# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2013_S186
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

186

Theology and Church Relations

Resolved, We recognize local pastors, congregations, and officials are ordinarily in a better position in the midst of a crisis to
make responsible decisions than those who are far away, as articulated by Dr. Timothy Dost’s article, “Surfing Shifting Sands of
Contextuality: Appropriate Flexibility in Handling Conclusions as an
Approach to Communicating the Gospel,” published in the MISSIO
APOSTOLICA, Journal of the Lutheran Society for Missiology, Inc.,
Volume XX, No.2 (Issue 40), November 2012, (http://lsfmissiology.
org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/MA%2011-12%200nline_with%20
hyperlinks.pdt); and be it further
Resolved, That we respect and trust each other’s decisions and
avoid judgments and charges against each other in such circumstances, for as the apostle John states, “There is no fear in love”
(1 John 4:18); and be it further
Resolved, That when we disagree with the decisions of a pastor,
congregation, or official, we encourage one another to respectfully
address those differences in the spirit of Christian love personally and
privately, face-to-face (Gen. 33:10), not through e-mail or Internet
interactions, using the Matthew 18 model over a period of time
before making the disagreement public, including Web sites such
as Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc., understanding that such platforms
can be incredibly dehumanizing, further dividing and hurting our
Christian witness to the world as evidenced in Tim Townsend’s article on this very matter (“Newtown ‘debacle’ reopens old wounds for
Missouri Synod,” The Post-Dispatch, Feb. 13, 2013); and be it finally
Resolved, That we seek the Holy Spirit’s peace, wisdom, and discernment as we follow the commands of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ to love one another as He loved us, to serve one another as He
served us, and to make disciples of all nations.
Trinity
Keene, NH
4-51

To Give Thanks to God for Christian Care Given
following School Shootings
Whereas, The senseless violence toward students, faculty, and
staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School has caused sorrow and terror to that community and the nation; and
Whereas, Christians were “baptized for this moment” to know,
live, and share the love of Christ each day and in particular for those
in great need; and
Whereas, Pastor Robert Morris and the baptized at Christ the
King Lutheran Church provided care to grieving and terrorized individuals and families both in the congregation and as a witness in the
public square; and
Whereas, This incarnational care is a positive witness to our Lord
and representative of the desire of many in the LCMS to engage the
world with the Gospel of hope; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention give thanks to God for
the Christian care Pastor Robert Morris and Christ the King Lutheran
Church provided to the Newtown Community following the school
shootings on December 14, 2012.
Village
Bronxville, NY

2013 Convention Workbook

4-52

To Support Faithful Christian Witness of LCMS
Pastors in the Public Sector
Whereas, The LCMS desires to maintain a faithful public witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the truth of God’s Word:
“The Synod, under Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, shall
… Strengthen congregations and their members in giving bold witness by word and deed to the love and work of God, the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit, and extend that Gospel witness into all the world”
(Constitution, Art. III 2); and
Whereas, The Synod’s mission statement is “In grateful response
to God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and
Sacraments, the mission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is
vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within
our churches, communities and the world” [emphasis added]; and
Whereas, The Church, and every individual member of the
Church, is called upon to proclaim boldly the name of Jesus Christ
as the true and only Lord and Savior of all people, at every opportunity (Matt. 28:19); and
Whereas, The Scriptures ask, “How, then, can they call on the
one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one
of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are
sent?” (Rom. 10:14, 15); and
Whereas, The apostle Paul reminds us, “We are therefore Christ’s
ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.
We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2 Cor.
5:20); and
Whereas, All Christians are urged to “preach the word; be
prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Tim. 4:2); and
Whereas, The Bible further teaches that without the Gospel,
false teachers offer no hope and a path to God that is no path, as the
Scriptures instruct, “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue
in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the
teaching has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 9); and
Whereas, A faithful word spoken at the proper time in contrast
to false hope releases God’s Spirit of truth which is “alive and active.
Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing
soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.
Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom
we must give account” (Heb. 4:12); and
Whereas, Without compromising time-honored Scripture, the
LCMS has from time to time reviewed and altered its public and practical application of God’s truth on social issues (e.g., suffrage, birth
control, the purchase of insurance); and
Whereas, The historic example of the LCMS is demonstrated in
the counsel of C. F. W. Walther to a young student who asked, “Then
I should have preached the distinctive doctrines separating us from
the Congregationalist?” Dr. Walther answered, “No; you should have
preached the simple doctrine of salvation, for example, the doctrine
of the means of grace”; and
Whereas, Times of great tragedy appear to be impacting our communities with ever-increasing regularity, placing our clergy and our
congregations in situations which demand both great expressions of
compassion and comfort as well as clear statements of in whom such
comfort alone can be found; and