LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 114

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114

RESOLUTIONS

its approval by rising and singing “A Mighty Fortress Is
Our God.”
Action: Adopted (2)

To Commend International
Lutheran Council
RESOLUTION 3-02
Report 3-01, II, A, 1 (CW, pp. 55–56)
Preamble
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod resolved in 1995
Res. 3-03A officially to join the newly organized International Lutheran Council. The ILC is a worldwide association of established confessional Lutheran church bodies
that proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the basis of an
unconditional commitment to the Holy Scriptures as the inspired and infallible Word of God and to the Lutheran Confessions (Report 3-01, II, A, 1, pp. 55–56). The ILC exists
for the purpose of encouraging, strengthening, and promoting confessional Lutheran theology and practice centering
in Jesus Christ, both among member churches and
throughout the world. The LCMS, in observance of its
150th anniversary, invited the ILC churches to participate
in a 1997 theological convocation.
Resolved, That the LCMS express joy over the ILC, because it advances confessional unity among Lutheran
churches committed to the authority of Holy Scriptures and
to the Lutheran Confessions; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS encourage the ILC to continue
to carry on the task to which it has committed itself; and
be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS ask the Lord to grant His
greatest blessings on this organization so that the ILC
churches may continue to be a bold witness to our Lord
throughout the world; and be it finally
Resolved, That the LCMS encourage and offer its greatest support to the continuation of discussions among the
member churches of the ILC and other Lutherans throughout the world.
Action: Adopted (6)

To Study Fellowship Principles
and Practices
RESOLUTION 3-03B
Overture 3-51 (CW, p. 170)
Preamble
Some people and church workers of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod do not always have a clear and
positive understanding of the basis and purpose of our
Synod’s fellowship posture. As a result they may be unable
to act accordingly or to give a helpful answer when questioned by other Christians regarding this practice.
For the sake of better understanding, general harmony,
and more consistent practice in our Synod, the following
resolution is proposed.
WHEREAS, Significant differences in fellowship understanding and practice are increasingly evident in The

Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod today, at times also in
the actions of its leaders; and
WHEREAS, This is in part due to a lack of understanding
of why we are who we are and why we do what we do as
Missouri Synod Lutherans; and
WHEREAS, These conditions in our Synod are disruptive
of peace and unity and provide a confusing witness within
and without our Synod; therefore be it
Resolved, That this 60th convention of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod recognize that a growing problem
exists among some of our pastors and congregations regarding the understanding, application, and practice of our
Synod’s fellowship principles; and be it further
Resolved, That this problem be boldly addressed by a
synodwide study of the confessional nature of our church
body (why we are who we are) and of our fellowship principles and practices (why we do what we do) suitable for use
by church workers and lay people; and be it further
Resolved, That the President of our Synod and the Commission on Theology and Church Relations be charged with
the responsibility for developing and promoting this biblical
and confessional study of our Synod’s fellowship principles
and practices during the next triennium; and be it finally
Resolved, That pastors, congregations, and church leaders be reminded of our synodical commitment to walk together in compliance with the decisions of our church body,
faithfully making use of our established procedures for dissent when taking issue with agreed-upon principles and
practices.
Action: Adopted as amended (6)
(By common consent the first word was changed from the to
some and some of was added between among and our in the first
resolve. An amendment calling for deletion of the final resolve
was declined.)

To Maintain Use of General Creeds
in Public Worship
RESOLUTION 3-04A
Overtures 3-123–25 (CW, pp. 189–90)
Preamble
“Since in ancient times the true Christian doctrine as it
was correctly and soundly understood was drawn together
out of God’s Word in brief articles or chapters against the
aberrations of heretics, we further pledge allegiance to the
three general creeds, the Apostles’, the Nicene, and the
Athanasian, as the glorious confessions of the faith—succinct, Christian, and based upon the Word of God—in
which all those heresies which at that time had arisen
within the Christian church are clearly and solidly refuted”
(Formula of Concord, Rule and Norm, 4 [Tappert, p. 504]).
WHEREAS, The three creeds—the Apostles’, the Nicene,
and the Athanasian—are the cherished possession of the
entire church down through the ages and are not just the
expression of any one individual; and
WHEREAS, The church has maintained the confession of
these creeds and has even suffered martyrdom rather than
to deny the faith confessed in them; and
WHEREAS, The pastors and congregations of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod by virtue of member-