LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1989, Page 116

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116 RESOLUTIONS

prayerfully and earnestly sought such actions through con-
vention resolutions, citizen petition and participation, and
the submission of an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme
Court; and

Wuereas, There continue to be developments in the
area of the life sciences that cause concern; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
reaffirm its position that “abortion is not a moral option
except as a tragically unavoidable byproduct of medical
procedures necessary to prevent the death of another hu-
man being, viz., the mother’ (1979 Proceedings, Res. 3-
02A); and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

welcomes the Supreme Court’s Webster decision as a nec-

essary first step toward the full restoration of the right to
life; and be it further

Resolved, That we call upon all members of the Synod
to seek out all legal opportunities for extending the fullest
protection of law for human life from the time of conception
until natural death; and be it further

Resolved, That the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations continue to monitor and study various
life-related issues, such as spiritual consequences to an
aborted child, to the child’s parents, and to those in com-
plicity with the act of unjust killing; the use of abortifacient
drugs; eugenic experimentation in human biology; the use
of tissues taken from intentionally aborted fetuses, and
advise the church on these issues so that we all might act
responsibly according to the Word of God; and be it further

Resolved,That pastors and church professionals be en-
couraged to avail themselves of resources such as the train-
ing workshops that are cosponsored by the LCMS Sanctity
of Human Life Task Force, Lutherans for Life, and various
Lutheran social-ministry organizations to provide clinical
skills for the diagnosis and treatment of post-abortion
stress disorder; and be it finally

Resolved, That the members of LCMS congregations be
encouraged to support Lutherans for Life.

Action: Adopted as amended (11).

The words, the time of were added to the proposed resolution
in the third resolve, and the resolution was amended by addition
of the final resolve. The resolution as amended was adopted unan-
imously or nearly so. During discussion, a proposal to substitute
the first resolve of the original resolution as a third resolve of 3-
09A was declined. That resolve stated, “Resolved, That we en-
courage our people to speak and act as responsible citizens in
support of pro-life issues.” The delegates also declined to consider
a proposed amendment when it could not be determined whether
or not it was a substitute resolution. In response to a question,
it was stated that the phrase until natural death, in the third
resolve does not contradict the Synod’s position on. capital
punishment.)

To Address Practice of Women Serving
Holy Communion

RESOLUTION 3-10
Overtures 3-88-89B (CW, p. 195)

Wuereas, There is divergence of opinion in the Synod
concerning women serving as assistants in the distribution
of Holy Communion; and

Wuereas, The Commission on Theology and Church
Relations (CTCR) has stated in its 1983 report Theology
and Practice in the Lord’s Supper (p. 30) and reaffirmed
in the 1985 report Women in the Church that “the com-
mission strongly recommends that to avoid confusion re-
garding the office of the public ministry and to avoid giving
offense to the church, such assistance be limited to men”
(p. 47); therefore be it

Resolved, That the CTCR report Theology and Practice
in the Lord’s Supper be commended to the congregations
of the Synod for study and guidance in this matter; and
be it further

Resolved, That the pastors and congregations of the
Synod be urged to conform their practice to this counsel.

Action: Adopted (14).

To Declare Deaconesses Eligible
for Synodical Membership

RESOLUTION 3-11A

Report R3-06 (CW, pp. 71-72); Overtures 3-21A-3-23,
3-25 (CW, pp. 175-76)

WHEREAS, The office of deaconess has Biblical precedent
(Phoebe in Rom. 16:1); and

Wuereas, Deaconesses continue to serve our church to-
day through Bible studies; sick and shut-in visitations;
youth, ethnic groups, and deaf ministries; social and med-
ical capacities in hospitals and retirement homes; coun-
seling; evangelism; etc.; and

Wuereas, Deaconesses receive a five-year baccalau-
reate degree from Concordia College, River Forest, with a
theology major of at least 72 quarter hours that includes
the following:

12 credits—Biblical study

12 credits—Systematic theology