# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S117
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

RESOLUTIONS 117

To Preserve a Proper View of Law
RESOLUTION 2-20
Overture 2-81 (CW, p.71)

Wuereas, In our Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
“We believe, teach, and confess that the Law is properly
a divine doctrine, which teaches what is right and pleas-
ing to God, and reproves everything that is sin and con-
trary to God’s will,” and that “For this reason, then,
everything that reproves sin is, and belongs to, the
preaching of the Law” (FC, V, 2, 3); and

Wuereas, In our Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
“We believe, teach, and confess that the preaching of
the Law is to be urged with diligence, not only upon
the unbelieving and impenitent, but also upon true be-
lievers, who are truly converted, regenerate, and justi-
fied by faith,” and that “Thus the Law is and remains
both to the penitent and impenitent, both to regenerate
and unregenerate men, one [and the same] Law,
namely, the immutable will of God; and the difference,
so far as concerns obedience, is alone in man, inasmuch
as one who is not yet regenerate does for the Law
out of constraint and unwillingly what it requires of him
(as also the regenerate do according to the flesh); but
the believer, so far as he is regenerate, does without
constraint and with a willing spirit that which no threat-
enings (however severe) of the Law could ever extort
from him.” (FC, VI, 2, 6); and

Wuereas, “All Scripture should be divided into these
two chief doctrines, the law and the promises” (Apol.
IV, 5); therefore be it

Resolved, That we reaffirm that the Law, as well as
the Gospel, is the Word of God, and a divine doctrine;
and be it further

Resolved, That we reaffirm our historic Lutheran
position with respect to the use of the Law.

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

To Study and Improve Process
of Doctrinal Review

RESOLUTION 2-21
Overtures 2-10, 2-96, first resolve (CW, pp. 50, 75)

Wuereas, The prime concern of the Synod in regard
to doctrinal review is not censorship but is rather to in-
sure that the doctrine set forth in its publications is in
accord with the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confes-
sions; and

Wuereas, The Board of Doctrinal Review has been
assigned the responsibility of carrying out this con-
cern; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board of Doctrinal Review be
directed to continue to carry out its work as prescribed
in the synodical Bylaws (11.151—11.163, pages 199—202,
Handbook); and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Doctrinal Review be

directed to continue to study and evaluate the Bylaws
with a view toward recommending to the Synod at its
next convention any changes which the Board, on the
basis of its experience and study, believes will improve
the reviewing process; and be it finally

Resolved, That Overture 2-10 be respectfully de-
clined.

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

To Amend “Handbook” Bylaw 11.111
RESOLUTION 2-22
Report 2-02, Handbook Revision (CW, p. 47)

Wuereas, The Commission on Worship should be
representative of the total constituency of the church;
and

Whereas, The present reading of the Handbook,
11.111 (“shall consist of seven men. . .”), precludes
service by women as full members of the commission;
and

Wuereas, The Synod in previous conventions has ap-
proved and encouraged such service by women; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That Handbook, 11.111, paragraph a, the
second sentence, substitute for the word “men” the
word “persons.”

PRESENT WORDING
11.111 Personnel and Appointment
a. A Commission on Worship shall be appointed
by the President of the Synod after consultation
with the Vice-Presidents. It shall be composed of
seven men and include pastors, teachers, and lay-
men. They shall serve for terms of four years in
such manner that the terms of three members shall
alternate with the terms of the other four members.
PROPOSED WORDING
11.111 Personnel and Appointment
a. A Commission on Worship shall be appointed
by the President of the Synod after consultation
with the Vice-Presidents. It shall be composed of
seven persons and include pastors, teachers, and
laymen. They shall serve for terms of four years in
such manner that the terms of three members shall
alternate with the terms of the other four members.
Action: None. Referred under omnibus Res. 4-47 to

the Board of Directors.

To Act on Matters Pertaining to “Openness
and Trust”

RESOLUTION 2-23
Overtures 2-92A, B (CW, p.74)

Wuereas, The Milwaukee convention has dealt with
the issues of “Openness and Trust” by repudiating the
inadequacies of that document; and

Wuereas, Any public espousal of this document
should be dealt with by the proper officials in each case;
and

Wuereas, There may be those who have thus far