# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S186 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 186 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 3-111 To Request CTCR Study Document on Issues Raised by Cloning WuereasS, Reports of cloning sheep, monkeys, and other ani- mals are increasingly prevalent in the media; and WHEREAS, The possibility of human cloning is reportedly im- minent; and WHEREAS, The Holy Scriptures speak of God alone as the Au- thor and Sustainer of life; and WHEREAS, The issues raised by cloning are still emerging; there- fore be it Resolved, That the Missouri District in convention forward an overture to the Synod at its 1998 convention to direct the CTCR to produce a study document addressing the theological issues raised by cloning. Missouri District 3-112 To Have CTCR Study Cloning and Harvesting of Human Organs WHEREAS, The cloning of animals has now become a fact; and WuEREAS, Cloning appears to be an attack on the First Com- mandment, the Sixth Commandment, and on God’s work of cre- ation (Robert W. Weise, “Begotten, Not Made,” The Lutheran Wit- ness, vol. 116, no. 6 [June 1997], pp. 6-9); and WHEREAS, The cloning of human beings is seriously being con- templated (“‘Cloning’s Kevorkian,” Time [Jan. 19, 1998], p. 58; “Seed of Destruction,” World, (Jan. 17, 1998], p. 9); and WHEREAS, Plans have already been laid to clone “human bodies without a forebrain” who “would not be considered persons” to be kept alive “as a future source of organs” (“Of Headless Mice ... and Men,” Time (Jan. 19, 1998], p. 76); and WHEREAS, Cloning raises serious ethical and moral issues con- cerning the understanding of marriage, reproduction, and human life; and ' WHEREAS, There is need for a biblical study of this issue to be given to the church; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod in convention request that the CTCR issue a report giving the biblical perspective on the cloning of ani- mals and human beings; and be it further Resolved, That the report also include a biblical response to cloning for the purpose of producing and harvesting human organs; and be it finally Resolved, That this report be prepared quickly for the benefit of the church. St. Paul Waseca, MN 3-113 To Commend “That They May Have Life” WHEREAS, The President’s Commission on the Sanctity of Life, in its document “That They May Have Life,” has stated: “Human life is not an achievement. It is an endowment. It has measureless value, because every individual, at every stage of development and every state of consciousness, is known and loved by God. This is the source of human dignity and the basis for human equality. It must therefore be asserted without exception or qualification: No one is worthless whom God has created and for whom Christ died”; and WHEREAS, The commission further stated: “This principle calls upon every individual and society to rightly define the human com- munity. Will all be counted as neighbors, or will some be regarded and treated as strangers and cast beyond protection? In a democ- racy, men and women of every walk and station of life have a role and responsibility in answering these great and significant ques- tions”; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod in convention commend the Presi- dent’s Commission on the Sanctity of Life for the document “That They May Have Life” and encourage all congregations within the Synod to support all efforts to uphold and underscore the Chris- tian concern for the sanctity of life; and be it further Resolved, That our President, Dr. A. L. Barry, be commended for the leadership he is providing our Synod in affirming the sanc- tity of life. Circuit 16 Forum South Wisconsin District 3-114 To Oppose Abortion and Commend Lutherans for Life WuereaS, The Bible regards unborn children as real persons (Luke 1:41; Ps. 51:5; Ps. 139:13; Jer. 1:5); and Wuereas, The U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 allowed for the killing of unborn infants; and WHEREAS, Some of our nation’s leaders now are promoting or allowing for partial-birth abortions; and Wuereas, Almost all major Protestant denominations now sup- port abortion; and WHEREAS, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at its 1997 convention again supported abortion, including the payment of the abortion of any of its pastors seeking an abortion. (Some ELCA conservatives are questioning whether ELCA is still “in the Christian Church” because of its pro-abortion policy. “The Evan- gelical Lutheran Church in America’s church council decision to direct the health plan to pay for any and all abortions raises the question whether that churchwide body is included in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church confessed in the creed. The answer would seem that it is not” says the Pentecost 1996 Lutheran Forum ); and Wuereas, Lutherans for Life ably promotes life and opposes abortion; therefore be it Resolved, That the 1998 convention of the LCMS declare 1. the child in the mother’s womb is human life created by God; 2. abortion, in the sense of artificial or induced termination of pregnancy except where the mother’s life is clearly involved, is murder and not justified; 3. members of the LCMS, including any state or U.S. senator or representative who is a member of an LCMS congregation, who recommend abortion upon demand, particularly partial-birth abor- tion, should be disciplined in an evangelical manner if they refuse to retract their defense of abortion; 4. the LCMS will not remain in fellowship with any church body which supports abortion upon demand; and be it finally Resolved, That the 1998 convention of the LCMS commend Lutherans for Life and encourage Lutherans for Life to continue making efforts to show the more than five million members of ELCA that their church is pro-abortion and pays for abortions in- volving its pastors. Trinity, New Haven, MO; Immanuel, Clovis, NM; Washington Circuit, Missouri District; Trinity, Denver, CO 3-115 To Request Opinion of CTCR re LCMS Membership and Public Abortion Policy Stance WHEREAS, The Word of God clearly prohibits the taking of in- nocent life (Fifth Commandment); and WHEREAS, The LCMS has repeatedly affirmed and asserted its public position against legalized abortion; and