Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2023 · 68th Convention, Milwaukee › Page 269
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 269

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

FLOOR COMMITTEES: REPORT AND OVERTURE ASSIGNMENTS

3. Mercy
REPORTS
R1, R1.2–R1.2.2, R1.2.4, R5.2, R6–R7, R66.1
OVERTURES
Ov. 3-01

To Mark Fiftieth Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
with More Fervent Teaching, Proclamation,
and Efforts to Promote God’s Gift of Life
WHEREAS, On January 22, 1973, the United States Supreme
Court issued a 7–2 decision granting a fundamental right for a
woman to have an abortion; and
WHEREAS, Abortion is murder, the killing of an innocent living
human being, regardless of the stage of human development
beginning at conception, and transgresses God’s law in the Fifth
Commandment which teaches that we are “not to hurt or harm our
neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical
need” (Small Catechism I 9–10); and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has
identified abortion as a sin and against the Word of God in printed
Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation, most recently the 2017
edition from Concordia Publishing House; and
WHEREAS, A true Christian witness demands fear of God, not
man (Matt. 10:28) and not adding to or taking away from God’s
Word (Rev. 22:18–19); and
WHEREAS, Since the Roe v. Wade decision, over 61 million
abortions have tragically been performed in the United States; and
WHEREAS, The 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision will
have occurred during the current triennium of the Synod on Jan. 22,
2023; and
WHEREAS, Two generations of citizens in the United States have
grown up and lived only knowing legal abortion; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention mark the 50th
anniversary of Roe v. Wade by reaffirming its opposition to the
destructive sin of abortion; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage prayer and
good works to overturn, not just curb, the Roe v. Wade decision and
to end legal abortion in our nation and throughout the world; and be
it further
Resolved, That the Synod offer additional youth resources which
catalogue the 50-year struggle of faithful Christians standing for
life; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod encourage all congregations to take up
a special thank offering in 2023 to be given to Lutherans For Life,
a crisis pregnancy center, or other life ministry; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod leadership encourage congregational
involvement with life ministry in ways such as: forming a life team,
participating in sidewalk counseling, and contacting legislators; and
be it further
Resolved, That churches provide care for those suffering from
the effects of abortion and encourage congregations to take steps
and advocate for adoption; and be it further

269

Resolved, That the Synod encourage all pastors and
congregations to mark the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade by
teaching and proclaiming human life as sacred and by holding out
forgiveness and life to the full in Jesus Christ our Savior (John
10:10); and be it finally
Resolved, That the Mid-South District, meeting in convention,
submit this as a memorial to the 2023 Synod convention.
Mid-South District
Ov. 3-02

To Offer Clearer Information for Couples
Using the Pill for Birth Control as to
When and How Often It Acts as an Abortifacient
WHEREAS, In an article titled, “Contraception: An Embryo’s
Point of View,” (Concordia Theological Quarterly, January/April
2020, 137–59), the author, a board-certified obstetrician and
gynecologist, explains that use of the pill for contraception can
sometimes act as an abortifacient; and
WHEREAS, Whether or not a contraceptive method causes harm
is an important question for the Church, since God gives life and
commands us to protect it, and for faithful couples who desire to
live according to God’s commands and to protect their embryonic
human being(s); and
WHEREAS, Use of the pill for contraception is possibly the most
popular contraceptive in spite of the known problems that the pill
can cause to the woman’s body; and
WHEREAS, Doctors may not always take the time to explain how
contraceptives work; and
WHEREAS, It is incumbent that not only pastors but also
parishioners are able to address the theological issues; and
WHEREAS, The prophet writes, “My people are destroyed for
lack of knowledge” (Hos. 4:6); and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod teaches that
life begins at conception and wishes members to know how to keep
that embryonic life safe; therefore be it
Resolved, That in order to disseminate this crucial information to
a wider audience than those who read the Concordia Theological
Quarterly, the Synod publish the above article or one similar to it in
our most widely lay read periodical, The Lutheran Witness; and be
it further
Resolved, That the North Wisconsin District convention send
this resolution as an overture to the 2023 Synod convention.
North Wisconsin District
Ov. 3-03

To Increase Awareness among Synod
Congregations of Human Trafficking
WHEREAS, Human trafficking, including forced labor and sex
trafficking, affects an estimated 24.9 million victims worldwide at
any given time (United States Department of State,
www.state.gov/humantrafficking-about-humantrafficking/#profile, accessed June 18, 2021) and
WHEREAS, The Office of National Mission (ONM) and
Lutherans For Life (LFL) have addressed human trafficking (ONM,
“Human Trafficking” and “Identify, Understand and Intervene”
www.lcms.org/social-issues/human-trafficking;
LFL
2023 Convention Workbook