LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 165

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3. Theology and Church Relations
3-01

To Continue Cooperation in Externals
with Theological Integrity
Whereas, “The church will cooperate with others in meeting
human need. Cooperation in externals has long been an expression
describing the church’s legitimate ability to cooperate with other
entities (whether churches, societies, Lutheran, Christian or not) in
meeting some human need. To ‘cooperate in externals’ means to
work toward common goals in endeavors, which do not necessitate,
require or necessarily imply church fellowship (communio in sacris),
or involve joint proclamation of the gospel and administration of the
sacraments (worship). Such cooperative endeavors are entered upon
often for practical reasons (e.g., lack of critical resources). But such
endeavors are also often an expression of the belief (when entered
into with other Christians entities) of the catholicity of the church,
as well as an expression of love for fellow Christians. Through such
endeavors, the LCMS will often have opportunity to insist on theological integrity and the truth of God’s word, and thereby make a
positive contribution to ecumenical activities. Such endeavors may
range from providing resources for a simple community food bank,
to the highly complex ecclesial and civil realities involved in operating a jointly recognized SMO [social ministry organization]. Such
endeavors must recognize legitimate doctrinal differences and provide for the requisite integrity of its partners” (Matthew Harrison,
Theological Foundations: Christian Works of Mercy); and
Whereas, Lutheran Services in America (LSA) is an alliance of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod; and LSA’s membership of more than 300 health and
human service organizations which touch the lives of more than six
million people—one in 50 Americans each year —and have aggregated annual incomes of more than $16.6 billion; and
Whereas, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS),
Lutheran World Relief (LWR), and Wheat Ridge Ministries are strong
international inter-Lutheran agencies providing human care opportunities for Lutherans; and
Whereas, Church fellowship (see first whereas: communio in
sacris) is not integral to, assumed, or necessarily carried out in conjunction with the agencies in Lutheran Services in America, Lutheran
Immigration and Refugee Services, or Lutheran World Relief; and
Whereas, The only American Lutheran entity with which the
LCMS is in church fellowship is the American Association of
Lutheran Churches (AALC)—and specifically not the ELCA, WELS,
or ELS—thereby eliminating communio in sacris activities with any
church body except the AALC; and
Whereas, This configuration of Lutherans in fellowship has
existed for a minimum of 20 years, with the exception of the 2007
LCMS/AALC rapprochement; and
Whereas, Throughout that period of time, with serious doctrinal
issues separating the various Lutheran church bodies and the LCMS,
cooperation in externals has continued and allowed millions of individuals to receive human care assistance through inter-Lutheran
agencies; therefore be it
Resolved, That cooperation in externals with Lutherans through
agencies affiliated with LSA, LIRS, LWR, and Wheat Ridge
Ministries continue and be affirmed by the Missouri Synod gathered
in convention; and be it further
Resolved, That such cooperation be carried out with full theological integrity by the Missouri Synod in partnership, remaining
doctrinally steadfast to LCMS standards; and be it further
Resolved, That an assessment of such cooperation in externals,
as it is impacted by theological differences with Lutheran partners,
be undertaken by the President of the LCMS, including conversation
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with national/international partners (LSA, LIRS, LWR, Wheat Ridge)
during this triennium; and be it finally
Resolved, That a full report of this assessment be delivered to the
next convention.
Board of Directors
Atlantic District
3-02

To Examine All Joint Work with the ELCA
Whereas, Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “Beware of false prophets,
who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous
wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes
from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree
bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit” (Matt. 7:15–17); and
Whereas, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
at its 2009 Churchwide Assembly passed resolutions on ministry policies stating that “The ELCA commit[s] itself to finding ways to allow
congregations that choose to do so to recognize, support, and hold
publicly accountable lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships...the ELCA commit[s] itself to finding a way for people in such
publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to serve as rostered leaders of this church,” and eliminated the
prohibition of rostered service for members in publicly accountable,
lifelong, monogamous same-gender relationships; and
Whereas, Homosexual acts are sinful, contrary to God’s will and
design, and an abomination before the true and living Lord God, the
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Lev. 18:22; Matt. 19:4–6; Rom. 1:18–
32); and
Whereas, The ELCA does not confess the truth of God’s Word,
but as a church body is in rejection of it; therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS confess the truth of God’s Word concerning homosexual acts: that they are sinful, contrary to God’s will
and design, and an abomination before the true and living Lord God,
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Lev. 18:22; Matt. 19:4–6; Rom.
1:18–32); and be it further
Resolved, That for the sake of faithfulness to the true God and
His Holy Word (Rom. 16:17) and for the sake of its own public
testimony, the LCMS and its Recognized Service Organizations
prayerfully examine their joint work with the ELCA and, where that
work involves any possibility of ministry in Word and Sacrament
being administered by an official or clergyman of the ELCA, bring
an end to their working relationship with the ELCA; and be it finally
Resolved, That the 2010 LCMS convention pray for the repentance and faith of the false teachers of the ELCA, for those who are
bound in sexual sin within the ELCA and all church bodies including
our own, for those who are faithfully confessing against false teaching regarding sexuality within the ELCA, and for our own humble
faithfulness to God’s Word.
Farmington Circuit Forum
Missouri District
3-03

To End Joint Campus Ministry with ELCA
Whereas, The Synod in convention (2001) declared that the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) can no longer be
considered an orthodox Lutheran church body (Res. 3-21A); and
Whereas, There remain many areas where significant changes
have occurred in the doctrine and practice of the ELCA where our
Synod in all its entities has yet to respond, and where decades-old
agreements with the ELCA’s predecessor bodies remain in effect as
if these changes never took place; and
2010 Convention Workbook

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