LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 143

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CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES 143

Resolved, That we look for all possible ways to reach out with
the Gospel; and be it finally

Resolved, That the report of the Task Force on Recognized Ser-
vice Organizations (schools) be rejected.

Grace
Queens Village, NY

2-30

To Reject Efforts to Remove RSO Status
from Pan-Lutheran Schools

WHEREAS, The synodical task force has recommended removal
of the Rockford Lutheran System from the status of a Recognized
Service Organization; and

WHEREAS, Such removal will require synodically trained teach-
ers to choose between leaving the Rockford Lutheran school sys-
tem or losing their participation in the Concordia Health Plan and
Concordia Retirement Plan; and

WuerEAsS, The presence of synodically trained teachers in the
Rockford Lutheran System assures faithful and quality religious
education for the students in that system; and

WHEREAS, This school was originally founded by individuals or
groups of LCMS congregations, who due to increasing costs of op-
eration found it necessary to seek financial support from the entire
Lutheran community; and

Wuereas, A synodically trained teacher is the principal and
makes primary choices for teachers to be called; and

WHEREAS, It is the right and responsibility of local congrega-
tions to oversee the proper teaching of the Law and the Gospel at
these schools; and

Wuereas, Local LCMS Circuit congregations and pastors have
continued to exercise care and awareness in the content of religious
education classes and the general policies of the school; and

Wuereas, Local LCMS congregations have active representa-
tion on boards in the system; and

Wuereas, Many non-churchgoing parents are seeking quality
education within a Christian and moral framework; and

WHEREAS, This particular pan-Lutheran school fulfills this need
and offers a ready-made mission opportunity at no cost to the Dis-
trict or Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod reject the effort to remove the Rock-
ford Lutheran System from Recognized Service Organization sta-
tus; and be it further

Resolved, That we continue to offer prayerful support to all
teachers in this and other pan-Lutheran schools; and be it further

Resolved, That our synodically trained teachers maintain their
status on the Synod’s roster and participate in the Synod’s wel-
fare/benefit plans; and be it finally

Resolved, That we especially offer encouragement to our syn-
odically trained teachers to remain faithful to Lutheran doctrine.

Redeemer
Rockford, IL

2-31

To Encourage Pan-Lutheran Schools

WHEREAS, Sacramento Lutheran High School (SLHS) has been
providing Lutheran secondary education in Sacramento, CA, since
1992; and

WrereaS, Several SLHS graduates have matriculated to Con-
cordia universities nationwide and three are currently serving The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in professional ways; and

WuereEasS, SLHS in teaching religion has based its curriculum

on Concordia Publishing House materials, the Lutheran Confes-
sions, and biblical principles; and

WHEREAS, SLHS teachers primarily are “commissioned minis-
ters” rostered by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and

Wuereas, SLHS has received valuable support, financial and
human, from the congregations of the American Association of
Lutheran Churches (AALC), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA), and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod;
and

Wuereas, 34 Lutheran high schools nationwide are affiliated
with both The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and the Evan-
gelical Lutheran Church in America; and

WuerEAS, The teaching of daily religion classes for each stu-
dent is led by LCMS-commissioned ministers; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod be peti-
tioned to encourage pan-Lutheran schools such as SLHS to con-
tinue in ministry with human and financial support from the Evan-
gelical Lutheran Church in America and the American Association
of Lutheran Churches.

Board of Directors
Sacramento Lutheran High School
Sacramento, CA

2-32

To Affirm Pan-Lutheran RSO School Associations

WHEREAS, Thirty-two Lutheran high schools across the country
plus two elementary schools have pan-Lutheran associations or
support; and

WuereaS, The Lutheran High School Association of Nassau
and Suffolk Counties, Martin Luther High School, and several ele-
mentary schools in the Atlantic District of the LCMS have
pan-Lutheran associations; and

Wurereas, Atlantic District LCMS schools and Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America schools have been served most capa-
bly for over a quarter of a century by Lutheran school associations;
and

Whereas, The Lutheran High School Association of Nassau
and Suffolk Counties is dually affiliated with the LCMS as a Rec-
ognized Service Organization and with the ELCA as an affiliated
organization, along with six other Lutheran high school associa-
tions nationwide; and

WHEREAS, The Report of the Task Force on Recognized Ser-
vice Organizations (Schools) is setting a July 1, 2006, deadline for
“LuHi” and the other six Lutheran high school associations to de-
cide upon their church-body affiliation, picking between the LCMS
and the ELCA options; and

WHEREAS, The loss of the dual status would hinder both long
and treasured relationships for “LuHi” and the others, even though
great care is taken by those in supervisory positions to assure min-
imal conflicts in areas that are disputed between the two denomi-
nations; and

Wtereas, The election of the ELCA option would mean, for
“LuHi” and the other Lutheran high school associations, dramatic
changes in eligibility to call LCMS church workers, borrow money
from LCMS sources, participate in retirement plans, and receive
guidance and counsel from the wider LCMS church body, thus hin-
dering the mission and effectiveness of the schools; and

WHEREAS, Such pan-Lutheran associations are made up of
LCMS congregations, which can and have historically been con-
sidered to be able to make decisions regarding congregational in-
volvement in inter-Lutheran ministries (RSOs) on their own; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the Report of the Task Force on Recognized Ser-
vice Organizations (Schools) be received with thanks by the 2001
LCMS convention in assembly; and be it further

Resolved, That the proposal that dually affiliated Lutheran
school associations must “Tesolve their dual status” by July 1, 2006,
or lose their LCMS RSO status be respectfully declined; and be it
further

2001 Convention Workbook