LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 152

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152 CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES

WHEREAS, These congregations are using such worship services
as a response to the changing culture and as a means to speak to
today’s people in a relevant manner; and

WHEREAS, Some people view such service variety as an unac-
ceptable practice for Lutherans; and

WHEREAS, It is desirable to maintain harmony within our
Synod; and

WHEREAS, This overture was viewed of sufficient merit to be
passed as Res. 1-01 at the convention of the Northern Illinois Dis-
trict, June 1997; therefore be it

Resolved, That our Synod affirm and support the Lutheran Con-
fessional writings, which allow worship variety and condemn im-
posed adherence to those things that are “external ceremonies” and
also condemn those who would judge others on the basis of such
“ceremonies, precepts and institutions” (Epitome Art. 10); and be it
further

Resolved, That our Synod encourage among the pastors and
people of our Synod an evangelical attitude toward this potentially
divisive issue, applying Christian love and synodical brotherhood;
and be it finally

Resolved, That our Synod at the same time encourage all of its
pastors and worship leaders to carefully evaluate worship materials
to maintain Gospel-centered and doctrinally sound worship ser-
vices.

St. John
Mount Prospect, IL

2-61

To Provide Culturally Relevant Worship Materials

WHEREAS, The constituency that our congregations serve is
made up of people of many ethnic and cultural backgrounds; and

WHEREAS, The responsibility that the Lord has laid upon His
church is to bring the Gospel to ALL nations; and

WHEREAS, Culturally sensitive worship materials will enhance
the proclamation of the Gospel in our country and the world; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the Florida-Georgia District encourages the
Commission on Worship to provide materials that are theologically
sound, culturally sensitive, and relevant to the various constituen-
cies that our congregations are called to serve.

Florida-Georgia District

2-62

To Be Gender Sensitive in New Hymnal

WHEREAS, In some contexts using the word men or man can be
confusing as to whether the meaning is to be “males” or “humans”;
and

WHEREAS, Using the term men or man can lead to offending our
sisters in the faith and the world at large unnecessarily when the
word really means “mankind” or “humans”; and

WHEREAS, The Bible says in Gal. 3:28—29 “There is neither Jew
nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in
Christ Jesus. If you belong to Chnist, then you are Abraham’s seed,
and heirs according to the promise”; and

WHEREAS, Both Christian Worship (WELS hymnal) and the
Lutheran Book of Worship (ELCA hymnal) have shown a sensitiv-
ity in their rendering of the Nicene Creed; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Windom Circuit Forum of the Minnesota
South District meeting on September 17, 2000, memorialize The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod meeting in convention in the
year 2001 to instruct the new hymnal committee to be sensitive on
using man or men when “humans” are meant.

Windom Circuit Forum
Minnesota South District

2001 Convention Workbook

2-63

To Provide Distinctively Lutheran Worship
at National Youth Gatherings

WHEREAS, The Southern Illinois District has, in the past, en-
couraged its youth to support the synodical youth gatherings; and

WHEREAS, Such gatherings are supposed to be designed to pro-
vide the youth of our Synod with opportunities to rejoice in their
identity with Jesus Christ as members of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Southern I]linois District in convention ex-
hort the Synod’s Board for Congregational Services not to engage
in any questionable worship practices at any future national youth
gatherings; and be it further

Resolved, That the Southern Hlinois District in convention
strongly encourage the Synod’s Board for Congregational Services
to heed and model historical worship practices of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod in worship at ail future national youth
gatherings so that the youth of our Synod may indeed rejoice in
their identity with Jesus Christ as members of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod; and be it finally

Resolved, That Souther Illinois District congregations be en-
couraged to attend the New Orleans youth gathering July 28—Au-
gust 1, 2001.

Southern Illinois District

2-64

To Recognize AAT Bible Translation

WHEREAS, The LCMS President has prepared a fine series of
“What About” pamphlets, which have been distributed in our con-
gregation; and

WHEREAS, We commend Dr. Barry for these “What About”
pamphlets; and

WHEREAS, The “What About ... the Bible” pamphlet lists the
Revised Standard Version of the National Council of Churches as a
reliable translation; and

Wrereas, Dr. William Beck in his “What Does the Text Say?”
(The Holy Bible: An American Translation, pp. 341-44, third edi-
tion) shows that the RSV undermines various doctrines of the
Christian faith, including the virgin birth and the deity of Jesus
Christ; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Barry does not list the AAT as a reliable transla-
tion; and

WHEREAS, Concordia Publishing House published Beck’s New
Testament AAT in 1963 and was asked by an LCMS convention to
publish Beck’s entire AAT; and

WuerEAS, Some 25 confessional Lutheran scholars from Con-
cordia Seminary, St. Louis; Concordia Seminary, Ft. Wayne; Wis-
consin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon; Bethany Lutheran Seminary,
Mankato, MN; and elsewhere helped prepare a revision of Beck’s
New Testament AAT known as the New Evangelical Translation
(NET), and

WHEREAS, Christian News, New Haven, MO, in December
2000 published the fourth edition of Dr. Beck’s AAT; therefore be
it

Resolved, That the 2001 LCMS ask Dr. Barry to withdraw his
statement in the “What About... the Bible” listing the RSV as a re-
liable translation; and be it further

Resolved, That the congregation ask Dr. Barry to include the
AAT-NET in his list of reliable translations; and be it finally

Resolved, That the LCMS convention ask Dr. Barry to recom-
mend that the fourth edition of the AAT be sent to every LCMS
church, pastor, and teacher.

Trinity, New Haven, MO; Concordia, South Haven, MN;
Redeemer, John Day, OR