LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 49

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SYNODICAL REPORTS 49

Rev. George Dolak, secretary. The CTCR is served by three staff
persons: Dr. Samuel H. Nafzger, executive director; Dr. Jerald C.
Joersz and Rev. Joel D. Lehenbauer, assistant executive directors.
Since July 1, 1993, under an “operating agreement” between the
CTCR and the Commission on Organizations (COO), Dr. Jerald
Joersz has been providing staff services for the COO.

I. Theology
A. Assignments Completed
1. Church and State

The Synod asked the CTCR in 1983 “to carry out a basic study
of the various aspects of the relationship between church and state,
giving special attention to issues such as ‘who speaks for the
church,’ ‘when,’ and ‘on what basis’” (1983 Res. 3-06A). At its
September 1995 meeting the commission adopted unanimously its
report Render unto Caesar ... and unto God: a Lutheran View of
Church and State. In May 1996 the commission also approved a
Bible study on the report. This Bible study, together with a con-
densed version of the report, was printed in the July 1996 issue of
The Lutheran Witness. In view of its pertinence for broader discus-
sions of church/state issues, the Commission sent copies of its re-
port to all members of the United States Supreme Court, Senate
and House of Representatives. The report is printed in Appendix
III of this Workbook.

2. Gambling

The 1991 South Dakota District convention requested that the
CTCR “on the basis of God's Word clearly define the biblical
teaching concerning gambling.” Other Districts and many individ-
uals in the Synod in recent years have raised concerns as well. At
its February 1996 meeting the commission adopted its report on
Gambling. The Commission has been informed that this report has
been distributed by the Lutheran Church of Australia to all of its
pastors. The report has been included in Appendix III of this Work-
book.

3. Rectilinear Prophecy

The Missouri District forwarded to the CTCR for its study and
response a September 1988 overture on rectilinear prophecy from
the Washington Circuit Forum. At its May 1996 meeting the com-
mission adopted the document Prophecy and Typology and for-
warded it to the Missouri District. The report was made available to
the members of the Synod upon request and is now attached as Ap-
pendix A to the CTCR’s convention report.

4. Theological Study

The 1992 convention of the Synod urged District and Circuit
conferences to engage in theological study of a number of contem-
porary issues and requested the COP and CTCR “to provide en-
couragement and helpful resources to facilitate such studi&” (Res.
3-16). Following a review of this assignment, the commission con-
cluded that it would be fulfilled by the Theological Convocation to
be held in connection with the Synod’s 150th anniversary celebra-
tion in August 1997 and thereafter removed this assignment from
its agenda (see report on 150th anniversary celebration below).

5. Christians and Procreative Choices

As part of its ongoing assignment from the Synod (see 1977
Res. 3-26 and Bylaw 3.925 a 4) to provide guidance in the area of
“bioethics,” the Commission at its September 1996 meeting
adopted Christians and Procreative Choices: How do God’s Cho-
sen Choose? In this document the CTCR examines four cases in-
volving procreative choices that people in our culture find them-
selves considering, and it examines issues and offers guidance in
this area generally. The report is included in Appendix III of this
Workbook.

6. Inclusive Language
The Synod asked the CTCR at its 1989 convention “to study

the theological implications of utilizing inclusive versus exclusive
language in our teaching, worship, and printed materials.” In car-
tying out this assignment the commission also took careful note of
the Synod’s 1995 request “To Prepare a Comprehensive Study of
the Scriptural Relationship of Man and Woman” (Res. 3-10), in
which the Synod specifically asked that the CTCR “coordinate a
comprehensive study of the scriptural relationship of man and
woman, together with the faculties of both seminaries, making use
of other persons who are competent in the area of theology, in-
cluding women.” In view of this request, and because the study on
inclusive language includes questions foundational for the topic of
the relationship of man and woman, the commission decided to cre-
ate an ongoing panel of six “reactors” (5 women and | man) to
react to its drafts on inclusive language and to other aspects of the
comprehensive study called for by the Synod. In the process of
completing its report on inclusive language the commission on two
separate occasions invited responses from these reactors to its
drafts. Taking into account their responses, the commission com-
pleted work on this particular study at its February 1998 session,
adopting it under the title Biblical Revelation and Inclusive Lan-
guage. This report is printed in Appendix III of this Workbook.

7, CTCR Self-Study

At its 1995 convention the Synod asked “that the CTCR, under
the oversight of the President of the Synod, initiate an internal re-
view of its procedures and the topics it can most appropriately ad-
dress for the purpose of streamlining its operation in order to issue
its opinions in as timely a fashion as possible, inviting appropriate
groups or individuals to participate in this review.” At its Novem-
ber 1995 meeting the commission appointed a committee com-
prised of the chairmen of the three CTCR standing committees to
study and evaluate the procedures of the CTCR and to do so in con-
sultation with the President of the Synod and the CTCR staff.
Drafts of this self-study subcommittee’s report were shared with
President Barry for his review and input. At its May 1996 meeting
the commission adopted the report of the CTCR self-study sub-
committee as the CTCR Self-Study Report. In this report the Com-
mission developed suggestions aimed at streamlining its procedures
and making more profitable and expeditious use of the time and re-
sources available to it. These suggestions include, but are“not lim-
ited to, specific provisions such as delegating assignments (either
for drafting or for input) to other competent entities and authori-
ties—including specifically the faculties of the Synod’s seminar-
ies; evaluating requests for assignments; referring to previously
published materials in the Synod; reassessing the backlog of as-
signments on its agenda; and issuing state of the question reports
where there is disagreement within the Synod and/or within the
commission itself. The commission has begun implementing the
results of this self-study.

8. Worship Needs

The 1992 convention included the CTCR in a request to “detail
for the church a thorough theology of worship and how our wor-
ship practices develop Christian character” (Res. 2-02). In 1995 the
Synod asked the Commission on Worship, “in consultation with
the Commission on Theology and Church Relations and the semi-
nary faculties” to “study the theology of worship and develop
guidelines to give congregations practical assistance to foster wor-
ship consistent with Lutheran theology and practice” (Res. 2-06).
Following the 1992 convention, the CTCR itself began work on
this assignment, but in subsequent consultations with the staff of
the Commission on Worship the CTCR learned that the Commis-
sion on Worship was proceeding with the assignment. On Oct. 31,
1997, the CTCR received a copy of “Reflections on Contempo-
rary/Alternative Worship” prepared by the Commission on Wor-
ship. At its Nov. 17-19, 1997, meeting the CTCR noted that the
Commission on Worship had not requested a formal consultation
with the CTCR regarding this document. Nevertheless, members
of the CTCR as individuals were given the opportunity to submit
reactions to the document. A number of CTCR members did so
and, although their reactions were mixed, the Commission on Wor-
ship reported that it found them helpful.