LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 257

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STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION 257

to the 2001 convention of the Synod and this proposal be prepared

and presented to the members of the Synod at least 6 months prior
to the 2001 convention.

Faith

Woodville, TX

7-54

To Implement Nongeographical
Black Ministry District Study Recommendations

WHEREAS, The 1996 LCMS Black Ministry Family Convoca-
tion in New Orleans adopted Res. 1-03, to request the Board for
Black Ministry Services to petition The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod to create a nongeographical District so that African
Americans can control their own destiny; and

WHEREAS, The Board for Black Ministry Services, upon the rec-
ommendation of President A. L. Barry, in accordance with the
Handbook of the Synod, appointed both a panel of experts and a
feasibility study committee; and

WHEREAS, The feasibility study committee made the following
recommendations:

That the Board for Black Ministry Services not pursue the Non-
geographical Black Ministry District at this time;

That the Board for Black Ministry Services develop partner-
ships with selected geographic Districts and explore ways to deal
with the issues raised in the report;

That the Board for Black Ministry Services begin the dialog
with the 26 geographic Districts about alternative ways to deal with
issues raised in the Nongeographical Black Ministry District Study
Report; and

WHEREAS, The Board for Black Ministry Services has adopted
the feasibility committee recommendation; therefore be it

Resolved, That the convention of the Synod empower and en-
courage the Board for Black Ministry Services to implement the
recommendations; and be it further

Resolved, That the convention of the Synod encourage Districts
to work with the Board for Black Ministry Services in the imple-
mentation of the recommendations; and be it finally

Resolved, That the convention of the Synod implore Almighty
God to bring into being the oneness in His church for which our
Lord Jesus prayed in His high priestly prayer.

Board for Black Ministry Services

7-55

To Reject Concept
of Nongeographic Ethnic Districts

WHEREAS, The apostle Paul teaches plainly that “for as many of
you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is
neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is nei-
ther male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal.
3:28); and

WHEREAS, This Christian unity taught by the Apostle is not ele-
vated but minimized by institutions which group Christians into as-
sociations based on differences ignored by our Savior; and

WHEREAS, Such “New Tribalism” (so-called by our own na-
tionally recognized scholar and teacher, Gene Edward Veith, Jr.,
in Postmodern Times [Crossways Books, 1994], pp. 143-56) is
demonstrably a product of anti-Christian trends in our present so-
ciety rather than arising from any biblical impetus; and

WHEREAS, Any such fragmentation further reduces the ability
of the LCMS to meaningfully address racial or ethnic issues which
touch upon the Gospel itself; therefore be it

Resolved, That the proposal to form a new nongeographical
black District be rejected as further fragmenting our Christian
unity; and be it further

Resolved, That every currently existing nongeographical Dis-
trict that rests upon ethnic or socioeconomic differences be en-
couraged to disband and to assimilate into the remaining geo-
graphical Districts of the LCMS.

Our Saviour
Evanston, WY

7-56

To Prohibit Any Action of Establishing Black District

WHEREAS, Through the fall into sin all people come under the
condemnation of the Law (Rom. 3:9-23); and

WHEREAS, By God’s grace through Christ Jesus all believers are
made equal in His kingdom (Gal. 3:26—29); and

WHEREAS, Our Lord, through the apostle Paul, instructed His
church to permit no division, but to strive for perfect unity (1 Cor.
1:10-13); and

WHEREAS, The establishment in the church of congregational
groupings based solidly upon race or ethnic background would
cause divisions and thus be contrary to God’s Word; and

WHEREAS, Some have expressed their desire to create a new
District which would be only for one race and with a deliberate in-
tention of excluding all other minority races (SED Floor Commit-
tee, 1997); and

WHEREAS, Such an action of excluding other races, be they ma-
jority or minority races from any District, is sinful and racist; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in its
1998 convention utterly reject and prohibit any and all attempts to
establish a “Black District’’ or any other District based solely on
race or any ethnic origin; and be it further

Resolved, That all members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod repent of all racism and strive for the unity of spirit that is
pleasing to God, the Father of us all.

Salem
Taylorsville, NC

7-57

To Create New Nongeographical District

WHEREAS, Redeemer Lutheran Church of St. Clair Shores,
Michigan, was granted a transfer to the English District from the
Michigan District; and

WuereaS, Redeemer Lutheran Church was denied admission to
the English District by the English District Board of Directors; and

Wuereas, Redeemer Lutheran Church of the LCMS currently
has no affiliation with an LCMS district; and

WHEREAS, Redeemer Lutheran Church, as a member of the
LCMS, is no longer able to issue calls or receive the official ser-
vices of an LCMS District and Circuit when necessary; and

WHEREAS, Many districts of the LCMS no longer publicly en-
dorse the doctrine of church and ministry taught by C. F. W.
Walther; and

WHEREAS, The creation of the “Walther District” would give
congregations in the Synod the opportunity to continue practicing
the doctrine of church and ministry promoted by C. F. W. Walther
without being in conflict with their current Districts; therefore be it

Resolved, That the 1998 convention of the LCMS establish the
creation of a new nongeographical District called the “Walther Dis-
trict of the LCMS”; and be it further

Resolved, That the “Walther District” adhere to the Constitu-
tion of the LCMS; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Walther District will own no property and
have no salaried officers or staff, thus avoiding the creation of
needless bureaucracy and enabling it to conserve a greater portion
of congregational resources for missions and the Synod at large.

Redeemer
St. Clair Shores, MI