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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 290

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

290

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

WHEREAS, In April 2021, the JLC held its convention online.
During that meeting, the church body made two decisions contrary
to Scripture:
1. The JLC amended its bylaws to remove the word “male”
from the section on requirements of called pastors.
2. The JLC elected as its vice-president an “ordained
deaconess” who now publicly describes herself as a
“pastor,” is currently given this same title by the JLC, and
regularly and openly carries out the distinctive functions of
the pastoral office;
and
WHEREAS, These decisions have destroyed the scriptural basis
for the longstanding relationship of altar and pulpit fellowship
between the LCMS and the JLC; and
WHEREAS, In July 2021, LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C.
Harrison wrote to the leadership of the JLC to explain the import of
these decisions and to seek the JLC’s repentance and return to the
true and clear teaching of Scripture on the Office of the Holy
Ministry: “The LCMS has, throughout its history, consistently held
and ‘declare[d] clearly and unequivocally… that the Scriptures
teach that only men may hold the pastoral office’ (1998 Res. 325A)”; and
WHEREAS, This is a matter of sacred truth and we have a
conscience-bound commitment as a confessional orthodox
Lutheran church body to confess this truth and to remain faithful to
it; therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2022 Central Illinois District pray and urge
the JLC to repent and return to the biblical and confessional
Lutheran teaching regarding the Office of the Public Ministry; and
be it further
Resolved, That the Central Illinois District memorialize the 2023
Synod convention to revoke/dissolve partnership with the JLC,
which was adopted in 1971, if it still remains in these errors at the
time of the 2023 Synod convention.
Central Illinois District
Ov. 5-07

To Study Triangular Fellowship
WHEREAS, Altar and pulpit fellowship, as understood in The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, “allows the pastors of one
church to preach and celebrate Holy Communion in the church of
another. Similarly, when altar and pulpit fellowship exists, the laity
of one church may receive Holy Communion from the other
church’s pastors. Churches in altar and pulpit fellowship share all
spiritual things including a joint responsibility in maintaining a
common confession of faith” (LCMS CTCR Study Materials, The
Lutheran Understanding of Church Fellowship [adopted 2000], 4);
and
WHEREAS, Confusion has arisen because the Synod has declared
altar and pulpit fellowship with various partner church bodies that
in turn share altar and pulpit fellowship with other church bodies
with which the Synod is not in altar and pulpit fellowship
(“triangular fellowship”); and
WHEREAS, Although 2019 Resolution 5-07 directed the office of
the President of the Synod to report to the 2022 (now, 2023) Synod
convention with recommendations on addressing the relationship
between partner churches and the Lutheran World Federation as one
2023 Convention Workbook

example of being unequally yoked, that resolution did not address
the “triangular fellowship” problem; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Northern Illinois District memorialize the
2023 Synod convention to have the President of the Synod and his
Synod representatives research the parameters of triangular
fellowship and report its findings to the 2026 Synod convention.
Northern Illinois District
Ov. 5-08

To Clarify and Simplify Bylaws regarding Routes
to Altar and Pulpit Fellowship
Preamble
The Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) has
reviewed Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 and proposed consolidation and
clarification of the language dealing with its role in recognition of
altar and pulpit fellowship. Presently routes to fellowship are
presented in four cases (b–e), which are stated in terms of certain
presumptions (e.g., that all fellowship requests originate from
potential partners and not in the other direction), redundancies (e.g.,
in each of [b–e], there exists a relatively uniform statement that the
convention must approve; [e] seems, furthermore, to be redundant
with [b–d]), and potential unclarities. CTCR submitted its proposal
to the Commission on Handbook, which consulted with the
Commission on Constitutional Matters (Op. 22-3001, Minutes of
Nov. 4–5, 2022) and now presents the proposal for adoption. It
understands the change to be non-substantive, in that it should allow
the same scope of actions under new bylaw language, but
substantial enough a change of language regarding a critical
function of the Synod that it should be presented for the
convention’s consideration and for its more prominent historical
record.
By way of explanation, existing paragraphs (b–d) are subsumed
under a new summary heading as (b)(1–3) and (e) is deleted;
situations formerly falling under (e) will be handled under the new
(b)(1–3) as appropriate.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Commission on Theology and Church Relations
…
3.9.5.2.2
The Commission on Theology and Church Relations shall
assist the President of the Synod at his request in discharging his
constitutional responsibilities for maintaining doctrinal integrity as
he relates to other church bodies.
(a) It shall address itself to and evaluate existing fellowship
relations for the purpose of mutual admonition and
encouragement.
(b) It shall address itself to potential fellowship and/or partner
church relations as follows:
(b1) When a church body applies for formal Formal
recognition of altar and pulpit fellowship withbetween the
Synod and another church body, such recognition shall be
proposed at a convention of the Synod only after the approval
of the commission.
(c2) When a Formal recognition of altar and pulpit fellowship
between the Synod and a small, formative, emerging
confessional Lutheran church body (identified as such by the
President of the Synod as chief ecumenical officer) requests