# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S183
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 183

3-64

To Clarify Relationships with Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America

WHEREAS, The 2001 convention of the Synod declared that the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is not consid-
ered an orthodox Lutheran church body (Res. 3-21A); and

WHEREAS, The impact of that resolution on joint ministries with
the ELCA has not yet been fully defined; therefore it be

Resolved, That the Minnesota South District in convention
memorialize the 2004 convention of the Synod to provide guidance
for the congregations and entities of the Synod in their relation-
ships with the ELCA and its congregations and entities.

Minnesota South District

3-65

To End Joint Work with ELCA

WHEREAS, Our last Synod convention declared that the ELCA
can no longer be considered an orthodox Lutheran body (Res.
3-21A); and

WHEREAS, Res, 3-21A requests that current cooperative pastoral
working arrangements with ELCA be evaluated by the Praesidium
with results and recommendations reported to the next convention;
and

WHEREAS, There remain many areas where significant changes
have occurred in the doctrine and practice of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America where our Synod in all its entities has
yet to respond, and where decades-old agreements with the
ELCA’s predecessor bodies remain in effect as if these changes
never took place; and

WHEREAS, ELCA altar and pulpit fellowship (‘full commu-
nion”) with Reformed church bodies, the Episcopal Church, and
the Moravian Church mean that our military personnel and college
students may be subject to heterodox doctrine and pastoral care;
and

WHEREAS, The retreat from traditional, confessional
Lutheranism has been unfolding in the ELCA and its predecessor
bodies for decades, with the ELCA showing no signs of returning
to doctrinal orthodoxy; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Wyoming District in convention memorial-
ize the Synod to hear the report of the Praesidium and declare that
our Synod will no longer engage in joint ministry of Word and
Sacrament with the ELCA; and be it further

Resolved, That the Wyoming District in convention urge the
Synod President to oversee and supervise the Synod’s various
boards and commissions on detaching themselves from every ves-
tige of joint mission work with the ELCA, including ministry to
international Lutheran congregations and campus ministry; and be
it further

Resolved, That the LCMS continue cooperative efforts that do
not involve Word and Sacrament ministry, when that is possible;
and be it further

Resolved, That the convention direct this action to take place
during this current triennium and that it progress with all deliberate
speed, being concluded no later than Dec. 31, 2006; and be it fi-
nally

Resolved, That the Wyoming District commend our faithful
LCMS chaplains serving in campus ministries for maintaining con-
fessional integrity where existing ELCA/LCMS agreements con-
tradict our Confessions and practice as members of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod.

Wyoming District

3-66

To Continue Responsible Cooperation
in Externals with ELCA

WHEREAS, The Synod has long held that it is consistent with the
Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions, and beneficial to those in
need, to cooperate with other Christian churches, and especially
Lutheran churches, in matters of human need, though the Synod
may not enjoy altar and pulpit fellowship with such churches; and

WHEREAS, The Constitution and Bylaws of Synod make provi-
sion for, and even mandate such cooperation in externals with the
ELCA (3.833 b, c, f, g); and

WHEREAS, The Synod currently cooperates with the ELCA
through LCMS World Relief/Human Care in the areas of disaster
relief (Lutheran Disaster Response); international aid (Lutheran
World Relief, Baltimore); social ministry (Lutheran Services in
America, and some 100 jointly recognized social ministry agen-
cies); refugee resettlement (Lutheran Immigration and Refugee
Services); none of which require, imply, or necessitate altar and
pulpit fellowship, and all of which provide millions of individuals
care in times of need; and

WHEREAS, The Bylaws make clear that such recognized entities
and cooperative efforts are to respect and “not act contrary to the
doctrine and practice of the Synod” (13.03 a.); and

WHEREAS, The ELCA continues to struggle with its public po-
sition on the issue of homosexuality and plans to adopt a clarified
position on this matter at its regular assembly in 2005; and this and
other doctrinal and ethical differences between the LCMS and the
ELCA require clear, continuous communication with, evaluation,
and encouragement of the inter-Lutheran entities and jointly rec-
ognized agencies; and

WHEREAS, The elimination of LCMS participation in these co-
operative efforts will result not only in the diminished capacity of
these entities to serve the needy, but also the removal of the LCMS
voice of Lutheran integrity within the boards, staffs, and con-
stituents of these organizations; and

WHEREAS, The Synod’s Board for Human Care has a clear pol-
icy regarding entities which violate doctrinal or ethical positions of
the Synod, from time-to-time removing recognized status from a
social ministry organization; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS continue responsible cooperation in
external efforts with the ELCA; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Human Care continue to exercise
due diligence, in cooperation with constitutional synodical author-
ities (District Presidents, boards of directors, etc.) to see that the
recognized organizations and inter-Lutheran entities, in fact, re-
spect and do not act contrary to the doctrine and practice of the
Synod.

Board for Human Care

3-67

To Support Joint ELCA—LCMS
Social and Educational Ministries
WHEREAS, The LCMS and the ELCA have in the past and con-
tinue to jointly respond to human needs worldwide through agen-
cies such as LWR and LIRS; and
WHEREAS, The work is done in the name of Christ and RSOs
affirm unity in service and education and not in all doctrinal points;
and
WHEREAS, The efforts of the LCMS are multiplied by these co-
operative efforts and our Synod is in no way doctrinally compro-
mised by these efforts; therefore be it
Resolved, That our RSOs be encouraged to continue efforts to
reach out with social and educational ministry; and be it further
Resolved, That LCMS/ELCA tensions regarding doctrine not
be allowed to subvert godly and confessional relationships; and be
if further