LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 184

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184 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

Wuereas, Gambling has become not only legalized but legit-
imized by mainstream America and now poses a great threat to the
exercise of good stewardship by Christians; and

Wuereas, Gambling can become addictive and lead us to love
money more than God and can threaten our relationship with God
(Eph. 5:24; Eph. 5:5; 1 Cor. 6,9-11; | Tim. 6:10); and

Wuereas, Gambling can be a symptom of greed or material-
ism, especially in a society which mistakenly judges an individual
on the basis of possessions; and

Wuereas, Many members within The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod may be unaware of gambling’s many harmful conse-
quences and the scriptural directive in its regard; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod encour-
age its pastors and lay leaders to educate themselves and their con-
gregations in proper stewardship of their resources; and be it further

Resolved, That pastors and lay readers take note of the CTCR
report on gambling, advise their congregations of the potential dan-
gers of recreational gambling; and be it finally

Resolved, That we encourage our pastors and lay leaders to ed-
ucate themselves and their members to the help available for those
with gambling addictions and to reach out in love, embracing them
while they are yet enslaved.

St. Martin, Birch Run, MI; Board of Directors, Michigan
District; St. Lorenz, Frankenmuth, MI

3-104

To Assign CTCR Functions to Seminary Faculties

WHEREAS, The circumstances which necessitated the creation
of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR)
have been addressed; and

WuereasS, The theological studies and opinions issued by the
CTCR are widely perceived by the church-at-large as official doc-
trine, rather than opinion; and

WHEREAS, Maintaining the CTCR as an ongoing commission
represents a substantial expense; therefore be it

Resolved, That the CTCR go out of existence by the end of
1998; and be it further

Resolved, That the functions of the CTCR and their remaining
assignments be assigned to those called to teach theology in the
Synod, our seminary faculties.

Salem
Taylorsville, NC

3-105

To Consider Terminating Services of CTCR

WHEREAS, The triune God has blessed the Missouri Synod with
two outstanding seminaries, Concordia Theological Seminary in
Fort Wayne, IN, and Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO; and

WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations
(CTCR) is overwhelmed with work and whose schedule is running
years behind; therefore be it

Resolved, That the CTCR utilize the services of Concordia The-
ological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN, and Concordia Seminary, St.
Louis, MO, in rendering theological decisions; and be it further

Resolved, That the synodical President appoint a commission
to study the feasibility in using the two mentioned seminaries to
resolve theological decisions and terminating the services of the
CTCR; and be it finally

Resolved, That the report of the commission be made known to
the Synod on or before December 2000 for consideration in 2001.
Trinity

Westville, IN

3-106

To Eliminate Commission on Theology
and Church Relations

WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations
(CTCR) served the church well during the theological crisis for
which it was originally formed; and

WuereaS, The CTCR has not continued its role of timely study
and response to contemporary issues (example: the 1994 response
Racism and the Church, which had been on their agenda since
1986; and the 1989 response The End Times, which was requested
by the 1983 convention); and

WHEREAS, The CTCR has not been able to adequately respond
to many other timely concerns; therefore be it

Resolved, That the President of Synod appoint a committee to
study the need to continue the existence of the CTCR; and be it fur-
ther

Resolved, That the responsibility of rendering future theological
opinions be assigned to the faculty of Concordia Theological Sem-
inary (which may call upon other persons or entities as needed to
carry out its work); and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod fully fund at least one more chair of
systematic theology and necessary staff to carry out this appointed
task.;

Our Redeemer, Forsyth, IL; Bethany, Fort Wayne, IN

3-107

To Abolish CTCR

WHEREAS, The duties performed by the Commission on Theol-
ogy and Church Relations (CTCR) are duties which our seminary
faculties are equally well equipped, if not better equipped, to per-
form; and

WHEREAS, The duties of the CTCR were routinely performed
by the seminary faculties long before the existence of the CTCR;
and

WHEREAS, The current CTCR, in spite of the provision set forth
by Bylaw 3.925 which declares that “the commission shall assist
the President,” has forsaken and acted contrary to the request of the
President since the 1992 convention, the most flagrant example of
this being their rejection of his counsel to them to engage in fur-
ther study before publishing a controversial report, “The Service
of Women in the Congregation and Synodical Offices” (all of
which has been made public); and

WHEREAS, The current CTCR is quite evidently divided inter-
nally, as indicated by the existence in recent years of “minority re-
ports” from the seminary faculty members which refute the major-
ity; and

WHEREAS, The cost to the Synod of the CTCR and its activities
is considerable; therefore be it

Resolved, That the CTCR be abolished and that its duties again
be assigned to the seminary faculties.

St. John, Waterbury, CT; Mount Hope, Casper, WY

3-108

To Appoint Blue Ribbon Committee
to Review Procedures of CTCR

Preamble

The Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR)
was established by the Synod in 1962 (Res. 6-03) to “assist the
President at his request in discharging his constitutional responsi-
bilities” and to “provide guidance to the Synod in matters of theol-
ogy and church relations” (Bylaw 3.925 a b). It was designed to
have broad representation, and this representation has been
changed twice in response to changing needs (1981 Res. 2-18B,
1986 Res. 3-61). Today its membership includes seminary faculty