LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1992, Page 112

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114 RESOLUTIONS

are God’s chosen people in Christ, who has broken down
the dividing wall of hostility by His perfect sacrifice for the
entire human family (1 Peter 2:8-9 and Eph. 2:14-16); and
Wuereas, The Commission on Theology and Church
Relations is currently working toward the completion of a
major study of racism in the church; therefore be it
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
urge its members to repent of any attitude or practice of
racism as individuals and congregations; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod repudiate all racism and urge
its members to celebrate God’s love in Christ and their
forgiveness and acceptance as God’s children by loving and
serving all their fellow humans as they have been loved
and served, without any exception of persons, and to work
toward social justice in their neighborhoods and work-
places and all areas of society; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod assembled in convention urge
the rapid completion of the CTCR study; and be it finally
Resolved, That the members’ of the Synod be urged to
make maximum use of this study upon its completion and
to pray the Lord of the church to bless this study and cause
it to effect appropriate changes in attitudes and actions.

Action: Adopted as amended (4).

(In the first resolve, the words any attitude or were substituted
for their by common consent.)

To Encourage Service of Women
in the Church ;

RESOLUTION 3-04
Overtures 3-68A-B, 3-70A-B (CW, pp. 202-03)

Wuereas, The Synod continues to recognize with
thanksgiving all of God’s gifts to the church for the accom-
plishment of His mission of bringing the Gospel to the
whole world; and

Wuereas, “Women and men are equally members of
the priesthood of all believers by faith in Jesus Christ. They
are both called to ‘declare the wonderful deeds of Him who
called you out of darkness into his marvelous light’ ”
(CTCR, 1985, Women in the Church, p. 18); and

Wuereas, The Synod has commended and encouraged
the continuing service of.men and women to our.Lord and
His church, in accordance with His will as set forth in the
Holy Scriptures; and ,

Wuereas, Women have not always been accorded the
opportunity to give full expression to their privileges and
responsibilities as members of the priesthood of all believ-
ers; therefore be it

Resolved, That the full, appropriate service of women
at synodical, District, and congregational levels be en-
couraged; and be it further . ‘

Resolved, That the Synod encourage continuing study
and discussion of what the Scriptures teach concerning the
role of women in the church, making use of the various
resources prepared by the CTCR and the President's Com-
mission on Women (e.g., the CTCR’s report, Women in the
Church and the PCW’s God’s Woman for All-Generations).

Action: Adopted (4).

(An amendment to add the words and men in appropriate
places after the word women was declined after a motion to refer
the matter back to committee 3 was declared out of order.)

To Urge Completion of Study
on Service of Women in All
Congregational Offices

RESOLUTION 3-05

Overtures 3-63-64C, 3-66, 3-77-79 (CW, pp. 200-02,
204-05)

Wuereas, Questions continue to be raised and guidance
sought with regard to which congregational offices women
may hold in accord with scriptural teaching; and

Wuereas, The Commission on Theology and Church
Relations has been requested to prepare a study on the
eligibility of women for service in all offices of the congre-
gation, including that of chairman, vice-chairman, and el-
der; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod urge the CTCR to complete
this study for distribution to the members of the Synod

- one year prior to the 1995 synodical convention; and be it

further . .

Resolved, That as the study progresses, the CTCR be
encouraged to solicit and welcome comments and concerns
from interested members, groups, and congregations
within the Synod. .

Action: Adopted as amended (6).

(The resolution was amended by addition of the final resolve.
It was also amended by the addition of the words one year in the
first resolve, as well as deletion of the words give high priority to
the completion of between the words to and this.)

To Affirm Proper Relationship Between
Congregations and Their Pastors

RESOLUTION 3-06A

Report R3-01, I, B, 13; I, C, 2; 1, C, 6 (CW, pp. 66-67,
70); Overtures 3-43, 3-45, 3-50-52 (CW, pp. 193-96)

Wuereas, God exhorts both pastors and congregations
to serve one another in their respective responsibilities.so
that no obstacle may be placed in the way of the church’s
proclamation of the Gospel; and

Wuereas, Mutual edification, support, and encourage-
ment yields manifold blessings to the congregations and
to the pastors; and

Wuereas, The body of Christ is harmed when either
the pastor or the congregation attempts to exercise un-
scriptural authority over the other; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm the scriptural posi-
tion of the church and its ministry as taught in the Lu-
theran Confessions that God has instituted the office of
the pastoral ministry and that the one who holds this office
carries it out on behalf of and with accountability to God
and those through whom God has called him; and be it
further '

Resolved, That the Synod guard against all distortions
of the scriptural position. ‘

Action: Adopted (10).