# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S179 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 179 WHEREAS, Theologians of both the St. Louis and Fort Wayne seminaries have argued on the basis of Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions that the Joint Declaration is neither a doctri- nal breakthrough nor a resolution of the differences between the Lutheran and the Roman Catholic understanding of justification: and WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in conven- tion (1998) expressed regret over and disagreement with the ap- proval of the Joint Declaration by certain Lutheran churches; there- fore be it Resolved, That the English District of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod express support for the position of our seminaries, theologians, and president in rejecting the Joint Declaration on the grounds of its doctrinal imprecision, i.c., its vagueness about justi- fication being fully and completely the result of God's imputed righteousness for Christ's sake alone received by faith alone with- out works, and its other doctrinal inadequacies. English District 3-65 To Commend Response to Joint Declaration WHEREAS, Representatives of a little over half of the Lutheran church bodies in the world and representatives of the pope and the Roman Catholic Church jointly signed a document entitled “A Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification” on October 31, 1999, in the city of Augsburg, Germany; and WHEREAS, This document purports to resolve a key difference between the Lutheran Church and the Roman Catholic Church that has separated the two denominations since the days of the Lutheran Reformation in the 16th century; and WHEREAS, The doctrine of justification before God is the very hub of all other teachings of God’s holy Word, without which the entire Christian faith ceases to exist in any valid way: and WHEREAS, The Word of God clearly teaches that nothing more than simple trust in Christ is necessary to save us sinners and that to say that we must add something of our own to what Christ has done for us (His holy life, sufferings, and death as our all-sufficient Sub- stitute and His victory over death on our behalf) is to rob Him of His glory and to rob us sinners of the certainty of our peace with God; and WHEREAS, The so-called Joint Declaration attempts to agree with both those who maintain the above teaching of Scripture (i.c.. the Lutheran Church) and also with those who reject this teaching (.e., in this case, the Roman Catholic Church); and WHEREAS, The President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, the Rev. Dr. Alvin L. Barry. has widely published a state- ment entitled “Toward True Reconciliation: A Comment on Lutheran-Roman Catholic Relations.” in which he clearly explains the sound Lutheran position on the doctrine of justification and has thus attempted to prevent the public from having false perceptions of unity where it definitely does not exist; therefore be it Resolved, That the Michigan District of the LCMS commend its synodical President for the firm stand he has taken and support him as he continues to discuss with other church bodies theological issues such as the doctrine of justification and the appropriate rela- tionships with churches of other theological traditions in today’s confusing and changing ecclesiastical landscape: and be it further Resolved, That in faithfulness to God’s Word and the Lutheran Confessions, and motivated by our love for the people and pastors of the ELCA we express our deep regret and profound disagree- ment with these actions taken by the ELCA, and be it finally Resolved, That we encourage the members of the Michigan Dis- trict of the LCMS to commit themselves to engage in theological study concerning the doctrine of justification and the impact the “Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification” has on this doc- trine. Michigan District; Minnesota North District: Southern Mlinois District; Zion, Tomball. TX; St. Paul, Magnolia, TX 3-66 To Thank President for Authoring Document Wuereas, The Nebraska District of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod in convention commended our synodical President for his statement entitled “Toward True Reconciliation: A Com- ment on Lutheran—Roman Catholic Relations,” and requested that the Nebraska District send an overture to the 2001 synodieal econ- vention doing the same; therefore be it Resolved, That the 2001 synodical convention commend Prest- dent Barry for his alertness and faithfulness in authoring the docu- ment entitled “Toward True Reconciliation.” Nebraska District 3-67 To Thank Synodical President for Taking a Stand Wuereas, The agreements signed between the Roman Catholic Church and various Lutheran bodies from the Lutheran World Fed- eration claim that a consensus has been reached over the article of justification between Lutherans and Roman Catholics: and WHEREAS, The doctrine of justification is the heart of the Gospel and was at the very center of the Reformation; and WHEREAS, The church of Rome has elsewhere stated that it has not changed its historic position on the article of justification (such as that set forth at the Council of Trent); and WHEREAS, Many people who do not understand the real theo- logical issues involved may be misled into thinking that the LCMS agrees with these other Lutheran bodies who say that condemna- tions made during the Reformation over the article of justification no longer apply; and WHEREAS, Our synodical President has sought to clarify the doctrinal position of the LCMS with regard to this agreement and has made public statements published in newspapers; and Wuereas, Our synodical President has come under criticism from other members of the LCMS who have questioned both his theology and his right to speak publicly to this issue on behalf of our Synod; and WHEREAS, The synodical Constitution gives the synodical Pres- ident the power to “advise, admonish, and reprove” and to “use all means at his command to promote and maintain unity of doctrine and practice” (Art. XI B 3); therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod in convention thank Dr. Barry for tak- ing a difficult stand in this confused world, support him for having spoken clearly and openly about this issue, and encourage him to continue to give a strong witness to the true Gospel whenever con- fusing witnesses arise. Iowa District East 3-68 To Ask President Emeritus to Retract Public Comments WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod President Alvin Barry in a statement he sent to all congregations of the LCMS, which appeared as a full-page ad in USA Today and 15 major newspapers throughout the U.S., declares that The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod does not accept the Joint Declaration on Justification signed in Augsburg, Germany, on October 31, 1999, by leaders of the Lutheran World Federation (which includes the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and leaders of the Roman Catholic Church: and WHEREAS, LCMS President Emeritus Ralph BohlImann in a let- ter he sent to the newspapers that published President Barry’s state- ment challenged President Barry and said that the ad does not rep- resent the position of the LCMS on the joint declaration; and WHEREAS, President Emeritus Bohlmann wrote in a letter he sent to the Council of Presidents of the LCMS and other leaders of 2001 Convention Workbook