# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S169 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 169 WHEREAS, In these turbulent times, Synod officials, pastors, commissioned workers, congregations, and individual Christians are often called upon to make difficult decisions in complex and critical situations; and WHEREAS, People greatly need to hear the comfort of God’s love proclaimed through the Gospel of Jesus Christ; therefore be it Resolved, That we encourage each other to approach such situ- ations with prayer, the study of God’s Word, the counsel of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and to act boldly and faithfully on behalf of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and be it further Resolved, That we recognize that because such situations vary from place to place, loca] pastors, commissioned workers, congre- gations, and officials are ordinarily in a better position to make re- sponsible decisions than those farther away; and be it further Resolved, That we trust each other’s decisions and avoid nega- tive-judgment charges against each other in such circumstances; and be it finally Resolved, That the convention authorize the Council of Presi- dents and the Commission on Theology and Church Relations to act together on developing guidelines and official procedures that will assist the members of the Synod in developing greater mutual respect and trust for each other, especially in recognizing and deal-_ . ing responsibly, and lovingly, with cases of discretion. Redeemer Austin, TX 3-3 To Uphold Doctrine of Christian Liberty Whereas, The theology of the Lutheran Church is centered in the theology of the cross, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2), and not in traditionalism, legalism, or prescribed and practiced pieties, etc. (SA II, 1); and WuereAS, All Christians are royal priests (1 Peter 2:9) and pos- sess the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 16:19), and all things belong to them (1 Cor. 3:21-23; cf. Treatise 11, Tappert, p. 321); and WHEREAS, We believe, teach, and confess that “we do not con- cede to the papists (the papist bishops) that they are the church, for they are not. Nor shall we pay any attention to what they command or forbid in the name of the church, for, thank God, a seven-year- old child knows what the church is, namely, holy believers and sheep who hear the voice of their Shepherd” (FC SD X, 19; SA III, XII, 1, 2) and “holiness does not consist of surplices, tonsures, albs, or other ceremonies of theirs which they have invented over and above the Holy Scriptures, but it consists of the Word of God and true faith” (SA IH, XI, 3); and WHEREAS, We believe, teach, and confess that “no one should assume lordship or authority over the church, nor burden the church with traditions, nor let anybody’s authority count for more than the Word of God” (FC SD X, 21; Treatise 11); and Wrereas, In regard to all indifferent matters, including human- ordered customs, traditions, ceremonies, church usages, rites, rubrics, liturgies, buildings, architecture, church administration, the form of church government, and so on, we believe, teach, and con- fess “that the community of God (Gemeinde, ecclesia) of God in every place and at every time has the right, authority, and power to change, to reduce, or to increase ceremonies according to its cir- cumstances, as long as it does so without frivolity and offense but in an orderly and appropriate way, as at any time may seem most profitable, beneficial and salutary for good order, Christian disci- pline, evangelical decorum, and the edification of the church. Paul instructs us how we can with a good conscience give in and yield to the weak in faith in such external matters of indifference (Romans 14) and demonstrates it by his own example (Acts 16:3; 21:26; 1 Cor. 9:10)” (FC SD X, 9); and WHEREAS, “We believe, teach and confess that at a time of con- fession, as when enemies of the Word of God desire to suppress the pure doctrine of the Holy Gospel, the entire community of God, yes, every individual Christian, and especially the ministers of the Word as the leaders of the community of God, are obligated to con- fess openly, not only by words but also through their deeds and ac- tions, the true doctrine and all that pertains to it, according to the Word of God—nor should we tolerate the imposition of such cere- monies—in order to undermine the genuine worship of God” (FC SD X, 10; also refer to AC VII, XV, XVI; Ap XV, XXVIII; SA III, XV); therefore be it Resolved, That the Texas District of The Lutheran Church —AMissouri Synod in convention affirm that human ordinances, tra- ditions, commands, and so on are not the true worship of God and are not to be imposed or coerced (conformity with ceremonies and matters of indifference are not to be demanded) on the people of God as necessary (FC SD x, 26, 27) and to the weak in faith; and be it further Resolved, That we affirm that the “community of God” does have the “liberty to use one or more ceremonies at any time and place, according to its circumstances, as may in Christian liberty be most beneficial to the church” (FC SD X, 30) and to the weak in faith; and be it further Resolved, That all congregations, pastors, educators, church of- ficials, and the like be encouraged not to “condemn each other be- cause of a difference in ceremonies, when in Christian liberty one , uses fewer or more of them, as long as they are otherwise agreed in doctrine and in all its articles and are also agreed concerning the right use of the holy sacraments” (FC SD X, 31; also refer to AC VII); and be it further Resolved, That all congregations, pastors, educators, and Dis- trict institutions and officials be encouraged to honor and uphold this doctrine of Christian liberty (Gal. 2:4—5; 5:1); and be it further Resolved, That all congregations, pastors, educators, and Dis- trict institutions and officials be encouraged to exercise their Chris- tian freedom in a manner that is not frivolous and offensive but or- derly and appropriate (FC SD X, 9); and be it finally Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod gath- ered in convention in 2004 be asked to adopt this same resolution for implementation within our “walking together” in the Synod as brothers and sisters in Christ. Texas District 3-39 To Rescind Call for Ecclesiastical Discipline for Signers of “That They May Be One” WHEREAS, The document “That They May Be One” was drafted in response to a Synod controversy over the issue of syncretism; and WHEREAS, The document has not been shown to be in conflict with the Bible or the Lutheran Confessions; and WHEREAS, The document is not divisive, but rather seeks to unite our Synod around a biblical and confessional understanding of how we are to give a faithful Christian witness to society, as is stated in the preface of the document: “Clarity and concord are es- sential to our unity. Therefore we present the following confession to bring clarity and concord to this situation. Our desire is to re- move the division that presently separates us by making a sound confession on the basis of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. Uniting under Christ, we will remain steadfast in the truth and pu- rity of the Gospel, proclaiming Jesus’ love and forgiveness to the world. We believe the following confession is in full agreement with the Lutheran Confessions and therefore correctly expresses the teaching of our Lord in the Holy Scriptures”; and Whereas, Numerous other documents have been drafted and signed throughout our Synod’s history (e.g., “A Statement of the 44,” “An Evangelical and Fraternal Plea,” “That We May Be One”) in order to address this and other contemporary issues; and WHEREAS, The 200] LCMS convention encouraged us to “let charity prevail’; therefore be it