# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S186 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 186 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10). “The law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, ... im- moral persons, sodomites ... and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine” (1 Tim. 1:9-10); and WHEREAS, Legally recognized “same-sex unions” or “same-sex marriages” are thus sinful and a violation of the Word of God; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod affirm the biblical doctrine of marriage as the union of one man and one woman for life; and be it further Resolved, That no Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod pastor shall officiate at or permit the performance of a “‘same-sex union” or “same-sex marriage” in any LCMS congregation. Crookston Circuit Forum Minnesota North District 3-75 To Reaffirm Historic Lutheran Teachings re Origin of World, Ordination of Women, and Justification by Grace through Faith WHEREAS, All in our church in the world in which we exist en- counter the false teaching of evolution as opposed to the scriptural teaching of the six-day creation (Genesis 1—2); and WHEREAS, All in our church also encounter the false teaching of women serving in the pastoral ministry as opposed to the scrip- tural teaching, which prohibits women serving in that capacity (1 Cor. 14:34-35; t Tim. 2:11—14); and WHEREAS, An article in the July 2001 Reporter of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod titled “Poll: Most Christians’ Beliefs Out of Sync with Bible,” stated, “When it comes to salvation, just 30 percent of all Americans embrace the belief that good works do not eam salvation but that it is a gift of God through the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. People attending Assemblies of God (64 percent), Pentecostal (62 percent) and Protestant nonde- nominational churches (60 percent) are most likely to share this view; while Catholics are least likely (9 percent). Lutherans are below that national average: at 27 percent”; and WHEREAS, Other surveys have revealed somewhat similar re- sults; and WHEREAS, The apparent rejection of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ Jesus by a majority of Christians is of great concern to us as Lutherans; therefore be it Resolved, That the Minnesota North District in convention memorialize The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in 2004 con- vention to do the following: 1. Reaffirm these historical Lutheran teachings 2. Insist that these teachings be taught at all levels of our church body 3. Request the faculties of our Concordia University System and seminaries to provide articles on these teachings for publication in The Lutheran Witness, Reporter, etc., and as Bible study aids for use in congregations 4. Direct those with doctrinal supervisory responsibilities to ex- ercise their proper disciplinary authority Minnesota North District 3-76 To Reaffirm Commitment to Historical Accuracy of Genesis WHEREAS, The Board for Higher Education (BHE) has issued an Academic Freedom and Responsibilities statement that allows professors in our Concordia system to “discuss concepts that con- flict with synodical teaching, including historical information and the results of research in a faculty member’s discipline” (Pt. 3, 1), but this same statement tempers this “discussion” by insisting that faculty members do “not advocate a position contrary to that of the Synod” (Pt. 3, 1); and WHEREAS, This same statement reemphasizes the need to avoid advocacy of false doctrine by saying: “A Concordia faculty mem- ber will not actively promote a doctrinal position that is in opposi- tion to the doctrinal position of the LCMS” (Pt. 3, 9); and WHEREAS, The belief in the historical accuracy and reliability of the Genesis account of creation is a part of our doctrinal belief; therefore be it Resolved, That the Iowa District East (IDE) in convention reaf- firm its commitment to the truth of creation as set forth in Genesis; and be it further Resolved, That the IDE in convention condemn the view as false doctrine that suggests that creation as explained in Genesis is a “theological” explanation of origins and that evolution is a “sci- entific” explanation of origins and that both are correct in accor- dance with their nature as unique and distinctive disciplines; and be it finally Resolved, That the IDE in convention petition the Synod in con- vention to join us in both the above “Resolved” statements, that it instruct all the boards of regents through the Concordia University System to ascertain if Genesis is being taught as historically accu- rate truth, and that it further instruct the boards of regents to re- move those teachings and teachers who continue to teach that evo- lution is a valid explanation of origins or who teach that Genesis is not historically factual. Iowa District East 3-77 To Return Theology and Practice of “the Divine Call’ to CTCR for Further Study WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) recently completed its study on the divine call (Theology and Practice of “the Divine Call”); and WHEREAS, The majority opinion only briefly addresses the na- ture of the divine call as it relates to auxiliary offices; and WHEREAS, There was sufficient dissent from the majority opin- ion to generate two minority opinions; and WHEREAS, In regard to the open-ended nature of a divine call the minority opinions call into question the validity of the majority opinion’s interpretation of both the Scriptures and the historical un- derstanding of the church; and WHEREAS, The minority opinions point to the document’s re- shaping of doctrine to fit existing practice rather than holding prac- tice accountable to biblical doctrine; and WHEREAS, The majority opinion represents a significant change in the Synod’s understanding of the validity of “temporary calls” for parish pastors, and such a change should not be undertaken lightly; and WHEREAS, The interpretation of the document could lead to such possibilities as contracted rather than called pastors, improper re- moval from office, and the lessening of the ability of the pastor to proclaim the full counsel of God in both Law and Gospel; and WHEREAS, The historically held position of our beloved Synod that the Holy Spirit calls, equips, and places men into the office of public ministry has served well over the past 157 years; therefore be it Resolved, That the document Theology and Practice of “the Divine Call” be returned to the CTCR for further study; and be it further Resolved, That the CTCR be instructed to further consider the minority opinions; and be it finally Resolved, That the CTCR be instructed to further explore and re- port on the nature of the divine call as it applies to auxiliary offices. Circuit 3 Forum South Wisconsin District