LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 297

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PARISH SERVICES 297

7-17

To Use Translations
Reflecting Our Stance Toward Inerrancy

WHEREAS, Our people desire guidance in the use of trans-
lations of the Bible, which continue to come off the presses and
which vary greatly in quality and in the theological pre-
suppositions of their translators; and

WHEREAS, In the last few years several excellent Bible
translations have been produced whose translators and editors
are committed to the full inerrancy and infallibility of the
Scriptures as the written Word of God, as were the translators
of the still beloved and familiar King James Version; and

WHEREAS, Among these are especially the New Interna-
tional Version, the New American Standard Bible, the New
King James Bible, and our own Dr. William F. Beck’s Holy
Bible: An American Translation; and

WHEREAS, No translation is or can be perfect since by
definition they are translations of the original Greek and
Hebrew Scriptures; but

WHEREAS, Some translations do betray to some extent a
liberal or sectarian bias because they are translated by people
who are not committed to the full inerrancy and infallibility of
the Bible, and since this attitude toward the Bible clearly
influences the way certain passages are handled; and

WHEREAS, Some translations which indicate this less than
desired loyalty to the text of Scripture include the Revised
Standard Version, Today’s English Version, and (for certain
sectarian translations of some passages) The Living Bible;and

WHEREAS, Our Synod and its publications should support
and encourage those versions of the Bible which hold the same
high view of Scripture that our Synod has taken and repeatedly
affirmed; therefore be it

Resolved, That Concordia Publishing House and synodical
publications generally use the above named versions: the NIV,
the NASB, the NKJB, and Beck’s translation along with the
King James Version to the exclusion of other translations
unless a given passage is clearly preferable and more faithful
to the original in another version.

Peace Lutheran Church
Garland, Tex.

Kenneth Schon, Secretary
Curtis A. Peterson, Pastor

7-18
To Use 1968 Translation of Catechism

WHEREAS, The 1968 Intersynodical Translation of Luther’s
Small Catechism was accepted by the Synod in 1967 (Res. 7-04)
only after careful study (see 1967 Convention Workbook, pp.
242—45); and

WHEREAS, The 1968 Intersynodical Translation is more
understandable to contemporary American youth; and

WHEREAS, The 1968 Intersynodical Translation has been
successfully used for more than a decade in Synod- and parish-
education agencies; and

WHEREAS, The Board of Parish Education has decided to
revert back to an 1897 translation of Luther’s Catechism in its
new religion curriculum; and

WHEREAS, Many pastors, teachers, and laypersons recog-
nize the difficulty of the 1897 translation for children and
youth even though they memorized the 1897 translation and
may personally prefer the 1897 translation; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board of Parish Education and Con-
cordia Publishing House be strongly urged to use the 1968
Intersynodical Translation of Luther’s Small Catechism in
their Christian education materials, and especially in those
materials designed for children and youth.

Teachers Conference

North Wisconsin District

R. R. Fischer, President
Andrea Beversdorf, Secretary

7-19

To Update the Explanation
of Luther’s Small Catechism

WHEREAS, The 1943 edition of the explanation of Luther’s
Small Catechism is a concise summary of the chief parts of
Christian doctrine; and

WHEREAS, The catechism format is a useful method to
enhance the teaching/learning process; and

WHEREAS, The use of one tool as a major guide contributes to
ease and success of instruction; and

WHEREAS, Many confirmands find the present catechism
difficult to understand because the language of the King James
translation is not commonly used today; and

WHEREAS, Some of the questions and answers are stated to
reflect the language used in the King James translation and
are therefore difficult to understand; and

WHEREAS, There are newer and more easily understood
translations of the Bible; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod produce an edition of Luther’s
Small Catechism in which the explanation of the catechism
uses supporting Biblical texts from a reliable modern trans-
lation; and be it further

Resolved, That in such an edition the questions and answers
in the explanation of the catechism be reviewed and updated
where appropriate to reflect the wording of the newer trans-
lation used for easier understanding by today’s youth.

Lutheran Church of Living Christ
Madison, Wis.
Virgene Vatthauer, Secretary

7-20
To Place Emphasis
on the Christian Family

WHEREAS, The Scriptures stress with great frequency the
importance of the family in the affairs of the church and the
world; and

WHEREAS, The roles and responsibilities of members of the
family in setting standards and transmitting values and in
supporting and sustaining other members of the family are all
part of our Lutheran heritage; and

WHEREAS, In recent years developments in a rapidly chang-
ing social order have burdened the family with new problems,
have eroded traditional values and confronted the Christian
family with new problems and challenges; and

WHEREAS, Lutheran families, too, have felt the pressures,
have on occasion succumbed to the forces that destroy the
family, and have experienced the conflicts projected in con-
frontation with values that stress individuality and subjec-
tivity at the expense of the family; and

WHEREAS, Recent studies, such as those produced in the
White House Conference on the Family, have reemphasized
the importance of the family and given consideration to
proposals that strengthen the family rather than weaken it;
therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
declare 1983 as the “Year of the Christian Family”; and be it
further

Resolved, That studies of families in the Synod be made to
determine the relative importance of issues confronting them
and that emphasize the interrelated concerns of the aged, the
young, and members of the family; and be it further

Resolved, That the program boards of the Synod develop
new materials to strengthen today’s family; and be it finally

Resolved, That efforts be made to communicate concerns of
Lutherans regarding families and family values to the media
and to policymakers in society charged with program develop-
ment and funding of activities that have major family-related
implications.

Board of Social Ministry and World Relief
Robert Mugge, Chairman
Leslie F. Weber, Executive Secretary