LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1971, Page 184

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184 RESOLUTIONS

To Recognize Concerns for Mission:Life
RESOLUTION 7-20

Overtures 2-217, 2-242—2-253; Report 7-01 1, B (CW,
pp. 109, 117—124, 343—346)

A Statement Regarding Mission:Life

The primary concern of the Mission: Life editors is
that the theology, doctrine, and content of all Mission:
Life courses, as well as the teaching of them, be in
accord with the Holy Scriptures, the Lutheran Con-
fessions, and the officially adopted resolutions of the
Synod. To this end they subject their work to not
just one but a number of established review procedures,
including the critique of official theological reviewers.

In spite of responsible editing of materials prepared
by fellow pastors and teachers of the Synod, and careful
reading of edited materials by a number of people (in-
cluding fellow staff members and editors of Concordia
Publishing House), matters that are questionable, in-
adequate, unwise, unclear, misunderstood, or subject
to differing opinions are bound to appear and have
appeared. We regret the difficulties that certain of the
materials have created and also the misunderstandings
that may have resulted from the form in which they
have appeared.

The editors of the Board of Parish Education readily
agree that there is need for corrections and improve-
ments. They stand ready to make revisions at their
earliest opportunity in response to valid criticisms. Such
revisions will take into account the viewpoints, con-
cerns, criticisms, suggestions, and requests expressed
to them or me by any member of the church whom we
serve in behalf of Christ and God’s mission.

ALLAN JAHSMANN, Executive Editor
Board of Parish Education
Approved by:
Dr. A. C. Miller, Executive Secretary, BPE
Rev. Justus Kretzmann, Chairman, BPE
Rev. Delbert Schulz, Director of Research
and Development, BPE

Wuereas, The Board of Parish Education has imple-
mented previous convention resolutions (Denver 7-01
and 7-03, especially) by producing the new Mission:
Life curriculum; and

Wuereas, The Mission: Life curriculum has been
subject to much criticism, both valid and invalid, with
regard to theology and philosophy; and

Wuereas, The Mission: Life materials are intended
to form the basis of the Synod’s Christian education
program; and

Wuerras, The executive editor of the Board of Par-
ish Education has stated that “In spite of responsible
editing of materials prepared by fellow pastors and
teachers of the Synod, and careful reading of edited
materials by a number of people (including fellow staff
members and editors of Concordia Publishing House),
matters that are questionable, inadequate, unwise, un-

clear, misunderstood or subject to differing opinions
are bound to appear and have appeared. We regret the
difficulties that certain of the materials have created
and also the misunderstanding that may have resulted
from the form in which they have appeared”; and

Wuereas, The executive editor of the Board of Par-
ish Education has stated that “the editors of the Board
of Parish Education readily agree that there is need for
corrections and improvements. They stand ready to
make revisions at their earliest opportunity in response
to valid criticisms. Such revisions will take into account
the viewpoints, concerns, criticisms, suggestions, and
requests expressed to them or me by any member of
the church whom we serve in behalf of Christ and
God’s mission”; and

Wuereas, The parish is ultimately responsible for
what is taught in its educational agencies; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the Synod commend the Board of
Parish Education for its imagination and initiative in
the production of Mission: Life materials; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Synod instruct the Board of
Parish Education “to make revisions at their earliest

opportunity in response to valid criticisms”; and be it
further

Resolved, That the synodical Board of Doctrinal
Review be charged with the responsibility of reviewing
immediately the material critically, and that the Board
of Parish Education prepare substitute items for those |
not approved and offer them also to congregations
which have already purchased the materials; and be it
further

Resolved, That congregations be encouraged to send
all evaluations of Mission: Life materials to the Board
of Doctrinal Review and the Board of Parish Education
for consideration; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod remind every congregation
of its responsibility to evaluate critically all the ma-
terials used in its educational program in order that
they be soundly Scriptural and that the saving Gospel
of Jesus Christ predominate; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod urge every congregation
to develop the best possible corps of teachers for all
age levels in the congregation.

Action: Adopted (16).

(This resolution as well as Resolutions 7-21 and 7-22
were presented jointly by Committees 2 and 7. A charge
of false doctrine against those disseminating Mission: Life
material was ruled out of order by the First Vice-President,
who was presiding at the time.)

To Continue to Publish “Life in Christ”
Sunday School Materials

RESOLUTION 7-21
Overtures 2-245, 2-246, 2-247, 2-253 (CW, pp. 118—124)

Wuereas, Not all congregations may be able to use