LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 167

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Theology and Church Relations
Whereas, Continued cooperation with the ELCA, even in external matters, will likely be perceived as a lack of integrity on the part
of the LCMS in both doctrine and practice; therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2010 LCMS convention repent that it has been
unable to convince the ELCA to bear effective witness to the truth
of the Gospel and to the authority of Holy Scripture; and be it further
Resolved, That the 2010 LCMS convention request all agencies
and organizations of the ELCA, as well as its related agencies and
organizations with whom cooperative work with the LCMS currently
exists, to provide written verification that full communion agreements and changes in ministry policies regarding partnered gay and
lesbian members will not implemented in such cooperative work;
and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS direct all of its agencies and organizations to cease all cooperative work with the ELCA and its related
agencies and organizations where such written verification is not provided; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS direct all of its agencies and organizations to explore relief work, social services, chaplaincies, works of
mercy, and other ministries through avenues other than in cooperation
with the ELCA and to implement such when ELCA written verification is not provided; and be it finally
Resolved, That the LCMS pray for the return of the ELCA to
Christian orthodoxy and commit itself to the renewal of unrestricted
cooperative work when it is again possible.
Circuit 3 Forum
South Wisconsin District
3-07

To End All Joint Work with ELCA
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 eliminating
the prohibition of rostered service by members in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous same-gender relationships; and
Whereas, Homosexuality is 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 homosexuality, that it is 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, and for the sake of its own public testimony, the LCMS
end all joint work with the ELCA in military chaplaincies, college
and university chaplaincies, hospital and nursing care chaplaincies,
educational institutions, human care programs, and all other joint ministry ventures by January 1, 2012; and be it further
Resolved, That all recognized service organizations of the LCMS
conducting joint ministry work with the ELCA also end such ministry relationships or forfeit their RSO status by January 1, 2012; and
be it further

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Resolved, That the LCMS in convention pray to our Father for
the repentance and faith of those who teach contrary to God’s Word
in the ELCA, for those who are bound in sexual sin, and for our own
humble faithfulness to His Holy Word; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Northern Illinois District East Region Pastoral
Conference submit this overture to the 2010 LCMS convention.
East Region Pastoral Conference
Northern Illinois District
3-08

To Sever All Endeavors with ELCA
Whereas, As stated by the 2001 LCMS convention and, as
appealed to by President Kieschnick in his remarks to the 2009 ELCA
assembly last summer, the ELCA is no longer an orthodox Lutheran
church body; and
Whereas, As proven by the positions of the ELCA with regard to
central social issues on human life and family such as abortion and
homosexual lifestyles, the ELCA has forsaken goodness and godliness with respect to society; and
Whereas, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil” (Prov. 8:13) and
“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the
snares of death” (Prov. 14:27); and
Whereas, “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth” (Rom. 1:18); and
Whereas, We as a Lutheran church body differ from the ELCA
in the most essential matters of both doctrine and life; therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2010 LCMS convention take immediate action
to sever all ties and joint efforts with the ELCA in all spiritual and
social matters including campus ministries, Armed Forces chaplaincies, Lutheran World Relief, and more, lest the LCMS be a partner
in the iniquity and ungodliness with which the ELCA is involved.
Trinity
Tryon, NC
3-09

To End All Official Theological Talks with ELCA
Whereas, The 2001 LCMS convention adopted Res. 3-21A
declaring the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to
be not “an orthodox Lutheran church body”; and
Whereas, The ELCA in its Churchwide Assembly held August
17–23, 2009, in Minneapolis, MN, passed with a two-thirds majority vote its social statement “Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust”; and
Whereas, The passing of this social statement will allow homosexual professional church workers “in committed relationships” to
maintain their status as professional church workers; and
Whereas, Holy Scripture speaks very clearly of those who are to
lead God’s people and of their character and conduct (1 Tim. 3:1–7;
1 Tim. 3:8–13; Titus 1:7–9; Matt. 10:2–4; Eph. 4:11–13; and Acts
20:28); therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS gathered in convention vote to rescind
all official theological talks between the LCMS and the ELCA.
Circuit Nine Forum
Kansas District
3-10

To Request Synod President Not to Attend ELCA
Churchwide Assemblies
Whereas, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
at its August 2009 Churchwide Assembly voted to open its ministry
to non-celibate homosexual and lesbian pastors; and
2010 Convention Workbook

2010 Convention.indb 167

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