LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 55

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OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

5. Christian Decision-Making and the End of Life: An
Update and Supplement to 1993’s Christian Care at
Life’s End (1977 Res 03-26)
In compliance with the standing assignment to provide direction
in matters of bioethics, the commission reviewed its 1993 report
Christian Care at Life’s End and concluded that an update to that
document was needed. The 1993 report had attempted to provide
more practical case studies that built on the CTCR’s 1979 Report
on Euthanasia with Guiding Principles, which was appended to
Christian Care at Life’s End. In the intervening years, medical and
legal developments, particularly physician-assisted suicide, have
changed the landscape dramatically. After outside consultation and
internal discussion, a new report was drafted to address those developments from several vantage points: theological foundations
for the sanctity of human life, medical-ethical considerations related to end-of-life care and decision-making, and the distinctively
Lutheran approach to pastoral care and personal reflection at life’s
end. It also includes extensive chronological and bibliographical
resources as appendices. The commission hopes to approve this report at its April 2023 meeting.

C. Completed Studies and Responses
In addition to its formal reports in response to convention mandates, the CTCR produces other studies and responses, which include (but are not limited to) study documents intended to elicit
response and input for future consideration, Bible studies to accompany a report or to serve as a stand-alone document, discussion
guides intended for congregational study of a report, responses to
ecumenical statements or to publications of other church bodies,
among other possibilities implied by the Synod Bylaw 3.9.5.2.1 (a).

1. Responses to Overtures
Omnibus Res. A of the 2019 convention included twelve overtures for referral to the CTCR (and in some cases also to other
entities; see 2019 Proceedings, 229–30). At its December 2019
meeting, the commission approved responses to those who had submitted these overtures, indicating various ways that their concerns
were being or would be addressed.

2. On the Historical, Biblical, and Confessional Basis of
Article VI of the Constitution of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod (2010 Res. 8-30B)
2010 Res. 8-30B “To Study Article VI of Synod’s Constitution”
asked that “the President of the Synod in consultation with the
Council of Presidents, the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations, and the Commission on Constitutional Matters make
provisions for the preparation of materials (a study) that explain
the biblical, confessional, and historical basis for Article VI of the
Synod’s Constitution.” After conversation with the various other
named entities, the commission produced a draft under its own direction. At its April 2019 meeting, the commission approved the
study, entitled On the Historical, Biblical, and Confessional Basis
of Article VI of the Constitution of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod. It was subsequently sent to the Synod President to use and
disseminate at his discretion. This study is included in the Workbook appendix.

3. ReconcilingWorks Responses
In early 2020, the commission received inquiries and concerns
related to materials published in 2019 by an organization called
ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation, which advo-

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cated for LGBT causes in the church through reinterpretations of
Scripture and Lutheran theology. The CTCR asked three LCMS
seminary professors—the Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann, the Rev. Dr.
Thomas Egger, and the Rev. Dr. Timothy Saleska—to write evaluations of these materials on the basis of the theological perspective
of the Synod. Two of these responses examine a document titled
Reconciling Scripture for Lutherans; the other responds to a briefer
document titled Lutheran Introduction to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression. At its March 2021 meeting,
the commission approved these responses as “individual opinions
recommended for study and consideration” to be published under
the auspices of the CTCR, yet with the individual authors’ names.

4. Lutheran World Federation: An Introduction and Evaluation from the Theological Perspective of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod (2019 Res. 5-07A)
The 2019 convention (Res. 5-07, “To Clarify the Relationship
between LCMS Partner Churches and the Lutheran World Federation”) urged the President of the Synod “to engage in fraternal
dialogue with partner churches regarding this concern and compile
accurate information from them on their existing relationship” to
the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). As the entity tasked with
assisting the President in his relationship with other church bodies, the CTCR produced an evaluation of the LWF intended for
the President’s use in advising partner churches about the LWF,
inquiring about the nature of their relationship with the LWF, and
urging them to reconsider that relationship. This brief evaluation
provides an introduction to the history, organization, values, and
publications of the LWF. It also offers criticisms of their confessional basis, understanding of fellowship, support for the ordination
of women as pastors, and advocacy for LGBT issues amongst their
church bodies. It finally proposes the International Lutheran Council as a biblically and confessionally faithful alternative for church
association, support, and resources. The commission unanimously
approved this evaluation at its April 2022 meeting. This evaluation
is included in the Workbook appendix.

D. Standing Assignments and Work in Progress
The CTCR has a number of standing assignments on its agenda
stemming from convention resolutions that did not specify a particular response but urged the commission to consider a response as
circumstances dictate or to monitor future developments. Additionally, there are other assignments given the commission by convention action that are underway but were not completed in time for the
submission of materials to the Secretary of Synod for publication in
the convention Workbook.

1. Guidelines for Inter-Christian Relationships (1981
Res. 3-03A)
Since 1981, the CTCR has completed a number of documents
relating to the subject of inter-church relationships, some in specific
response to 1981 Res. 3-03A and subsequent resolutions related to
it. These include: 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 with Other Christian Church Bodies (2011), and Policy for
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Declaring Altar and Pulpit
Fellowship with Another Church Body (2009, rev. 2014, rev. 2021;
2023 Convention Workbook