# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S129
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

To Foster Peace, Harmony, and Trust
within Synod for Sake of Christ’s Mission
RESOLUTION 3-03A
Report 1-8-01 (CW, p. 18); Overtures 3-13, 3-26–34,
3-37, L3-114 (CW, pp. 163, 166–169; TB, p. 33)
WHEREAS, Christ has entrusted His church with the
message of reconciliation, that the world might know His
saving grace (2 Cor. 5:18–6:3); and
WHEREAS, The Mission 21st Century Task Force has
identified both inadequate attention to doctrine and the
Synod’s difficulties in dealing with internal controversies
as hindering the fulfillment of the Great Commission; and
WHEREAS, Our Lord has taught us that people will know
we are His disciples by the love we have for one another,
since He has first loved us (John 13:34–35); and
WHEREAS, Genuine love is never manifested by compromising the truth of God’s Word; and
WHEREAS, Jesus prayed that His church might be one,
that the world might believe that His Father sent the Son
for its salvation (John 17:20); and
WHEREAS, The Council of Presidents has committed itself to working for peace and harmony in the Synod for the
sake of Christ’s mission to the world, as evidenced by its
statement adopted November, 2002:
Because Jesus Christ is our peace and has made us one,
the Council of Presidents renews its commitment to lead
the Synod in addressing:
1. The need to work toward agreement in doctrine and
practice.
2. The need to provide safe places for responsible theological and doctrinal discussion on the basis of the Holy
Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.
3. The need to avoid party spirit, rancor, and name calling
and to treat one another in Christian love.
4. The need throughout the Synod for God’s people to seek
that humility which leads to genuine repentance and forgiveness.
5. The need to support the President and all other elected
officers of the Synod in every effort to focus our church
on the Great Commission and to work for harmony
within the Synod.
therefore be it
Resolved, That we commend the Council of Presidents
for the commitment they have made to lead us in working
for peace and harmony in our beloved Synod; and be it further
Resolved, That the members of the Synod commit themselves anew to live in love in accord with the truth of God’s
Word and to “make known the love of Christ by word and
deed within our churches, communities, and the world”
(Synod’s Mission Statement); and be it further
Resolved, That the Council of Presidents along with the
St. Louis and Fort Wayne seminaries be asked to develop materials on the basis of the Lutheran Confessions and portions
of Scripture such as 1 John, Matt. 18, and Rom. 12–16, and
the Lutheran Confessions, especially for use in congregations

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and Circuits, which will foster such peace, harmony, and
trust that together we may more effectively and faithfully fulfill the mission the Lord has entrusted to us; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Council of Presidents be asked to
lead those under their care to a renewed understanding of
distinctive Lutheran doctrines, including the proper distinction of the Law and Gospel and the use of the Means of
Grace, and their applicability to the current issues.
Action: Adopted (5)
(After the resolution was introduced, a motion to insert the
words 16 and the Lutheran Confessions in place of the number 15
in the final resolve was adopted by common consent. An amendment to add a second whereas, WHEREAS, The Mission 21st Century Task Force has identified both inadequate attention to doctrine and the Synod’s difficulties in dealing with internal
controversies as hindering the fulfillment of the Great Commission; and, and a final resolve, Resolved, That the Council of Presidents be asked to lead those under their care to a renewed understanding of distinctive Lutheran doctrines, including the proper
distinction of the Law and Gospel and the use of the Means of
Grace, and their applicability to the current issues, was adopted.
An amendment to replace the words be it finally in the second resolve with be it further and insert the following two resolves
failed: Resolved, That the Council of Presidents strongly urge the
pastors and congregations of the Synod to follow the historic doctrine and practice of the Synod as articulated in the doctrinal resolutions accepted over the years by the Synod in convention; and
be it further Resolved, That the COP be requested to discipline
those pastors and congregations which, following patient and
evangelical counsel, refuse to follow the historic doctrine and practice of the LCMS; and be it finally. An amendment to add the
words along with the St. Louis and Fort Wayne seminaries in the
third resolve was adopted. An amendment was introduced to replace the words be it finally with the words be it further and then
inserting two additional resolves: Resolved, That the Council of
Presidents strongly urge the pastors and congregations of Synod to
follow the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions and the
practice of Synod as articulated in the doctrinal resolutions accepted over the years by Synod in convention; and be it further Resolved, That the COP be requested to discipline those pastors and
congregations which, following patient and evangelical counsel,
refuse to follow the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions
and the practice of the LCMS; and be it finally. The amendment
failed. After debate was ended, the resolution as amended was
adopted [Yes: 992; No: 207].)

To Urge Continuation of Theological
Conferences
RESOLUTION 3-04
Reports 1-8, 3-01 (CW, pp. 7, 71); Overtures 3-36,
3-42-43 (CW, pp. 168, 177)
WHEREAS, We give thanks to God that all members of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, in the confessional
article of the Synod’s Constitution, profess their unqualified acceptance of the Holy Scriptures as “the written Word
of God and the only rule and norm of faith and practice”
and of the Lutheran Confessions as a true exposition of the
Word of God (Constitution, Art. II); and
WHEREAS, Complete agreement does not exist in the
Synod regarding the application of scriptural truths and
principles to every aspect of various issues facing the
church today as it seeks to bring God’s unchanging Word
to bear on our changing culture (e.g., the participation of
LCMS pastors in civic events, worship practices, admission
to the Lord’s Supper, inter-Christian relationships, the ser2004 Convention Proceedings