LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 159

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 159

WHEREAS, The issue of fellowship on the personal and individ-
ual level is not dealt with, though it should be basic to any discus-
sion of fellowship on a group level; and

WHEREAS, The issue of relationships within the body of Christ
is crucial, and expressions such as invisible/visible church are re-
ally not helpful to the average Christian; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod meet-
ing in convention in St. Louis in 2001 return this study to the Com-
mission on Theology and Church Relations for further study.

Bethany
Milwaukee, WI

3-11
To Undertake a Synodical Study of Book of Concord

WHEREAS, The question of Lutheran identity has come under
question within our pluralistic, eclectic, and syncretistic culture;
and

WHEREAS, The question of Lutheran identity shapes the ecu-
menical and missional agenda of the Lutheran church within such a
world; and

WHEREAS, The question of Lutheran identity finds its definition
within the confessional writings of the Lutheran church; and

WHEREAS, 2001 is the sesquicentennial of the first American
edition of the Book of Concord published by the Henkels; and

Wuereas, The publication of each new English edition of the
Book of Concord within America has served as a catalyst for the
revival of a confessional consciousness among pastors and people
and resulted in a church reinvigorated for mission; and

Wuereas, A new English edition, The Book of Concord: The
Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, in part a product
of the labors of LCMS theologians and scholars, was published in
2000; and

WHEREAS, Two additional volumes of source materials and his-
torical introductions will appear in 2001 and 2002, also in part au-
thored by LCMS theologians; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage congrega-
tions to undertake a study of the ecumenical creeds, Luther’s cate-
chisms, or the Augsburg Confession as part of their Bible Study
program at some time during the next triennium; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage pastors in
Circuit Conferences to undertake an in-depth study of one or more
of the confessional writings at some time during the next triennium;
and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage Districts to
undertake a study of the Lutheran Confessions as a resource for the
church today as part of one of their programs at a District Pastors
Conference during the next triennium.

Concordia Seminary
St. Louis, MO

3-12

To Reaffirm and Clarify Practice
re Pulpit Fellowship and Closed Communion

Wuereas, Reports of worship fellowship with those who are
not in doctrinal agreement with The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod continue to trouble the church; and

WHEREAS, The closed Communion practices of the Synod have
been under attack in some quarters; and

WHEREAS, The practice of closed Communion is a part of the
Synod’s fellowship practices; and

WuereEaS, The Synod in its Constitution, Art. [ff 1, recognizes
the mandate of St. Paul to mark those who cause divisions and of-
fenses contrary to the doctrine which we have learned and to avoid
them (Rom. 16:17); and

WHEREAS, The Communion statement in the worship bulletin
has become the standard means of informing guests of the scrip-
tural mandate of fellowship and closed Communion, and the CTCR
has even issued a sample statement as a guide for congregations;
therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention assembled reaffirm its position on fellowship and closed
Communion; and be it further

Resolved, That we understand this to mean that our pastors are
not to participate publicly as worship leaders with those with whom
the Synod is not in doctrinal fellowship; and be it further

Resolved, That those who are not members of the LCMS or of a
church body with which the Synod is in full doctrinal fellowship
are not to be communed; and be it finally

Resolved, That the implementation of this consistent practice
shall be a top priority of the District Presidents, who are responsible
for supervision of the doctrine and practice of pastors and congre-
gations in their Districts.

Circuit 2 Forum
Ohio District

3-13

To Affirm Ruling re Unionism

WHEREAS, The question has arisen as to whether Art. VI 2 b of
the Constitution forbids joint services with all congregations that
are not in church fellowship with our Synod, specifically, whether
this article of the Constitution forbids a congregation of the LCMS
from having a joint service with a congregation of the ELCA; and

WHEREAS, In researching this matter, the Commission referred
to Res. 3-25 of the 1977 convention titled, “To Speak regarding
Lutheran/Non-Lutheran Weddings.” In it the following statements
are found:

WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Rela-
tions has stated that “the matter of Lutheran ceremonies is nol a
question to which the nght of the congregation to be the judge of
the expediency of the resolution as applied to its local condition
(Bylaw 1.09b) is applicable, bul rather a situation in which a
congregation is called upon to make application of the condi-
tions of membership to which it has agreed in Ari. VI of the
Constitution” (1973 Convention Workbook, p. 47), and

WHEREAS, The Council of Presidents has stated that partici-
pation in ecumenical marriage ceremonies should “not be as
co-officianl, worship leader, or celebrant, but should be arranged
in such a way that it is not an official part of the worship ser-
vice, nor a solemnizing or celebrating of the marriage” (1973
CW, p. 44); therefore be it

Resolved, That we affirm the validity of Art. VI of Ihe Con-
stitution of the LCMS; and be it further

Resolved, That we expect our pastors and congregations to
follow this article with respect to mixed wedding ceremonies.

and

WHEREAS, The CCM has concluded that “if this is true with re-
gard to such services as wedding ceremonies, surely the same prin-
ciples would apply to joint congregation services”; and

WHEREAS, On the basis of these and similar statements made
over the years, the Commission on Constitutional Matters has con-
cluded that joint services with congregations which belong to a
group with which the Synod is not in church fellowship are pro-
hibited; and

WHEREAS, Since the LCMS is not in fellowship with the ELCA,
Art. VI of the Constitution does indeed forbid a congregation of
the LCMS from holding a joint service with a congregation that
holds membership in the ELCA; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention affirm the ruling of the CCM; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention urge its member congregations to comply with this ruling;
and be it further

2001 Convention Workbook