LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 185

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 185

members, parish pastors, a parish teacher, a District President and
laypersons. This representative body is elected or appointed by the
Synod in convention, the seminary faculties, the President of the
Synod and the Council of Presidents (Bylaw 3.921). It has served
the Synod well in providing guidance to the Synod on a wide vari-
ety of theological issues.

The CTCR plays a vital role in church relations, communicating
the Synod’s doctrinal position to other church bodies and groups
through theological dialogs and responding to dialog statements. It
supports relationships with other confessional Lutherans through-
out the world by providing staff service for the International
Lutheran Council. It is apparent these church-relation activities will
continue to increase.

Because of the workload, the complex nature of the issues be-
fore the CTCR, and the mandate often given by the Synod’s con-
ventions 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 is-
sues are most appropriate for the CTCR to discuss and which is-
sues might be given to seminary faculties for an opinion.

Resolved, That the staff and members of the CTCR be com-
mended for their faithful service to the Synod; and be it further

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 re-
sponsibilities assigned to it by the Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That the President of the Synod appoint a blue rib-
bon committee to initiate a review of its procedures and the topics
it can most appropriately address 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; and be it finally

Resolved, That the blue ribbon committee report to the 2001
convention of the Synod concerning results of this review, includ-
ing any necessary changes in procedure and structure.

Memorial
Houston, TX

3-109

To Disband Commission on Theology
and Church Relations

WHEREAS, At one time in the history of our Synod the seminary
faculties studied theological issues and rendered opinions for the
church; and

WHEREAS, The synodical convention established the Commis-
sion on Theology and Church Relations for the purpose of assisting
the synodical President in dealing with a controversy; and

WHEREAS, The controversy no longer exists in the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The faculties of the two seminaries could again serve
the church in dealing with theological issues and rendering opin-
ions; therefore be it

Resolved, That at the 1998 convention the Commission on The-
ology and Church Relations be disbanded and the appropriate By-
laws be changed accordingly; and be it further

Resolved, That the responsibility of rendering theological opin-
ions again be assigned to the seminary faculties.

Concordia
South Haven, MN

3-110

To Support Declaration on Families and Oppose
Human Cloning

WHEREAS, Reports of cloning sheep, monkeys, and, possibly,
human beings, have filled the media; and

WHEREAS, The Bible teaches that the Holy Trinity, the only true
God, is the Creator of ail; and

Wuereas, A “Declaration on Families of the World Congress
of Families,” which met March 19-22 in the Czech Republic, noted
in part:

1. “Marxist and totalitarian regimes have intruded into and di-
minished family life preventing its normal operation and func-
tions.”

2. “In many democratic countries, cultural revolutions, materi-
alism, and sexual permissiveness have resulted in a destruction and
denigration of moral values, thereby producing hedonistic societies
in which extramarital relationships, adultery, and divorce prolifer-
ate leading to widespread abortion, illegitimacy, and single-parent
children.”

3. “Many methods of reproductive biotechnology, such as gene
manipulation, in vitro fertilization, and cloning, can threaten mar-
riage, the family, morality, and religion.”

4. “We declare that communities in harmony with human na-
ture exhibit common traits in custom and law that include the fol-
lowing:

— Recognition of religion as a common, necessary foundation
of family life

—Affirmation of marriage as a lifelong covenant between
a man and a woman and the only legitimate province for sexual
intimacy

—Recognition that there is no profession that has a higher status
than motherhood

—Encouragement of the extended family as a source of added
security and continuity for humanity

—Celebration of conception and birth of children
—Welcome of large families

—Respect for the dignity of human life from conception to nat-
ural death

—Respect for the distinctive traits of manhood and womanhood
as biologically determined and not as socially constructed

—Respect for the right of families to ownership of private prop-
erty, productive land, shelter, and capital.”

and

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod President A.
L. Barry recently sent to the congregations of the LCMS a pam-
phlet in which he says, “One of the most important things a family
can do is spend time together in the Word of God. Key ingredients
for the family’s devotional time are the Scriptures, the hymnal and
the Small Catechism. These are excellent resources for meaning-
ful time together in the Word of God. Parents should begin reading
and reciting the chief parts of the Small Catechism with their chil-
dren when they are very young, helping them learn the Lord’s
Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Apostles’ Creed, and then
working on the explanations, building as time goes on. Parents
need to discuss their faith with their children, pray with them and
encourage their children in love to do what is right, not hesitating to
say no when necessary. And always, parents will want to be for
their children a model of the heavenly Father’s love in Christ Jesus
our Lord”; therefore be it

Resolved, That Trinity Lutheran Church petition the 1998 con-
vention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to commend the
Declaration on Families of the World Congress of Families and to
adopt a Lutheran statement on families incorporating the fine
Christian approach in President Barry’s “What about Christian
Families?”; and be it further

Resolved, The LCMS oppose the cloning of human beings.

Trinity, New Haven, MO; Washington Circuit, Missouri
District; Trinity, Denver, CO