# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1977_S140
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

RESOLUTIONS 139

equal rights before the law”; and

WHEREAS, The Synod’s Commission on Theology
and Church Relations published its “Report on Equal
Rights Amendment” (Lutheran Witness, Feb. 1, 1976)
offering guidance to the Synod in this matter; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the Synod be encouraged to study
the issues involved and work toward the goal of giving
women equal rights before the law; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod commend the CTCR’s
report for study and response.

Action: Adopted (16).

To Receive Guidelines
on Capital Punishment

RESOLUTION 3-35

Overtures 3-117A—B (CW, p. 103); App. III (CW,
pp. 422—425)

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
has declared that capital punishment is in accord with
the Sacred Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions
(1967 Res. 2-38); and

WHEREAS, The Synod was petitioned to prepare and
disseminate guidelines to assist our membership to
make judgments regarding capital punishment (1973
Res. 9-14); and

WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and
Church Relations has completed its work and has
published such guidelines in The Lutheran Witness
(May 16, 1976); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod commend the CTCR for
its work and receive this paper for study and response.
Action: Adopted (16).

(Delegates declined to consider a substitute motion to
reiterate the first three whereases, the 7th whereas, and the
third resolve of Res. 3-30, simply replacing “euthanasia” with
“capital punishment.”)

To Decline Consideration of
Overture 3-110 (Doctrinal Review)

RESOLUTION 3-36
Overture 3-110 (CW, p. 101)

WHEREAS, The Handbook (11.151—11.159, pp. 215—
217) spells out the details of doctrinal review; and

WHEREAS, The names of the doctrinal reviewers are
not revealed, in order to assure candidness and
objectivity of review (cf. 11.159 e), which are necessary
for the proper functioning of the doctrinal review
process; therefore be it

Resolved, That the convention decline Overture 3-
110.

Action: Adopted (16).

To Approve Amendments
to LCUSA Constitution

RESOLUTION 3-37
Overture 3-134 (CW, p. 107)

The following amendments to the constitution of the
Lutheran Council in the U.S.A. were passed unan-
imously by the church body representatives at the
1976 annual meeting. Amendments, however, require
approval by two thirds of the participating bodies, and
the Synod is hereby requested to give its approval.

PRESENT WORDING

Article X, Section 4

A commission is an administrative committee
under the general secretariate or within the structure
of a division appointed by the council to meet
emergency situations.

Article X, Section 5

An office is an executive unit charged with a
specific or technical assignment under the supervi-
sion either of a division or of the general secretariate.

PROPOSED WORDING

Article X, Section 4

A commission is an administrative committee
under the general secretary or within the structure of
a division appointed by the council to meet emergen-
cy situations.

Article X, Section 5

An office is an executive unit charged with a
specific or technical assignment under the supervi-
sion of the general secretary.

Action: Adopted (16).