# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S151 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 152 DISTRICT AND CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES WHEREAS, The theory of evolution is taught as the true expla- nation of the origins of life in public schools and widely dissemi- nated in the media; and WHEREAS, The Scriptures teach that “they deliberately forget” that God is the Creator of All (2 Peter 3:5—6); therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con- vention remind its pastors and teachers to include the doctrine of God as the Creator and Author of life in their preaching and teaching. Our Redeemer Columbia Falls, MT 2-25 To Reject Theistic Evolution, Produce Creation Curricula, and Encourage Creation Studies in Synod Schools WHEREAS, God’s Word clearly teaches a six-day, supernatural creation; and WHEREAS, The theory of evolution is contrary to the teaching of God’s clear Word; and WHEREAS, Christian people of all ages can be and have been scandalized by evolutionary theory, which appears to disprove the creation account and erode the authority of the Bible; and WHEREAS, Scriptural teachings of God’s authority are based in part on His being creator (for example, Rev. 14:7 speaks to His role as judge; 1 Chron. 16:26 speaks to His right to be called the only true God; John 1 connects creation with salvation); and WHEREAS, Compromising teachings of theistic evolution (God using evolutionary processes to create the universe over billions of years of time) is an unacceptable compromise, incompatible with the clear creation account of Gen. 1-3; and WHEREAS, Such compromises destroy Christian theology due to millions of years of death and suffering preceding the fall into sin, thus making death and struggle a result of a flawed creation and the fault of the Creator rather than a natural consequence of hu- manity’s sin; and WHEREAS, Young people are especially susceptible to being led astray by often aggressively atheistic and anti-biblical evolution- ary teaching; and WHEREAS, It is the church’s duty to produce followers of Christ who not only know the fundamentals of the Christian faith, but also are “prepared to give an answer . . . for the hope that you have,” (1 Peter 3:16); and WHEREAS, Evangelism efforts to our current culture are often hindered by the acceptance of naturalistic evolution as fact and the accompanying assumption that no God exists; and WHEREAS, The authoritative role of God’s Word in all areas has been greatly undermined by evolution and can be restored if evo- lutionary theory is shown to be false; therefore be it Resolved, That all educational agencies of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, including elementary schools, high schools, colleges, and seminaries include as part of their curricu- lum, studies in creation from both a biblical and scientific perspec- tive; and be it further Resolved, That evolutionary theory be studied and refuted in order that young people may be equipped with a biblically and sci- entifically sound response; and be it further Resolved, That no educational agency of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod tolerate the teaching of evolution as the explanation for the origin of the world; and be it further Resolved, That all types of theistic evolution be rejected as fu- tile, unnecessary, and dangerous compromises of biblical revela- tion; and be it finally Resolved, That the appropriate agencies of the Synod see to it that curricula teaching creation and rejecting and refuting evolu- tion, both on biblical and scientific grounds, is made available for use in synodical congregations and schools. Prince of Peace Farmington Hills, MI 2-26 To Commit to Diligent Program of Doctrinal Education WHEREAS, The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the written Word of God, and the only rule and norm of faith and practice (Art. II of the LCMS Constitution); and WHEREAS, The Symbolic Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of God, to wit: the three Ecumenical Creeds (the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed), the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, the Large Catechism of Luther, the Small Catechism of Luther, and the Formula of Concord are the proper exposition of the Word of God; therefore be it Resolved, That all members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod commit to a diligent program of education throughout all member congregations to revive in each person the knowledge of the primary principles and doctrines of the absolute Word of the true Triune God found in the Bible and as explained by the Sym- bolic books of the Lutheran Church. Bethel Lander, WY 2-27 To Request Publication of Orthodox Christian Literature WHEREAS, There is a great need for good orthodox Christian lit- erature; therefore be it Resolved, That the 2004 LCMS convention ask the Board of Di- rectors of Concordia Publishing House to consider publishing, or listing in the CPH catalog: 1. A book of the writings of Dr. Raymond Surburg. Some are listed in “Writings of Raymond Surburg, Ph.D., Th.D.” (Chris- tian News, June 4, 2001). 2. The writings of Rev. Paul Burgdorf. Many of his writings are listed in the Oct. 23, 1995, Christian News. 3. Bible Difficulties and Does the Bible Contradict Itself by William Arndt. 4. An American Translation of the Bible by William F. Beck. 5. He Her Honor—She His Glory by Vernon Grieger. 6. Communism and Socialism by C. F. W. Walther. 7. Two Rivers to Freedom by Stella Wuerffel. 8. Salt, Light, and Signs of the Times—An Intimate Look at the Life and Times of Alfred (Rip) Rehwinkel by Ronald Stelzer. 9. Pastoral Theology by C. F. W. Walther. 10. Islam in the Crucible—Can It Pass the Test by Riccoldo da Montecroce and Martin Luther. Trinity New Haven, MO 2-28 To Commend and Encourage Concordia Publishing House to Produce What About... ? Materials WHEREAS, There is a great need for sound biblical teaching ma- terials; and WHEREAS, Some materials produced today by so-called Chris- tian publishing houses are anything but Christian; and