LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 141

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CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES 141

sider each school’s practices in the light of LCMS doctrinal posi-
tions.

WHEREAS, The Lutheran high schools of the Northern Illinois
District have served our churches for almost 100 years, educating
young men and women in Christ-centered schools; and

WHEREAS, These schools were brought into being entirely by
LCMS congregations; and

WHEREAS, Some of these school associations currently include
member congregations from both the LCMS and the ELCA, in ac-
cord with past guidelines of the LCMS; and

WHEREAS, The LCMS Board of Directors, in the early 1990s,
stated that policy regarding the recognition of RSOs would be de-
termined by the synodical entity under which they function; and

Wuereas, The Board for Congregational Services, in review-
ing the policy which required two-thirds of the congregations in a
Lutheran high school association to be congregations of the LCMS,
amended that requirement to state “one or more congregations of
the LCMS” as a member of the association would enable the asso-
ciation to retain its RSO status; and

WHEREAS, The Board for Congregational Services affirmed that
the constitution and bylaws of each high school association had to
be in conformity with the policies and procedures of the LCMS;
and

Whereas, The right and responsibility of local congregations
is to oversee the theological, biblical, and administrative issues
such as those related to life issues, the pastoral office, and religious
instruction taught by synodically trained teachers; and

WHEREAS, A synodical RSO Task Force is recommending that
Synod “require RSOs to choose between LCMS recognition and
ELCA affiliation”; and

WHEREAS, The implementation of the task force report as pre-
sented would cripple or effectively destroy specific high school as-
sociations presently serving their communities; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board of Directors of the Northern Illinois
District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod expresses its af-
firmation of Lutheran secondary educational efforts here and across
the country for serving the church at large in educating young men
and women in a Christ-centered environment; and be it further

Resolved, That our synodically trained teachers in the affected
schools maintain their status on the Synod’s roster; and be it further

Resolved, That we especially offer encouragement to our syn-
odically trained teachers to remain faithful to Lutheran doctrine;
and be it further

Resolved, That the high school associations maintain constitu-
tions and bylaws in conformity with the policies and procedures of
the LCMS; and be it finally

Resolved, That the convention committee submit the recom-
mendation of the Task Force on RSOs to the Board for Congrega-
tional Services for examination and reporting at the 2004 conven-
tion.

Northern Illinois District

2-24

To Discontinue Joint LCMS/ELCA Schools

Wuereas, The Holy Scriptures instruct true Christians to mark
and avoid those who depart from the Word of God (Rom. 16:17);
and

WuerEAS, The doctrine of church fellowship as set forth in the
Word of God teaches that our unity in church work is to be based
solely on the doctrines of Holy Scriptures (1 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

WHEREAS, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has en-
tered into fellowship with Reformed churches; and

WHEREAS, 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 are conducted as part of regular school activities, and
wherein pastors and other church workers are an influential part of
the school’s life; and

WHEREAS, We are called to live by faith rather than by sight,
knowing that God will provide for all of our needs, thereby making
it unnecessary to seek financial support from heterodox and the
false churches; and

WuerEAS, There are increasing attempts to establish such
schools through these ungodly alliances; and

Wuereas, 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 doctrine of Jesus Christ and protected against false teachers
and ungodly influences, especially when they are done in the name
of “Christian unity”; and

WHEREAS, Christ Jesus issues His strongest warning against
anyone who “causes one of these little ones who believe 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 any
further joint LCMS/ELCA schools, including issuing associate
memberships to congregations and church bodies who do not ac-
cept quia the Lutheran Confessions; and be it further

Resolved, That all present LCMS/ELCA schools be reconsti-
tuted as LCMS institutions; and be it further

Resolved, That all LCMS/ELCA schools that continue in vio-
lation of the doctrine of church fellowship by continuing in this re-
lationship be denied Recognized Service Organization (RSO) sta-
tus; and be it finally

Resolved, That synodical and District staff give no aid or assis-
tance to such schools.

Immanuel
Peoria, IL

2-25

To Express Concern over RSO Task Force Report

WHEREAS, Resolution 2-06A of the 1998 convention of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod calls for congregations in-
volved in inter-Lutheran associations, known as Recognized Ser-
vice Organizations (RSOs) of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod, such as Lutheran high schools and Lutheran elementary
schools, to review their relations with these organizations; and

WuerEAS, A synodical task force has been appointed to review
these inter-Lutheran organizations currently operating as RSOs of
The Lutheran Church—Missoun Synod, and to present a report to
the 2001 convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in
regard to the status of these RSOs; and

WHEREAS, This review may result in limiting and discouraging
the cooperative efforts of inter-Lutheran groups working together
in Christian ministry; and

WHEREAS, This resolution appears to discourage and perhaps
even prevent the startup of new inter-Lutheran activities and coop-
erative efforts in Christian ministry; and

WHEREAS, There are many inter-Lutheran schools and other
inter-Lutheran programs that are carrying out important Christian
ministries and have been doing so for many years; and

WHEREAS, Decisions of this nature, as indicated in Article VII
of the Constitution of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod,
should be and remain with congregations as they study such mat-
ters in relation to the Word of God; therefore be it

Resolved, That congregations of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod be encouraged to study this matter, especially those
with ministries in this category, including Lutheran elementary and

2001 Convention Workbook