 2-03

Statement Z-05 (CW, pp. 466—468)

In 1962 the Cleveland convention of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod requested the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations to prepare a response
to questions related to death, resurrection, and immor-
tality. (1962 CW, p. 161)

Wuereas, The CTCR has given its response in a posi-
tion paper entitled “A Statement on Death, Resurrec-
tion, and Immortality” (CW, pp. 466—468) ; and

Wuereas, We find the doctrinal content of this posi-
tion paper to be in agreement with Holy Scripture and
the Lutheran Confessions; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod commend the position pa-
per “A Statement on Death, Resurrection, and Immor-
tality” to its membership for reference and guidance.

Action: Adopted as amended (3).

(Originally the resolved had read: “That the Synod ac-
cept the position paper... and commend it to its member-
ship. .. .”)

President Karl Barth (5. Wis.), chairman of Committee No. 2 on Theology
and Church Relations

109