# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2007_S187 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 187 3-99 To Give Thanks to God for Rejection of Ordination of Women by Lutheran Church of Australia WHEREAS, In October 2006, the Lutheran Church of Australia met in convention and deliberated to ordain women in the pastoral office; and WHEREAS, This false teaching was rejected by our fellow Lutherans, having failed to receive the necessary two-thirds major- ity; and WHEREAS, The struggle to confess the biblical truth regarding the Office of the Pastoral Ministry continues throughout Christen- dom; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod give thanks to God for the rejection of the ordination of women into the pastoral office by the Lutheran Church of Australia; and be it fur- ther Resolved, That the LCMS encourage our brothers and sisters in the Lutheran Church of Australia who are contending for the truth, by reaffirming that the ordination of women into the pastoral of- fice is contrary to the clear Word of God; and be it finally Resolved, That the Northern Illinois District East Region Pas- toral Conference submit this overture to the 2007 LCMS conven- tion for action. East Region Pastoral Conference Northern Illinois District 3-100 To Rescind 2001 Res. 3-21A re ELCA WHEREAS, The 2001 LCMS convention adopted resolution 3- 21A which inaccurately described the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as not being “an orthodox Lutheran church body” (2001 Convention Proceedings, p. 142); and WHEREAS, The Constitution of the ELCA states doctrinal stan- dards and norms basically the same as those held by the LCMS and stated in Art. II of the LCMS Constitution; therefore be it Resolved, That the LCMS gathered in convention rescind the 2001 Res. 3-21A. Resurrection Coronado, CA 3-101 To Pray for ELCA re Human Sexuality Issues WHEREAS, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) continues to struggle to confess biblical mandates regard- ing human sexuality in general, marriage, and homosexuality; and WHEREAS, Homosexual activity is a violation of God’s holy will as revealed in the Sixth Commandment; and WHEREAS, The ELCA and the LCMS are involved in joint ac- tivity, and the public confession of the ELCA affects our coopera- tion with them; therefore be it . Resolved, That the President of The Lutheran Church—Mis- souri Synod lead the 2007 LCMS convention in prayer for the ELCA, imploring our Father in heaven to bestow the Holy Spirit so that all false teaching regarding human sexuality, marriage, and homosexuality in the ELCA be uprooted by the Word of God for the good of the members and congregations of the ELCA and for the sake of those within and without the ELCA who are trapped in ungodly sexuality. St. Paul Brookfield, IL 3-102 To Meet with Confessional Lutherans Within the ELCA WHEREAS, Synod President Gerald Kieschnick and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson have agreed to conduct a series of meetings between leaders of the LCMS and ELCA; and WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon us as a synod to encourage and support all groups and organizations that uphold the Scriptures and the Confessions of the LCMS as the rule and norm of faith; and WHEREAS, There are pastors in the ELCA who are greatly con- cerned about the ELCA’s support of theological liberalism and tol- eration of denials of basic doctrines of the Christian faith; there- fore be it Resolved, That the 2007 LCMS convention ask the Praesidium of the LCMS to invite leaders of conservative groups (both pastors and congregations) within the ELCA to meet with them to encour- age them in their confessional walk and to explore together any possible future steps. Cedar Hill Cedar Hill, MO 3-103 To Establish Theological Talks and Altar and Pulpit Fellowship with Our Lutheran Neighbors Whereas, Altar and pulpit fellowship is not enjoyed with our brothers and sisters in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS), and other Lutheran bodies; and WHEREAS, Most families in the congregations of the LCMS are affected in some way by fellowship issues, meaning that when fam- ilies worship together in one of our congregations, some members being a part of other Lutheran church bodies not in fellowship with the LCMS, unity at Holy Communion does not happen although there is in most cases a common confession and understanding of the Lord’s Supper; and WHEREAS, The need for unity in the Church is needed and is what Christ’s prays for in His High Priestly prayer in John 17; and WHEREAS, Christ Himself has given us a new commandment to “Love the Lord, thy God with all thy heart, soul and mind” and “Love thy neighbor as thyself”; therefore be it Resolved, That the LCMS in convention ask the Praesidium to appoint a committee, to include professors of both of our seminar- ies, to seek out opportunities for theological talks with the ELCA, the WELS, the ELS, and other Lutheran church bodies to bring agreement and unity to our churches so that our church bodies might have altar and pulpit fellowship together; and be it further Resolved, That said committee report back to the Synod annu- ally through the district presidents and circuit counselors to our member congregations and ministers of the process and progress being made in these areas; and be it further Resolved, That said committee report back to the 2013 Synod convention the results and progress of theological talks and also recommendations for the Synod in regard to these matters; and be it finally Resolved, That the LCMS in convention stand and pray that unity and fellowship can be restored among us through the working of the Holy Spirit and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Savior Pratt, KS 3-104 To Declare Pulpit and Altar Fellowship with ELCA WuHEeREAS, The Lord of the Church calls His people to live at _ peace and to be one; and