# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S403
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS—-COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 403

Notes

1. See the glossary of terms and abbreviations included at the
end of this report for this and other technical terms used in this
document.

2. In 1998 Resolution 3-15B “To Request Commission on The-
ology and Church Relations Study Document on Issues Raised by
Cloning” the Synod requested that the Commission prepare “a
study document to help the church, on the basis of the Word of
God, make informed ethical judgments concerning cloning and at-
tendant issues.” The Synod further noted that this assignment is “‘in
keeping with the Synod’s mandate that the CTCR continue to pro-
vide guidance in the area of bioethics (1977 Res. 3-26, Bylaw
3.925 b 4)” (1998 Convention Proceedings, 120).

3. G. K. Chesterton, St. Thomas Aquinas (New York: Sheed &
Ward, Inc., 1933), 98. ;

4. People of biblical faith tend to use the word “procreative” in
recognition of the human privilege of participating in God’s cre-
ation of new human beings, but the word “reproductive” is also
often used, especially in scientific and medical contexts.

5. Other issues will include: 1. How are we to respond to ques-
tions surrounding therapeutic (as opposed to reproductive) cloning,
including questions raised by stem cell research? 2. Who will have
access to the blessings of genetic knowledge and who will be op-
pressed by its burdens? 3. Can we expect that society will strive to
maximize blessings and minimize banes? 4. How should Chris-
tians seek to influence the pursuit and development of genetic sci-
ence and cloning? 5. What roles can Christian congregations play
in helping Christian people seek God’s will in these matters?

6. Estimates of the total number of human genes currently range
from 40,000 to 60,000. See, for example, a recent report indicat-
ing there may be “50 to 60,000 human genes and that previous es-
timates of 30 to 40,000 human genes are too low” (News Release
from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory; see /Attp://www.sci
encedaily.com/releases/2001/1 1/01 1129044642. htm).

7. Lutheran Worship (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House,
1982), 199.

8. Lutheran Book of Worship (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publish-
ing House, 1978), 203; cf. The Lutheran Agenda (St. Louis: Con-
cordia Publishing House, n.d.), 36 and 54.

9. John D. Zizioulas, Being as Communion: Studies in Person-
hood and the Church (New York: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press,
1985), 47.

10. Martin Luther, “Commentary on 1 Corinthians 7,” Luther’s
Works, American Edition (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House,
1973), 28:17-20.

11. Human Sexuality: A Theological Perspective, A Report of
the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as prepared by its Social Con-
cerns Committee, 1981, 19. For further reflection on this matter see
the Christians and Procreative Choices: How Do God’s Chosen
Choose?, A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, 1996, 23-33.

12. See, for example, Gen. 11:30; 21:1-7; 25:21; 1 Sam.
1:1-2:11; Luke 1.

13 Catechism of the Catholic Church (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist
Press, 1994), par. #2376.

14. Cf. Fr. A Coutinho, Attp:/Awww.thegospeltruth.org/
Quest! 48. htm,

15. Christians and Procreative Choices, 2]—22.

16. Ibid., 7-20.

17. Ibid., 34-39. See also Human Sexuality, 36-39.

18. In the last twenty-five years the practice of in vitro fertil-
ization has led to the preserving of many human embryos left over
from a couple’s attempt to become pregnant. In a future report the
Commission will address the moral and spiritual significance of
this cryopreservation of human embryos. Some Christians recom-
mend rescuing such embryos by adopting them and bringing them
to term in an adoptive womb. The Commission considers this prac-
tice to be similar to regular adoption and therefore morally permis-
sible. Just as we can approve and recommend regular adoption, so
we can recommend and approve embryo adoption.

- 19. Those definitions below marked by an asterisk (*) are taken
from Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Tenth Edition,
1993),

2004 Convention Workbook