LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 163

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 163

Resolved, That through this prayerful study of Scriptures, Con-
fessions, church history, and our own history and practice, the
Synod strive to grow in united consensus and agreement under
God’s Word and to acknowledge incompatible theologies that can-
not mutually exist without confounding the members as to what we
believe, teach. and confess and do not provide a unified confession
of Christ.

Emmanuel
Dearborn, MI

3-23

To Reconsider Application of Romans 16:17—18

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in Art. II of
the Constitution states: “The Synod, and every member of the
Synod, accepts without reservation: 1. The Scriptures of the Old
and New Testament as the written Word of God and the only rule
and norm of faith and practice”; and

WHEREAS, There is no right either to add to or subtract from
anything the inspired Scriptures say and teach; and

WHEREAS, Rom. 16:17-18 has been determinative for our
Synod’s approach to and practice of church fellowship: and

WHEREAS, While there is legitimate discussion about certain as-
pects of this text, Paul makes abundantly clear that those who are to
be avoided are those who cause divisions and offenses and there-
fore are not Christians: and

WuerEAS, The neglect of this aspect of what Paul has written
has led our Synod to build barriers to church fellowship that ex-
ceed what the Scriptures require; and

WHEREAS, The approach to matters of church fellowship that
the Commission on Theology and Church Relations advocates in
its document “Admission to the Lord’s Supper” reflects this fail-
ure to take the exact wording of Rom. 16:17-18 into account; and

WHEREAS, The assumption ts that potential communicants com-
ing from congregations not affiliated with The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod are necessarily confessors and advocates of every-
thing taught within their denomination; and

WHEREAS, This assumption cannot be documented by a clear
passage of Scripture; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod penitently acknowledge that in its ap-
plication of Rom. 16:17-18 it has failed to observe the specific
wording of Paul’s warning and thus has been led in its practice to
go beyond what the Scriptures require; and be it further

Resolved, That the CTCR once again make a careful study of
our Synod’s teaching and practice concerning church fellowship,
giving due weight to what Paul clearly says in Rom. 16:17-18. so
as to assist the Synod in bringing its teaching and practice into har-
mony with the clear testimony of God’s Word; and be it finally

Resolved, That the CTCR bring specific recommendations to
the 2004 convention in an effort to rectify the misuse of this pas-
sage in our life and activity together in The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod.

Our Redeemer, Dearborn, MI: Our Shepherd. Cambridge.
MD: Prince of Peace. Orlando, FL

3-24

To Commend “Admission
to the Lord’s Table” to Synod

WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations
has produced its report, “Admission to the Lord’s Supper,” in re-
sponse to synodical 1998 Res. 3-05; and

WHEREAS, “Admission to the Lord’s Supper” is a response to
“A Declaration of Eucharistic Understanding and Practice”; and

WuHeREAS, “A Declaration of Eucharistic Understanding and
Practice” is a statement approved by the Florida-Georgia District
of the Synod in convention, which declares that admission to the

Lord’s Supper should be offered to “baptized Christians who... re-
pent of their sins, believe the real presence, and sincerely intend to
amend their lives,” regardless of any other beliefs professed by
those Christians that contradict the scriptural and confessional
teachings of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and

WHEREAS, “Admission to the Lord’s Supper” presents a model
for pastoral stewardship of the mysteries and care for the pastor’s
flock; and

WHEREAS, “Admission to the Lord’s Supper” points out the
major flaws of “A Declaration of Eucharistic Understanding and
Practice”; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod com-
mend this document for the guidance and use of all members of the
Synod, that is, all rostered church workers and congregations: and
be it further

Resolved, That “Admission to the Lord’s Supper” be dissemi-
nated widely to every rostered church worker and congregation
with a letter encouraging its careful study.

Lamb of God
Pleasant Prairie, WI

3-25

To Provide Study Materials re Doctrine
of Lord’s Supper

WHEREAS, All current translations of the Bible include Matt.
26:29 and its parallels in Mk. 14:25; Lk. 22:16, 18; and 1 Cor.
| 1:26 in the same paragraph as the Words of Institution; and

Wuereas, This means that our Lord was very likely still stand-
ing and had the cup yet in His hand when He gave us this explana-
tion of how Holy Communion is to be rightly understood: and

WHEREAS, We now therefore feel it to be deeply correct to de-
scribe Matt. 26:29 as His doctrine of the Lord’s Supper; and

Wuereas, We must also admit to our brothers and sisters in the
Synod that for many years we ourselves had not understood this.
We have, in effect, continued to commit that impolite act of inter-
rupting Him in mid-paragraph and then going off elsewhere to con-
coct some unhelpful theories of our own as to what this blessed
Sacrament really meant; and

Whereas, Thanks be to God, that wondrous day finally came
when we were made teachable enough to allow at least a little of
His revelation to shine through: and

WHEREAS, Suddenly, once His doctrine of this Sacrament began
to be nghtly taught, the floodgates of blessing opened. Even though
He is yet invisible, He now comes into our midst and is bodily and
discernibly present to every penitent and believing communicant.
He spends time with us, gives concrete answers to our prayers, as-
sures us of His forgiveness, counsels us as need be, and even has a
good laugh with us on occasion; and

WHEREAS, We now believe it to be His desire to be as majesti-
cally loving to every one of our fellow believers as He has been to
us; therefore be it

Resolved, That we hereby request of the Synod that a packet of
study materials on this subject be readied with all due diligence and
distributed to every pastor and congregation as expeditiously as
possible so that our entire synodical membership may come to re-

joice as we have in our Savior’s wondrous presence; and be it fur-

ther

Resolved, That we here in our congregation stand ready to con-
tribute to such an informative packet in whatever ways might be
requested of us.

Grace
Atlanta. GA

2001 Convention Workbook