# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1977_S137
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

136 RESOLUTIONS

To Declare the Synod’s Position
on Public and Manifest Sins

RESOLUTION 3-23
Overture 3-97 (CW, p. 98)

WHEREAS, The 1973 convention of the Synod at New
Orleans adopted Res. 2-04, declaring homophile
behavior sinful; and

WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and
Church Relations is continuing its study on human
sexuality and the whole question of divorce and
remarriage (cf. CW, p. 38); and

WHEREAS, The Synod has spoken forthrightly
against the sin of abortion (Res. 2-39, 9-07, 1971
Proceedings); and

WHEREAS, There is a continuing need for the church
to witness to God’s judgment against public and
manifest sins of the flesh, as well as to speak God’s
Word of pardon to penitent sinners; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod continue to express its
public opposition to public sins of our society and to
engage in continual efforts to offer our people guidance
from God’s Word on the moral issues which confront
them.

Action: Adopted (16).

To Study Advisability
of Amending Bylaws to Grant
Lutheran Church—Canada
Authority to Negotiate
Toward Fellowship in Canada

RESOLUTION 3-24A

Report 3-01, II, A, 3 (CW, pp. 42—43); Overtures
3-189, 3-190 (CW, pp. 122—123)

WHEREAS, The Synod has encouraged the Lutheran
Church—Canada to negotiate toward pulpit and altar
fellowship with the Lutheran Church in America—
Canada Section as_ precursor to completing
negotiations toward one Canadian Lutheran Church
(we already have pulpit and altar fellowship with the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada); and

WHEREAS, It is very difficult to negotiate on unequal
basis with others who have autonomy or the equivalent
of autonomy in such matters; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Commission on Constitutional
Matters, the CTCR, and the Canadian District
Presidents study the advisability of amending the
Synod’s Bylaws to grant Canadian Districts authority
to negotiate towards fellowship in Canada through the
Lutheran Church—Canada and report to the next
convention.

Action: Adopted (16).

(‘Comprised of the three Canadian Districts” was struck
from the first whereas by mutual consent.)

To Speak Regarding
Lutheran/Non-Lutheran Weddings

RESOLUTION 3-25
Overture 3-103 (CW, p. 99)

WHEREAS, Increasingly in mixed marriages the
pastors of both parties to the marriage are being invited
to the marriage and are being invited to participate in
the wedding service; and

WHEREAS, Article VI of the Synod’s Constitution
lists among the conditions of membership the “renun-
ciation of unionism and syncretism of every description
such as... taking part in the services and sacramental
rites of heterodox congregations or of congregations of
mixed confession”; and

WHEREAS, The Synod’s Commission on Worship has
stated that a “service” is “any occasion in which a
public worship of God occurs” and that this would
“include not only those occasions regularly designated
as worship services (e.g., the ordinary Sunday morning
worship) but also occasions such as weddings, funerals,
dedications, baccalaureates, etc.—which may have an
ad hoc assembly different from the regular con-
gregational worship assembly” (1975 CW, p. 47); and

WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and
Church Relations has stated that “the matter of
Lutheran ceremonies is not a question to which the
right of the congregation to be the judge of the
expediency of the resolution as applied to its local
condition (Bylaw 1.09 b) is applicable, but rather a
situation in which a congregation is called upon to
make application of the conditions of membership to
which it has agreed in Article VI of the Constitution”
(1973 CW, p. 47); and

WHEREAS, The Council of Presidents has stated that
participation in ecumenical marriage ceremonies
should “not be as co-officiant, worship leader, or
celebrant, but should be arranged in such a way that it
is not an official part of the worship service, nor a
solemnizing or celebrating of the marriage” (1973 CW,
p. 44); therefore be it

Resolved, That we affirm the validity of Article VI of
the Constitution of the LCMS; and be it further

Resolved, That we expect our pastors and con-
gregations to follow this article with respect to mixed
wedding ceremonies.

Action: Adopted (16).

(The convention declined to substitute “encourage” for
“expect” and “examine” for “follow” in the second resolve.)

To Provide Assistance
Regarding Bioethics

RESOLUTION 3-26
Report 3-01, App. 3-01, J, Rec. 1 (CW, p. 57)

WHEREAS, The emerging science of bioethics,
coupled with new developments in biomedical
technology, is causing discussion in the fields of
medicine, law, social work, and theology; and