LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 68

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68

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

6. Gender Identity Disorder or Gender Dysphoria in Christian
Perspective

On an increasing number of occasions, the CTCR has been asked
(by Synod officials, church workers, and laity) to provide guidance
regarding a biblical view of transsexual behaviors or transgender individuals. The questions involve persons who are uncertain whether
they are “truly” male or female, those who regularly dress and present themselves as a member of the opposite sex, and those who are
participating in hormonal or surgical procedures to change their sex
identification from one sex to the other. In response, after considerable study and consultation with those who have experience and
professional knowledge in this area, the commission adopted the
above-named report at its May 2014 meeting. It is included in the
Appendix and is available online at www.lcms.org/ctcr.
7. On Infant/Young Child Communion: Knowing What We Seek and
Why We Come

At the November 2012 meeting of the CTCR, President Harrison
requested a supplement to the CTCR’s 1997 opinion Response
to “Concerns of the South Wisconsin District Circuits 18 and 19
Regarding Infant Communion” addressing the practice of communing infants and very young children (paedocommunion). At its
September 2014 meeting, the CTCR adopted the above-named report,
which attends to historical, confessional, and biblical arguments for
and against the practice of paedocommunion and endorses (and further substantiates) its 1997 opinion. Adopted as a partial response to
the President’s request, it is included in the Appendix and is available at www.lcms.org/ctcr. The final part of the CTCR’s response
to President Harrison’s request was an opinion, adopted at the same
meeting, referencing both this report and its previous 1997 opinion
(see below under section E).
8. Guidelines for Congregational, District, and Synodical Communion
Statements

Statements about admission to the Lord’s Supper in LCMS service
folders reflect a wide variety of approaches and often lack clarity and
consistency. In September 2012, the President of the Synod requested
that the CTCR prepare guidelines for the wording of Communion
statements within the Synod. The CTCR responded by adopting
Guidelines for Congregational, District, and Synodical Communion
Statements at its December 2014 meeting. The guidelines were published in the April 2015 Reporter. They are included in the Appendix
and are online at www.lcms.org/ctcr.
9. CTCR Review of 2005 Task Force Guidelines for the Service of
Women in Congregational Offices

In September 2012, President Harrison asked the CTCR to review
the January 2005 document “Guidelines for the Service of Women
in Congregational Offices” in light of 2004 Res. 3-08A, 2007 Res.
3-07, and the CTCR’s 2009 report The Creator’s Tapestry in order
“to provide clarity and direction on the issue of women’s service in
the church.” At its December 2014 meeting, the CTCR adopted the
requested review, together with an executive summary of the same.
The report includes a section-by-section review of the 2005 guidelines. The report and executive summary are included in the Appendix
and are online at www.lcms.org/ctcr.
10. A Christian Response to Hostility and Persecution

In response to various questions and concerns about the sources
and nature of rising hostility toward Christianity in our day, the
CTCR (at its December 2014 meeting) adopted a Bible study and
discussion guide titled Why Are You Persecuting Me? A Christian
Response to Hostility and Persecution. This study guide is included
in the Appendix and is online at www.lcms.org/ctcr.
2016 Convention Workbook

11. In Christ All Things Hold Together (2013 Res. 4-15)

The 2013 convention encouraged the CTCR to continue and complete an assignment on the relationship of science and theology that
the commission had begun in the previous triennium. The report, In
Christ All Things Hold Together: The Intersection of Science and
Christian Theology, was adopted by the CTCR in February 2015.
This report addresses contemporary views of and approaches to science in which the methods and assumptions of physical and biological
science overrule truth claims based on Scripture, and also seeks to
promote and encourage positive views and uses of science as a gift
of God and a vocation that Christians can and should support and
embrace. The report considers theological foundations, historical
context, philosophical issues, a comparison of biblical and scientific
knowledge, and practical applications. It is available from CPH or
by download at www.lcms.org/ctcr and is included in the Appendix.
12. Continued Study of 1989 Res. 3-05B

Since 2005, the commission has engaged in consideration and discussion of 1989 Resolution 3-05B because of continuing questions
regarding the practice of laymen exercising functions of the pastoral office in certain circumstances as approved in this resolution. At
the 2013 convention, Resolution 4-06A “To Address Questions re
Service of Licensed Lay Deacons” was adopted, asking the President
of the Synod to appoint a task force, including representation from
the CTCR, seminaries, COP, and deacons, to address questions and
offer recommendations to the 2016 LCMS convention. The task force
reported to the Synod on July 8, 2015, and requested the CTCR (and
both seminary faculties) to review its theology and recommendations.
At its September 2015 meeting, the CTCR affirmed “the theological basis and recommendations of the report.” At this time, no further
work on 1989 Res. 3-05B is planned.
13. Studies on Biblical Interpretation (2010 Res. 3-07)

The LCMS has an unambiguous position affirming the inerrancy
of Holy Scripture and rejecting unbiblical higher critical assumptions
about the Bible. The 2010 Res. 3-07 recognized that “[t]here are new
hermeneutical challenges facing the Church in this postmodern era.”
Consequently, it asked the CTCR in consultation with the faculties of
our seminaries to provide studies “addressing the question, ‘How to
Read the Bible’ that also address ‘current trends in interpretation.’ ”
In response to the 2010 request, the CTCR approved a prefatory paragraph for CPH’s use in connection with the new book How to Read
the Bible with Understanding by Lane Burgland, encouraging the
use of this book as “a helpful resource and guide to the interpretation
of Scripture” and (by the way of a link in the preface itself) directing readers to other resources helpful for biblical interpretation. This
list of other study aids was approved by the CTCR in February 2016
and will be posted on the CTCR’s website (and updated as needed).
B. Studies in Progress
1. Guidelines for Inter-Christian Relationships (1981 Res.
3-03A) and “To Study Article VI of Synod’s Constitution”
(2010 Res. 8-30B)
Since 1981, the CTCR has completed a number of documents
relating to the subject of relationships with other churches and
Christians, some in specific response to 1981 Res. 3-03A. These
include the following: Inter-Christian Relationships: An Instrument
for Study (1992), The Lutheran Understanding of Church Fellowship:
Study Materials (2000), The Lutheran Understanding of Church
Fellowship: Report on Synodical Discussions (2001), Church
Relations in the 21st Century (2009), Principles for “Cooperation in
Externals” with Theological Integrity (2010), Theological Dialogue