# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2007_S30 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 30 SYNOD REPORTS Finally, “It is much to be desired, yes, even necessary, that the members of the Synod...be familiar with the basic principles and the working rules which have been adopted by the Synod for the purpose of enabling Lutheran congregations which remain true to their heritage to cooperate in doing the greatest work on earth, to wit, the extension of Christ’s kingdom by the preaching of the Gospel for the salvation of many souls to the glory of God” (1924 Handbook). The Task Force is committed to the development of recommendations on structure based first upon the mission of the Church, namely the proclaiming of the Gospel and bringing peo- ple to know Christ. There has been and will continue to be an extensive effort to determine needed structure that will assist con- gregations, districts, and ultimately the Synod to achieve the scrip- tural injunction that Christ would have “all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Our prayer is that the work of the Task Force and the structure of the Synod will both ever serve that mission, proclamation, and outreach. Robert Greene, Chairman Appendix A RRENT Preamble Reason for the Forming of a Synodical Union 1. The example of the apostolic church. Acts 15:1-31. 2. Our Lord’s will that the diversities of gifts should be for the common profit. | Cor, 12:4-31. Article I Name The name of the synod organized under this constitution shall be: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Article II Confession The Synod, and every member of the Synod, accepts without reservation: 1. The Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament as the written Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and of practice; 2. All the Symbolical 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. 2007 Convention Workbook PROVISIONAL DRAFT 01.08.2007 SUGGESTED REVISIONS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION AT THIS TIME Reasons for the Existence of a Synodical Union 1. To participate together in God’s mission of saving all people through Jesus Christ. | Tim. 2:4; John 20:21; 2 Cor. 5:17-20. 2. To work together in proclaiming the Gospel message, in en- couraging and urging the Gospel mission, and in preserving unity under the Gospel in the spirit of the apostolic church. Acts 15:1-31. 3. To make effective use of the different gifts in the Body of Christ for the purpose of serving one another in God’s mission for the common good of all. 1 Cor. 12:4-31. Article I Name The name of the synod organized under this constitution shall be: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Article II Confession of Faith The Synod, and every member of the Synod, believes, teaches, and confesses without reservation that 1. Jesus Christ alone is the Savior of the world, and that only through faith in Him is there forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation. John 3:16—18; 1 John 2:2; Acts 4:12. 2. The Scriptures of the Old and the New Testaments are the wnit- ten Word of God and “the only judge, rule and guiding princi- ple” (FC Epitome, 7) of faith and of practice; 3. The confessional documents in the Book of Concord—the three Ecumenical Creeds (the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed) and the writings of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, the Apol- ogy of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, the Trea- tise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope, the Large and Small Catechisms of Luther, and the Formula of Concord)—are true and correct statements and expositions of the Word of God.