LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1986, Page 146

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146 RESOLUTIONS

think about inter-church relations not organizationally but the-
ologically, allowing due weight to maxims like the following:

“a Churches that refuse to acknowledge as binding and de-
cjsive what is clearly taught in the Lutheran Confessions are not
Lutheran;

“p. Churches that refuse to acknowledge as binding and de-
cisive what is clearly taught in the written Word of God are not
Christian;

“ce. Two churches entering into pulpit and altar fellowship with
each other thereby become one church.”

In session 12 a number of amendments were offered. Overture
3-94, second resolve, which reads, “Resolved, That The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod record its conviction, with deep regret,
that the doctrine and practice of the merging churches, the ALC,
and LCA, and the AELC, are such that the latter are, as such no
longer genuine Lutheran churches from a traditional and confes-
sional point of view,” was declined. Another proposed amendment

calling for the substitution of, “no longer in agreement with The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod,” in the overture was not ac-
cepted by the chair since it was in effect the same as the previously

roposed amendment. The convention sustained the ruling of the
chair. A motion to refer the matter back to committee was declined
by a vote of 491-505.)

To Refer Church and Society Issues
to Commission on Structure

RESOLUTION 3-14

Report 5-01, 7 (CW, p. 170); Overture L3-89 (TB, p.
14)

Wuereas, The church today is often requested to re-
spond to, and provide guidance on, a variety of contem-
porary issues to be addressed by the church from a
thoroughly theological perspective, and

Wuereas, Excellent responses have been made by the
CTCR’s Social Concerns Committee and by the President's
office; therefore be it

Resolved, That the 1986 convention refer the matter of
“Church and Society” to the Commission on Structure for
appropriate recommendations to the 1989 convention; and
be it further

Resolved, That the CTCR, through its Committee for
Social Concerns, continue to make appropriate contem-
porary responses as deemed necessary; and be it further

Resolved, That the President make such appropriate
and contemporary responses as deemed necessary.

Action: None.

To Uphold Biblical Terms for God
RESOLUTION 3-15
Overture 3-75 (CW, p- 128)

Wuereas, The Scriptures consistently speak of God in
the language of the male gender; and

Wuereas, Many today reject masculine references to
God as sexist; and

Wuereas, The National Council of Churches’ Division
of Education and Ministry has issued its Inclusive Lan-
guage Lectionary for public worship for the use of its mem-
ber churches in which male references to God are removed;
therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
state clearly that the rejection of the revealed, Biblical
ways of speaking about God in favor of “nonsexist” or fe-
male terms is not simply a matter of language differences
or preferences but has profound theological implications
and is to be condemned; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
uphold the use of Biblical terms in speaking about God.

Action: None.

To Increase Membership of Commission
on Theology and Church Relations
(CTCR)

RESOLUTION 3-16
Overture L3-89 (TB, p- 14)

Wuereas, The Commission on Theology and Church
Relations has been assigned responsibility for assisting the
President at his request in discharging his constitutional
responsibilities and for providing guidance to the Synod
in matters of theology and church relations; and

Wuereas, The Synod in convention resolved in 1983
“that the Synod support expanded budget and staff ap-
propriations for the study of social-ethical concerns and
issues when additional funds become available”; and

WuereEas, There are increasing demands for the
CTCR’s involvement in the area of church relations; and

Wuereas, The CTCR from its founding in 1962 until
1981 was composed of 8 theological professors, 7 pastors,
6 laymen, and 2 teachers, but since 1982 has had a mem-
bership of 5 laymen, 4 pastors, 3 professors, and 1 teacher;
therefore be it

Resolved, That CTCR membership be increased by 3
theological professors, one to be elected by each of the Syn-
od’s American seminaries and one representative to be se-
lected by the President of the Synod from the faculties of
the synodical colleges.

Action: Adopted (14).

To Reaffirm Position
on Charismatic Issues

RESOLUTION 3-17

Report 3-01, I, B, 11 (CW, pp- 99-100); Overture 3-92
(CW, p. 133)

Wuereas, The Commission on Theology and Church
Relations continues to monitor developments in the char-
ismatic movement, and

Wuereas, A committee of eight synodical representa-
tives, appointed by the President of the Synod, has met
with eight charismatic pastors of the Synod, and is con
tinuing to meet and is discussing such matters as the syn-
odical position on charismatic activity, the policy of our
seminaries concerning charismatic students, and the the-
ological position of charismatic pastors, and

Wuereas, The Synod has spoken clearly and firmly 07