LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 160

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160 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

Resolved, That congregations that decline to comply with this
ruling be dealt with in a timely manner by the synodical President;
and be it finally

Resolved, That the Praesidium of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod be instructed to assist the President through whatever
means necessary, to see to it that the practice of unionistic services
be ended.

Zion
Tomball, TX

3-14

To Promote True Unity of Teaching and Practice

Whereas. Our pastors, teachers, and congregations, as a con-
dition of membership in our Synod (LCMS Constitution, Art. If &
VI), have vowed that all their teaching and practice will be in con-
formity with the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions; and

WHEREAS, Our Synod in convention has affirmed our church’s
historic stance on the scriptural practice of close Communion (1998
Res. 3-05), and has affirmed that the pastoral office be entrusted
only to men (1998 Res. 3-25A); and

WHEREAS, All congregations, as voluntary members of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, have agreed to the “exclusive
use of doctrinally pure agenda, hymnbooks, and catechisms in
church and school” (LCMS Constitution, Art. IV, 4); and

Wuereas, Departure from such teachings and practices is not
only in conflict with the Scriptures, but also causes great confusion
and harm both within our Synod and to those outside by giving a
divided witness; therefore be it

Resolved, That all our pastors, teachers, and congregations
faithfully teach and practice according to the Scriptures and the
Lutheran Confessions; and be it further

Resolved, That those pastors, teachers, and congregations that
do not hold faithfully to the scriptural practice of close Commu-
nion, do not teach that only men may hold the pastoral office, or
do not exclusively use doctrinally pure agenda, hymnbooks, or cat-
echisms, be called to repentance and to seek guidance and assis-
tance needed to implement a faithful teaching and practice in their
midst; and be it further

Resolved, That those pastors, teachers, and congregations that
persistently refuse to repent or seek guidance and assistance needed
to diligently work towards a faithful teaching and practice in their
midst should seek a church body that endorses the teachings and
practices they have chosen to follow; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Minnesota North District submit this reso-
lution to the 2001 LCMS convention.

Minnesota North District

To Address Backdoor Losses
with Consistency in Doctrine and Practice

WHEREAS, The apostle Paul admonishes the church that the
members of the body of Christ are to be in the same mind and judg-
ment (1 Cor. 1:10; Rom. 12:16: Phil. 1:27); and

WHEREAS, In the 1950s, the nation-wide Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod was blessed abundantly by the Lord with its
strong, consistent witness for the Gospel of Jesus Christ resulting in
great numerical membership growth and “denominational loyalty”;
and

WHEREAS, Statistics over the last three decades have demon-
strated a plateau regarding numerical growth in the LCMS: and

WHEREAS, Statistics also illustrate that the LCMS is truly bring-
ing in large numbers of new communicant members from outside
its own structure; and

WHEREAS, Statistics, therefore, indicate that the LCMS is los-
ing as many members as it gains year after year, and that denomi-
national loyalty can no longer be taken for granted; and

2001 Convention Workbook

WuerEAS, The leadership of the LCMS is duly concerned about
this trend and desires to “close the door” on backdoor losses,
thereby realizing greater numerical growth in the church body; and

WHEREAS, In this day, serious inconsistencies in doctrine and
practice among “sister” LCMS congregations exist (i.e., the Lord's
Supper, gender roles, worship styles, etc.) only causing confusion
among the lay membership (and eroding synodical loyalty), espe-
cially as people move from place to place, resulting in many LCMS
members leaving to join other Lutheran synods (i.e., WELS, ELS,
ELCA) and even other denominations; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention in 2001 encourage her congregations to remain firm in
LCMS confessional heritage, be consistent in the doctrinal practice
of the means of grace, avoid “quickie” courses for bringing new
members into the fold, and strive through inter-congregational
communications, such as Circuit pastoral conferences and Circuit
convocations, toward a greater appreciation of consistency on all
levels of church affairs; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention in 2001 commission a study or guidelines for LCMS con-
gregations to enhance our consistency in doctrine and practice and
“our walking together” for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, restoring in-
tegrity for the furtherance of His kingdom and the peace of His
people; and be it finally

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention in 2001 take the necessary Christian/biblical steps toward
congregations that continue holding to a doctrinal position and/or
practices contrary to concordia with LCMS’s confessional and con-
stitutional stance, and that those who remain obstinately inconsis-
tent with the LCMS constitution which they have signed be re-
moved from the synodical roster.

Immanuel
Clovis, NM

3-16

To Reject “The Lutheran Understanding
of Fellowship”

WHEREAS, After much work, the committee on fellowship has
completed its task; and

WHEREAS, We have all had the opportunity to study the mater-
ial; and

WHEREAS, The title “The Lutheran Understanding of Fellow-
ship” may be construed as sectarian and divisive; and

WHEREAS, The document is flawed biblically by rejecting Chris-
tian love and charity as having any part in fellowship discussions
(p. 15, ref. 61) and therefore contrary to the Spirit of Christ in John
13:34-35; 14:23-24: 15:11-17; and 1 John 5:7-10; and

WHEREAS, It is not in accord with the Apology of the Augsburg
Confession and its discussion of fellowship in reference to the
apostle Paul’s words found in Col. 3:14; I quote:

So he is lalking not about personal perfection bul about fel-
lowship in the church. He says that love is a bond and unbro-
ken chain linking the many members of the church with one an-
other. Similarly, in all families and communilies harmony
should be nurtured by mutual aid, for il is not possible to pre-
serve tranquility unless men cover and forgive certain mistakes
in their midst. {n the same way Paul commands that there be
love in the church to preserve harmony, to bear, if need be, with
the crude behavior of the brethren, lo cover up minor mistakes
lest the church disintegrate into vartous schisms and the hatreds,
factions, and heresies that arise trom such schisms. (139. 140
Tappert):

therefore be it

Resolved, That the committee be thanked for their work; and be
it further

Resolved, That the LCMS in convention reject the document
and send it back to committee for further study;.and be it finally