LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 57

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SYNOD REPORTS
C. Theological Conferences
1.  Theological Conference on “The Relationship between Theology
and Polity”

Beginning with a November 2001 request by the President of
Synod, the CTCR has participated in the planning of a series of theological conferences to enable discussion throughout the Synod on
important topics (see Bylaw 3.9.6.2.1 [d] for the CTCR’s responsibility in this area). The first model theological conference was held in
Phoenix, August 5–7, 2002, under the theme “Conflict, Confession,
and Unity: Addressing Doctrinal Issues Faithfully and Fraternally
for the Sake of Christ’s Mission.” A second model conference was
held in Phoenix on August 23–25, 2005, under the theme “The
Congregation’s Ministry and Mission: Who’s in Charge Here?”
Four members of the commission joined representatives of the
Council of Presidents and the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod
Structure and Governance to plan a third theological conference during the past triennium. The convocation was held August 18–20, 2008,
in St. Louis, under the theme “The Relationship between Theology
and Polity.” Participants at this conference included members of the
commission, the COP, the CCM, the blue ribbon task force, the corporate Synod executives, the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Funding
the Mission, the heads of the Synod’s auxiliaries, the presidents of
the Concordia University System and the two seminaries, the Board
of Directors, and 100 representatives from the districts of the Synod,
including men, women, pastors, teachers, and other representatives.
2. Model Conference on Worship

2007 Res. 2-01 (see also 2004 Res. 2-04) called for a theological
conference that would “build greater understanding of our theology of worship and foster further discussion of worship practices
that are consistent with that theology.” In 2009, CTCR members and
staff joined together with staff and members of the Commission on
Worship for the planning of a model theological conference focused
on the topic of worship under the theme “Toward a Theology of
Worship.” Once again, a wide spectrum of participants from Synodwide entities participated, but the primary participatory goal was for
wide representation from the 35 districts of the Synod. In addition
to its president, each district was invited to send two parish pastors,
two laypeople, and one commissioned minister, with its delegations
including balance among individuals who were representative of the
diverse worship practices in the Synod (both so-called “traditional”
and “contemporary” or “contextual” practice). The conference was
held on January 11–13, 2010, and was hosted by Concordia Lutheran
Church of Kirkwood, Missouri.
The four theological conferences have been made possible by generous grants from the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation.
Many of the papers presented at these conferences are available on
the CTCR’s Web site at http://www.lcms.org/ctcr.
3. Confessional Leadership Conference [2007 Res. 3-03]

At its 2007 convention, the Synod adopted Res. 3-02, “To Encourage Confessional Study in Preparation for 2017,” and Res. 3-03, “To
Request the CTCR to Develop a Plan for Confessional Leadership.”
Res. 3-03 asked “the CTCR, in consultation with the Office of the
President and our seminaries, [to] coordinate fundamentally constructive and intentionally supportive efforts such as theological symposia, conferences, and other opportunities for study of confessional
Lutheran theology, to uphold and nourish confessional Lutheranism.” The commission then submitted a grant proposal for $40,000
to the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation for a conference
that would bring together confessional Lutheran theologians and

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leaders to further the goals of 2007 Res. 3-03. Thrivent granted the
CTCR’s request, and a conference of theologians and leaders from
ILC churches and others is scheduled for June 3–5, 2010, on the campus of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. The conference
is to meet concurrently with the World Seminaries Conference and
LCMS Professors of Theology and will benefit from lectures addressing the theme “Confessional Lutheran Identity in a World of Changing Religious Demographics.” In addition to ILC representatives, the
commission is inviting guests to attend portions of the conference who
represent churches and confessional movements within churches with
whom we are not currently in altar and pulpit fellowship.
D. Other Matters
1. Spanish Translations of CTCR reports

Because of the growing need for Lutheran theological literature
in Spanish, both in the U.S. and in Central and South America, the
commission is continuing to facilitate the translation of its reports
into Spanish. During the triennium, two reports were translated into
Spanish. In May 2008, the commission posted on its Web site La
Mujer En La Iglesia (1985 report Women in the Church: Scriptural
Principles and Ecclesial Practice). In February 2009, it posted
Sexualidad Humana: Una Perspectiva Teológica (1981 report,
Human Sexuality: A Theological Perspective). In addition, Policy
for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Declaring Altar and
Pulpit Fellowship with Another Church Body (2009) and Church
Relations in the 21st Century (2009) have been translated into Spanish
and French. Copies of these translations were shared with Synod’s
Spanish-speaking partner churches throughout the world. Several
individuals collaborated in translating these documents.
2. Publication of Theological Literature

As one aspect of its assigned responsibility to provide guidance
to the members of the Synod in matters of theology, the commission recommended that the 2007 convention address the need for
the development of a process for providing meaningful input to
Concordia Publishing House in identifying, promoting, and facilitating the publication of theological literature in the Synod. In 2007
Res. 3-10, the convention commended Concordia Publishing House
for its work publishing theological works for Synod and resolved
that the President of the Synod, in consultation with CPH leadership
and professors from our seminaries and university system, establish
a Committee on Church Literature to identify, promote, and facilitate the publication of theological literature.
E. Requests for Theological Opinions
1. Response to Question Regarding the Removal of a Pastor on
Disability

In June 2007, the President of the Michigan District requested
a theological opinion: “Regarding a particular congregation whose
pastor is on disability and is therefore unable to perform the pastoral duties for which he has been called, is that congregation therefore
able to withdraw, rescind or terminate the call while the pastor is on
disability?”
The request further indicated the following:

There are several complicating factors in this instance. First, there
is the lack of any assurance that the pastor will ever be able to return to
the congregation to perform pastoral duties. Secondly, the vitality of the
congregation is threatened due to lack of pastoral leadership and continuity thereof during the pastor’s disability. Thirdly, a continued decrease
in worship attendance is jeopardizing the very existence of the congregation. Finally, the congregation is unable to plan for its future mission
and ministry, if any.

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