LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 144

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4. LIFE TOGETHER

To Declare April 18, 2021,
as “Here I Stand” Sunday
and to Encourage
Multi-Congregation Celebrations
RESOLUTION 4-09
Overture 4-27 (CW, 423)

WHEREAS, We are now in the midst of several important
half-millennium anniversary dates of important events
regarding the Reformation; and
WHEREAS, The first such event, the 500th anniversary of
the nailing of the 95 Theses, was a tremendous success,
with many congregations of the district and the Synod
gathering together for mass worship celebrations; and
WHEREAS, Scripture gives us encouragement with these
words: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without
wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:23);
and
WHEREAS, Martin Luther made his “Here I stand”
proclamation at the Diet of Worms, before the emperor and
leading Roman church officials, on April 18, 1521; and
WHEREAS, April 18, 2021, is a Sunday and falls two weeks
after the celebration of Easter that year; therefore be it
Resolved, That April 18, 2021, be declared “Here I Stand”
Sunday throughout The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod, its districts, circuits, and congregations; and be it
further
Resolved, That these entities be encouraged to gather for
worship celebrations to commemorate the event; and be it
further
Resolved, That a synodwide thank offering be
coordinated and collected for that day, to be used toward
the continued proclamation of the Gospel throughout the
world; and be it finally
Resolved, That our churches and people be encouraged to
spend time in prayer, asking the Lord to continue to bless
the proclamation of the Gospel.
Action: Adopted (9)
Without objection, the chair put the resolution to an immediate
voice vote, by which the resolution was adopted.

144 | PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2019 (67TH) LCMS CONVENTION

To Continue the Celebration
of the 500th Anniversary
of the Reformation, including
Commemoration of Events
from 1519 through 1522
RESOLUTION 4-10
Overture 4-26 (CW, 422–23)

WHEREAS, 2020 is the 500th anniversary of the
publication of Martin Luther’s The Freedom of a Christian, To
the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, and On the
Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and the contents of these
writings that extol the freedom of Christians in the Gospel,
the role of the priesthood of the baptized in the church, and
the correct understanding of Baptism, the Lord’s Supper,
and absolution are pertinent to Christians today; and
WHEREAS, 2021 is the 500th anniversary of Martin
Luther’s appearance before the imperial diet of Worms,
where he boldly confessed the truth of the Gospel before
the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and the princes
thereof, and Martin Luther’s example to speak the truth of
the Gospel to secular authorities can serve to “strengthen
our faith” (Augsburg Confession XXI); and
WHEREAS, 2022 is the 500th anniversary of the
publication of Martin Luther’s translation of the New
Testament into German, and the translation of the Bible
into the vernacular and the wide distribution of such
translations made it possible for Christians to read the
Word of God in their language; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod and its members give thanks to
God that by “the Almighty’s special grace and mercy the
teaching of the chief articles of our Christian religion
(which had been hideously obscured by human teaching
and regulation under the papacy) was purified and
elucidated anew on the basis of God’s Word by Dr. Luther,
of blessed and holy memory” (Formula of Concord, Solid
Declaration, Introduction 1 [Book of Concord, ed.
Kolb/Wengert, 524]); and be it further,
Resolved, That pastors and congregations are encouraged
to study the freedom of Christians in the Gospel, the role of
the priesthood of the baptized in the church, and Baptism,
the Lord’s Supper, and absolution, using the abovementioned writings of Martin Luther; and be it further
Resolved, That pastors and congregations encourage each
other to confess the Gospel boldly in the face of adversity;
and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod in convention thanks Lutheran
Bible Translators for their work in carrying on Dr. Luther’s
precious work of translation and asks the members of
Synod to support their work.
Action: Adopted (9)
Resolutions