LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 116

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116

RESOLUTIONS

6. During this session the document, A Declaration of Eucharistic
Understanding and Practice, which originated in the FloridaGeorgia District was read to the convention. When debate was resumed in session 7, delegates agreed to delete a proposed second
whereas and amend the first resolve by striking the words the
Synod rejects and substituting the words is not for the word as.
Following adoption of the resolution, the committee announced
its intention to withdraw Res. 3-28 from consideration.)

To Recognize Action of Florida-Georgia
District as Null and Void
RESOLUTION 3-06A
Overtures 3-03, 3-11, 3-21–34 (CW, pp. 154, 157,
160–64)
WHEREAS, The Florida-Georgia District of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod, at its 1997 District convention,
affirmed “the right of its pastors and congregations to welcome to the Lord’s Table those who, regardless of denominational affiliation, share our confession of Christ and our
conviction of what He freely offers in the eucharist”; and
WHEREAS, Synodical Bylaw 4.07 a states, “Resolutions of
the Synod are binding on the Districts”; therefore be it
Resolved, That the third “Resolved” of the Florida-Georgia District convention resolution, referenced above, is
therefore null and void because it is contrary to the resolutions of the Synod which have consistently upheld the
truth, “that pastors and congregations of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod, except in situations of emergency
and in special cases of pastoral care, commune individuals
of only those Lutheran synods which are now in fellowship
with us” (1967 Res. 2-19; see also 1977 Res. 3-12; 1981 Res.
3-04; 1983 Res. 3-12; 1986 Res. 3-08; 1989 Res. B; 1992 Res.
B; 1995 Res. 3-08).
Action: Adopted (7)
(During discussion the President of the Florida-Georgia District expressed his agreement with the resolution in view of the
intent to discuss the issues involved.)

To Seek Harmony between Pastors
and Their Hearers
RESOLUTION 3-07
Overtures 3-82, 3-92 (CW, pp. 177–78, 180–81)
WHEREAS, Concerns have been voiced in the Synod about
the relationship between pastors and their congregations;
and
WHEREAS, Conflict between pastors and congregations
have arisen due to the sins of both pastors and congregations; and
WHEREAS, The Sacred Scriptures of God instruct pastors
regarding their conduct toward their hearers and their personal life (1 Tim. 3:2–4) “The overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled,
respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money,”
and 1 Peter 5:2, “Shepherd the flock of God which is among
you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion, but willingly,
not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over
those intrusted to you, but by being examples to the flock”);
and

WHEREAS, The Scriptures of God instruct the hearers
(1 Cor. 9:14, “The Lord has commanded that those who
preach the Gospel should receive their living from the
Gospel,” and 1 Thess. 5:12–13, “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in
the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest
regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with one
another”); and
WHEREAS, The Scriptures of God declare that the pastors
are accountable to God for their hearers (Heb. 13:17, “They
keep watch over you as men who must give an account”);
therefore be it
Resolved, That pastors together with their hearers study
the Word of God and the Table of Duties in Luther’s Small
Catechism in order that they might govern their conduct
toward one another according to the Word of God; and be
it further
Resolved, That where conflict begins, congregations and
pastors seek early help in resolving such conflict according
to the Word of God by inviting their District President to
bring the good services of his office to their assistance; and
be it further
Resolved, That prayers be offered in our weekly worship
services that the Word of God may have free course and not
be hindered by the Old Adam and the sinful flesh of either
pastor or people; and be it finally
Resolved, That pastor and people conduct themselves
toward each other with the love and tenderness of Jesus
Christ our Savior by whose death we are forgiven and live.
Action: Adopted (10)
(The convention declined an amendment calling for congregation visits by the Circuit Counselor on a two-year cycle, such visits to include observation of a congregation meeting and interviews with the pastor and individual congregation members. Also
proposed and declined were training seminars for Circuit Counselors, reference of conflicts to the District office for development
of a plan for resolution in concert with and by invitation of the
pastor and congregation, and a report of the progress in counselor
training at the 2001 convention of the Synod.)

To Express Deep Regret and Profound
Disagreement with ELCA Actions
RESOLUTION 3-08A
Overtures 3-37–47, 3-55, 3-131 (CW, pp. 165–69, 171,
192)
Preamble
In 1997 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) adopted A Formula of Agreement which formally
declared full communion with the Presbyterian Church
(USA), the Reformed Church in America, and the United
Church of Christ based on what is referred to as “a fundamental doctrinal consensus” (A Formula of Agreement, p.
19). Although this document acknowledges that “it has not
been possible to reconcile the [Lutheran and Reformed]
Confessional formulations from the sixteenth century” concerning the presence of Christ in the Lord’s Supper, it contends that “these enduring differences” can be regarded “as
acceptable diversities” and should therefore not be regarded
as “church-dividing, but are complementary” (p. 20). The
Lutheran Confessions, however, reject the Reformed posi-