LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1986, Page 148

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148 RESOLUTIONS

Action: Adopted (14).

To Extend Interim Authority
for Inter-Lutheran Agencies

RESOLUTION 3-20

Report 5-01, I, 8 (CW, p. 170); Overtures 3-07, 3-12-3-
17 (CW, pp. 113-15)

Wuereas, The 1983 convention of the Synod resolved
(Res. 3-07A) “that between now and the 1986 convention
of the Synod, the Board of Directors, upon recommendation
of the President of the Synod and the Commission on The-
ology and Church Relations, and after consultation with
the Council of Presidents, be granted interim authority to
approve the creation of any new inter-Lutheran agencies
and the restructuring or withdrawal from any current in-
ter-Lutheran agencies, including the Lutheran Council in
the United States of America”; and

Wuereas, The President of the Synod in his report to
the Synod has recommended “that the interim authority
granted to the Board of Directors in 1983 Res. 3-07A (to
approve membership in or withdrawal from inter-Lu-
theran agencies) be extended to the 1989 convention”;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod extend the authority granted
in the 1983 Res. 3-07A until the 1989 convention.

Action: Adopted (14).

To Reaffirm the Position
of the Synod on Abortion

RESOLUTION 3-21
Appendix II (CW, pp. 382-93)

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has
consistently taken a strong position in support of human
life and in opposition to willful abortion (Res. 2-39, 1971,
Milwaukee; Res. 3-08C, 1977, Dallas; Res. 3-02A, 1979, St.
Louis; Res. 3-02, 1981, St. Louis; Res. 3-04B, 1983, St.
Louis); and

Wuereas, The tragedy of abortion with all of its de-
structive consequences upon individuals, families, and so-
ciety as a whole has continued unabated; and

Wuereas, The Commission on Theology and Church
Relations has recently completed a comprehensive study
on the subject, entitled “Abortion in Perspective”; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its position that “(a)
the living but unborn are persons in the sight of God from
the time of conception (Job 10:9-11; Ps. 51:5; 139:13-17;
Jer. 1:5; Luke 1:41-44); (b) as persons the unborn stand
under the full protection of God’s own prohibition against
murder (Gen. 9:6; Ex. 20:13; Num. 35:33; Acts 7:19; 1 John
3:15); and (c) since abortion takes a human life, abortion
is not a moral option, except as a tragically unavoidable
byproduct of medical procedures necessary to prevent the
death of another human being, viz., the mother” (1979, Res.
3-02A); and be it further

Resolved, That Commission on Theology and Church
Relations document, “Abortion in Perspective,” be com-
mended to the members of the Synod for instruction and
guidance.

Action: None.

To Assure Congregations of Their Right
to Self-Government in Relation
to Synodical and District Programs

RESOLUTION 3-22
Overture 3-72 (CW, p. 128)

Wuereas, Concern has been raised regarding assur-
ance to subsidized congregations that their “right of self-
government in relation to synodical recommendations”
(Constitution, Art. VII) be respected; therefore be it

Resolved, That we affirm that every congregation’s right
of self-government in relation to synodical or district pro-
grams shall not be violated or abridged.

Action: None.

To Request CTCR Study on Civil
Lawsuits Among Christians

RESOLUTION 3-23
Overture 3-97 (CW, pp. 1384-35)

Wuereas, The number of civil lawsuits among citizens
of the United States of America has reached epidemic pro-
portions; and

Wuereas, This trend has had a negative impact also
on the life of the church; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod request the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations to study this matter with
special reference to 1 Corinthians 6 and to report its con-
clusions to the members of the Synod as soon as possible.

Action: None.

To Decline Overture 3-72
RESOLUTION 3-24
Overture 3-72 (CW, p. 128)

Wuergas, The faculty of Concordia Theological Semi-
nary, Fort Wayne, has questioned the orthodoxy of the
spiritual-gifts promotion materials disseminated by a de-
partment of the Synod; and

Wuereas, The faculty has requested that the Synod in
convention direct the Council of Presidents and its Ca-
nadian and United States seminary faculties to jointly pre-
pare recommendations to the 1989 convention about ways
and means to ensure that all programmatic materials from
district or synodical headquarters be orthodox; and

Wuereas, All promotional materials published by the
respective boards and commissions of the Synod are not
disseminated unless approved by the Doctrinal Review
Committee of the Synod; and