LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1986, Page 140

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140 RESOLUTIONS

tunity for the Synod to share more freely with others the
rich theological resources which God has so generously
entrusted to our church body during its 139 years and to
support more fervently the Biblical mandate to proclaim
the scriptural Gospel of Jesus Christ for the life and sal-
vation of people everywhere; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations initiate, facilitate, and develop a theo-
logical Statement of Mission; and be it further

Resolved, That this Statement of Mission reflect the ur-
gency, vitality, and joy of our historic confession of Christ’s
forgiveness by grace alone through faith alone as taught
in Scripture alone; and be it further

Resolved, That this statement remember the inclusive-
ness of our Mission Affirmations; and be it further

Resolved, That as the commission prepares this state-
ment it be mindful of its impact on and implications for
theological education, world missions and evangelistic out-
reach, congregational ministries, human care, inter-Chris-
tian relationships, providing leadership for worldwide
confessional solidarity, church polity, relationships of con-
gregations, national Synod, districts and circuits; and be
it further

Resolved, That the CTCR, in consultation with all the
various boards, councils, and commissions, involve pastors,
teachers, and laity on the congregational level; and be it
further

Resolved, That this statement be prepared with a view
toward the possibility of its use by the various units of the
Synod to develop purpose statements; and be it finally

Resolved, That this Statement of Mission be presented
to the 1989 convention.

Action: Adopted as amended (5).

(During the discussion the third resolve of the resolution was
adopted as an amendment. A motion to include “Resolved, That
this statement replace the Mission Affirmations of 1965” as a
second-last resolve was declined.)

To Commend the CTCR Report “Theses
on Justification”

RESOLUTION 3-03
Overtures 3-53-54 (CW, pp- 123-25)

Wuereas, The 1981 St. Louis convention of The Lu-
theran Church—Missouri Synod requested the Commis-
sion on Theology and Church Relations, together with the
joint faculties of the seminaries and the Council of Presi-
dents, to make a study of the doctrine of, justification (1981
Res. 3-12); and

Wuereas, The Commission on Theology and Church
Relations has given its response in a document entitled
“Theses on Justification”; and

Wuereas, We find the doctrinal content of this paper
to be in agreement with Holy Scripture and the Lutheran
Confessions, as well as with the doctrinal statements
adopted by the Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod commend the report, “Theses

on Justification,” to its membership for reference and guid-
ance.

Action: Adopted (5).

To Give Final Approval
to Autonomous Partner-Church Status
for Lutheran Church—Canada

RESOLUTION 3-04A

Overtures 3-25-27, L3-28 (CW, pp- 117-118) (TB, p-
13)
Preamble

When Lutheran Church—Canada was established as a
federation of the three Canadian districts of the Synod in
1958, one of its stated purposes was “To study the matter
of the formation of an independent Lutheran Church—Can-
ada to be affiliated with The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod.” Attempts to achieve that goal eluded the Lutheran
Church—-Canada in both 1964 and 1970, when referenda
for autonomy failed to receive the necessary two-thirds
majority in each district.

Upon being declared “an administrative unit” of the
Synod in 1965, Lutheran Church-Canada was given spe-
cific authority in certain areas such as doctrinal discus-
sions and higher education.

In more recent years the quest for autonomous partner
church status was again resumed as the Canadian situ-
ation changed. All three districts achieved financial self-
support. Decisions were made on seminary training that
resulted in the withdrawal from a pan-Lutheran program
at Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon, and the es-
tablishment of synodical seminaries at St. Catharines and
Edmonton. Canadian participation in Forward in Remem-
brance, which far exceeded all expectations, made it ap-
parent that the Canadian members were capable of
accepting the financial challenges involved in autonomy.

In 1983 the Synod adopted Res. 5-14, which among
other things called for the following:

A. That Lutheran Church-Canada “prepare and submit
to the Commission on Theology and Church Relations, the
Commission on Constitutional Matters, the Board for Mis-
sion Services, and the Board of Directors a constitution
and bylaws for the proposed partner church,” and that this
constitution and bylaws be“. ..consistent with the present
stance of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.” The
Constitution and Bylaws for the proposed autonomous Lu-
theran Church—Canada are the Constitution and Bylaws
of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod adapted for the
Canadian situation.

B. That the Board of Directors and the Board for Mission
Services, in consultation with the Council of Presidents,
assist in the “development and implementation of the pro-
cedures toward the formation of the [autonomous] Lu-
theran Church—Canada.” This has been implemented by
way of a Memorandum of Agreement on the implications
of autonomy and partnership, provisions for working to
gether in world missions, recognition of seminary training
and certification, mobility of professional workers, worker