LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 144

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144 CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES

WHEREAS, The various synodical boards make the determina-
tion regarding RSO status regarding the various applicants whose
mission/ministry come under the purview of that particular board;
and

WHEREAS, The Board for Congregational Services has and con-
tinues to regularly grant RSO status to parochial school associa-
tions and many other entities which are of mixed confession (regu-
larly including ELCA parishes as full members), even when the
constitution of such associations requires that all members be
Lutheran parishes which are “true to the Book of Concord, 1580"
(Constitution of the Lutheran Association of Elementary Educa-
tion, Fort Wayne); and

WHEREAS, The Synod Constitution prohibits unionism of any
description, including even participation in heterodox tract and mis-
sion societies; and ELCA parishes as full members of RSO schools
and associations regularly participate in all decisions regarding pol-
icy, confession, procedure, worship, etc., in such entities; and
ELCA pastors are conducting chapel and teaching in many such
RSO schools and other entities; and

WHEREAS, The ELCA as of its last regular convention (1997) is
in full Communion with several Reformed denominations and has
rejected the Book of Concord’s church dividing rejections of Re-
formed and Roman Catholic doctrine and practice, thereby nulli-
fying the Small Catechism at major points regarding the very
Gospel itself; therefore be it

Resolved, That RSO status hereafter not be granted to any asso-
ciation or ministry which operates jointly with full constitutional
participation of ELCA parishes, or parishes of another church or
denomination, in anything other than “cooperation in externals”
(precluding then, RSO status for jointly operated schools and as-
sociations); and be it further

Resolved, That all current RSO status organizations be subject
to review every third year, conducted by clergy appointed by the
LCMS President, such that all such entities lose their RSO status
and all the rights and privileges thereof, should they be in violation
of the foregoing resolve; and be it further

Resolved, That any member of Synod be given the right to chal-
lenge RSO status for any entity, via the Synod’s Commission on
Constitutional Matters, which shall rule on the basis of the LCMS
Constitution and this resolution; and that before any entity is
granted RSO status, the name of such organization be published in
The Lutheran Witness, after which a period of six months shall fol-
low before RSO status is granted, allowing ample time for objec-
tions to RSO status to be aired and dealt with; and be it finally

Resolved, That a period of three years from the passage of this
overture be granted those RSO organizations during which time
they will make the necessary constitutional revisions regarding this
doctrinal matter of church practice. If such changes in constitution
and practice are not made, RSO status shall have been revoked by
means of this resolution.

Our Redeemer, Forsyth, IL; Bethany, Fort Wayne, IN;
St. John, Topeka, KS; Our Saviour, Evansville, IN

2-63

To Discontinue Practice
of Establishing Joint LCMS/ELCA Schools

WHEREAS, The Scripture instructs true Christians to mark and
avoid those who depart from the Word of God (Rom. 16:17); and

WueEREAS, The doctrine of church fellowship set forth in the
pages of God’s Word instructs us to have doctrinal unity based on
the teachings of God’s Word (J Cor. 1:10); and

WHEREAS, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has de-
parted from the teachings of God’s Word as rightly comprehended
in the Lutheran Confessions; and

WuereEaS, Lutheran schools are not only places of liberal arts
instruction, but also nurseries of religious instruction wherein
classes in Christian doctrine, ethics, and history are held, chapel
services and the divine liturgy are a part of the regular activities of

Lutheran schools, and wherein pastors and other church workers
are an influential part of the school’s life; and

Wuereas, We are called to live by faith rather than by sight in
that God will provide for all our needs, thereby making it unneces-
sary to seek financial support from heterodox and false churches;
and

WHEREAS, There are increasing attempts to establish “Lutheran”
schools through ungodly alliances; and

WHEREAS, Our Lord teaches that a little yeast leavens the whole
loaf; and

WHEREAS, The children of the church are to be instructed in the
pure doctrines of Jesus Christ, and protected against false teachers
and ungodly influences, especially when they are placed under the
name of Christian unity; and

Wuereas, Christ Jesus issues His strongest warming in saying,
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believes in Me to
stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung
around his neck and to be drowned in the deepest part of the sea”
(Matt. 18:6); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod discourage the establishment of all
joint LCMS/ELCA schools; and be it further

Resolved, That all joint LCMS/ELCA schools be denied Reli-
gious Service Organization status; and be it finally

Resolved, That synodical staff give no aid or assistance in the
establishment of joint LCMS/ELCA schools.

Immanuel
Peoria, IL

2-64

To Encourage Weekly Celebration of Holy Communion

WHEREAS, The Lord Jesus is quoted in | Corinthians 11, “Do
this as often as you drink it in remembrance of Me”; and

WHEREAS, St. Paul continues in | Corinthians | 1, “For as often
as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s
death until He comes”; and

WHEREAS, The regular assembling of the body of Christ around
the Sacrament of the Altar is an expression not only of the unity of
the faithful in their desire to receive forgiveness and strength
through the body and blood of Christ, but of the Lutheran convic-
tion that God reveals Himself to us through means; and

WHEREAS, The Augsburg Confession testifies concerning the
Lutheran church, “On holy days, and at other times when commu-
nicants are present, Mass is held and those who desire it are com-
municated” (CA XXIV 34); and .

WHEREAS, The Apology clarifies this statement by observing
“In our churches Mass is celebrated every Sunday and on other fes-
tivals when the sacrament is offered to those who wish for it after
they have been examined and absolved” (Ap XXIV 1); therefore
be it

Resolved, That the LCMS in convention encourage each con-
gregation in District and Synod to offer Holy Communion on a
weekly basis and on each Sunday; and be it further

Resolved, That in cases of pastoral vacancy, ordained pastors
be sought to celebrate Holy Communion with as great a frequency
as possible proclaiming thereby the Lord’s death until He comes.

Board of Directors
Atlantic District

2-65

To Encourage Recovery
of Every Sunday Communion
WHEREAS, The opportunity to receive the Lord’s Supper each
Lord’s Day was a reality cherished by Doctor Luther and set forth
with high esteem by our Lutheran Confessions (Art. XXIV of the
Augsburg Confession and of the Apology); and