LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 118

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118

RESOLUTIONS

Synod’s conventions to consult with other groups on certain
issues, theological studies and opinions of the CTCR are not
always issued in a timely fashion. It is apparent that
thought needs to be given to which issues are most appropriate for the CTCR to discuss and which issues might be
given to seminary faculties for an opinion; therefore be it
Resolved, That the staff and members of the CTCR be
commended for their faithful service to the Synod; and be it
further
Resolved, That the Executive Committee of the CTCR
meet semiannually with the Praesidium of the Synod
jointly to
1. evaluate requests presented to the CTCR;
2. determine priorities in addressing the CTCR workload;
3. recommend to the CTCR which requests might be forwarded to one or both of the seminary faculties;
4. identify and involve additional drafters; and be it finally
Resolved, That the CTCR as a body representative of the
Synod, and working in concert with the President of the
Synod, continue to provide theological guidance and leadership by carrying out the responsibilities assigned to it by
the Synod.
Action: Adopted (10)

To Endeavor to Keep the Unity
of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace
RESOLUTION 3-10C
Overture 3-51–4 (CW, pp. 170–71)
WHEREAS, Article VI of the Synod’s Constitution lists
among the conditions of membership the “renunciation of
unionism and syncretism of every description such as ...
taking part in the services and sacramental rites of heterodox congregations or congregations of mixed confession”;
and
WHEREAS, Throughout the history of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod various applications of this article
have been adopted to assist us in our walk together (e.g.,
1971 Res. 2-21, 1977 Res. 3-25); and
WHEREAS, For “the sake of better understanding, general
harmony, and more consistent practice in our Synod,” this
convention has adopted Res. 3-03B directing the development and promotion of a biblical and confessional study of
our Synod’s fellowship principles; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention affirm its position on joint worship; and be it further
Resolved, That all District conventions in the year 2000
utilize the biblical and confessional study of our Synod’s fellowship principles and practices called for in Res. 3-03B of
this convention, emphasizing church fellowship, joint worship, and pastoral oversight concerning the Lord’s Supper;
and be it further
Resolved, That during the six months following the District convention each District President shall promote and
provide for the use of this study by pastors’ conferences,
teachers’ conferences, lay/clergy conferences, and congregations within his district; and be it further

Resolved, That the 2001 convention of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod devote special attention to the
topic of church fellowship, including joint worship and
Communion fellowship; and be it further
Resolved, That significant time be scheduled during the
2001 convention for prayer and the special study of church
fellowship through the study of Scripture and the Confessions, doctrinal essays, and theological discussions; and be
it finally
Resolved, That we commit ourselves to live according to
the instruction of the Lord’s Apostle, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling
with which you were called with all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering, bearing with one another in love,
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace” (Ephesians 4:1–3) and “submit to one another in the
fear of God” (Eph. 5:21).
Action: Adopted (11)
(Earlier in the convention the committee had introduced a resolution for consideration. A substitute resolution was proposed
and when delegates agreed to consider it, it was referred to the
committee. The resolution now before the convention was based
on the substitute resolution as rewritten by the committee and
agreed to by the maker of the substitute resolution. An amendment calling for deletion of the first resolve was declined. An
amendment stating that the Synod does not consider participation in an anti-abortion rally with other denominations as unionism was declared out of order.)

To Encourage Sensitivity to Ethnic
Nuances in Doctrinal Review
RESOLUTION 3-11
Report R2-04 (CW, pp. 36–39); Overture 3-139 (CW,
p. 194)
WHEREAS, The second point of the Synod’s fivefold vision
statement is “Christ Centered, People Sensitive” (1995 Res.
2-01A); and
WHEREAS, The Synod, at its 1992 convention, through
the “Mission Blueprint for the Nineties,” committed itself
to “Reach out from congregations with culture-specific ministry”; and
WHEREAS, The Christian church in all ages needs to distinguish between culture and universal truths revealed in
Holy Scripture; and
WHEREAS, The congregations of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod consist of people of many cultures; and
WHEREAS, The Bylaws of the Synod state that “all official periodicals and journals of the Synod as well as any
material with doctrinal content issued publicly by boards,
commissions, or other subordinate groups of the Synod except as stipulated in these Bylaws shall be subject to doctrinal review” (Bylaw 11.03a); and
WHEREAS, Bylaw 11.05 provides “the President of the
Synod shall appoint reviewers for each group according to
its needs”; and
WHEREAS, It is the policy of the President of the Synod to
appoint persons of various ethnic backgrounds to review
ethnic specific materials; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage all
persons and entities of the Synod involved in the doctrinal