LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 179

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 179

WHEREAS, Theologians of both the St. Louis and Fort Wayne
seminaries have argued on the basis of Holy Scripture and the
Lutheran Confessions that the Joint Declaration is neither a doctri-
nal breakthrough nor a resolution of the differences between the
Lutheran and the Roman Catholic understanding of justification:
and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in conven-
tion (1998) expressed regret over and disagreement with the ap-
proval of the Joint Declaration by certain Lutheran churches; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the English District of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod express support for the position of our seminaries,
theologians, and president in rejecting the Joint Declaration on the
grounds of its doctrinal imprecision, i.c., its vagueness about justi-
fication being fully and completely the result of God's imputed
righteousness for Christ's sake alone received by faith alone with-
out works, and its other doctrinal inadequacies.

English District

3-65

To Commend Response to Joint Declaration

WHEREAS, Representatives of a little over half of the Lutheran
church bodies in the world and representatives of the pope and the
Roman Catholic Church jointly signed a document entitled “A
Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification” on October 31,
1999, in the city of Augsburg, Germany; and

WHEREAS, This document purports to resolve a key difference
between the Lutheran Church and the Roman Catholic Church that
has separated the two denominations since the days of the Lutheran
Reformation in the 16th century; and

WHEREAS, The doctrine of justification before God is the very
hub of all other teachings of God’s holy Word, without which the
entire Christian faith ceases to exist in any valid way: and

WHEREAS, The Word of God clearly teaches that nothing more
than simple trust in Christ is necessary to save us sinners and that to
say that we must add something of our own to what Christ has done
for us (His holy life, sufferings, and death as our all-sufficient Sub-
stitute and His victory over death on our behalf) is to rob Him of
His glory and to rob us sinners of the certainty of our peace with
God; and

WHEREAS, The so-called Joint Declaration attempts to agree
with both those who maintain the above teaching of Scripture (i.c..
the Lutheran Church) and also with those who reject this teaching
(.e., in this case, the Roman Catholic Church); and

WHEREAS, The President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod, the Rev. Dr. Alvin L. Barry. has widely published a state-
ment entitled “Toward True Reconciliation: A Comment on
Lutheran-Roman Catholic Relations.” in which he clearly explains
the sound Lutheran position on the doctrine of justification and has
thus attempted to prevent the public from having false perceptions
of unity where it definitely does not exist; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Michigan District of the LCMS commend
its synodical President for the firm stand he has taken and support
him as he continues to discuss with other church bodies theological
issues such as the doctrine of justification and the appropriate rela-
tionships with churches of other theological traditions in today’s
confusing and changing ecclesiastical landscape: and be it further

Resolved, That in faithfulness to God’s Word and the Lutheran
Confessions, and motivated by our love for the people and pastors
of the ELCA we express our deep regret and profound disagree-
ment with these actions taken by the ELCA, and be it finally

Resolved, That we encourage the members of the Michigan Dis-
trict of the LCMS to commit themselves to engage in theological
study concerning the doctrine of justification and the impact the
“Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification” has on this doc-
trine.

Michigan District; Minnesota North District: Southern
Mlinois District; Zion, Tomball. TX; St. Paul, Magnolia,
TX

3-66

To Thank President for Authoring Document

Wuereas, The Nebraska District of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod in convention commended our synodical President
for his statement entitled “Toward True Reconciliation: A Com-
ment on Lutheran—Roman Catholic Relations,” and requested that
the Nebraska District send an overture to the 2001 synodieal econ-
vention doing the same; therefore be it

Resolved, That the 2001 synodical convention commend Prest-
dent Barry for his alertness and faithfulness in authoring the docu-
ment entitled “Toward True Reconciliation.”

Nebraska District

3-67

To Thank Synodical President for Taking a Stand

Wuereas, The agreements signed between the Roman Catholic
Church and various Lutheran bodies from the Lutheran World Fed-
eration claim that a consensus has been reached over the article of

justification between Lutherans and Roman Catholics: and

WHEREAS, The doctrine of justification is the heart of the Gospel
and was at the very center of the Reformation; and

WHEREAS, The church of Rome has elsewhere stated that it has
not changed its historic position on the article of justification (such
as that set forth at the Council of Trent); and

WHEREAS, Many people who do not understand the real theo-
logical issues involved may be misled into thinking that the LCMS
agrees with these other Lutheran bodies who say that condemna-
tions made during the Reformation over the article of justification
no longer apply; and

WHEREAS, Our synodical President has sought to clarify the
doctrinal position of the LCMS with regard to this agreement and
has made public statements published in newspapers; and

Wuereas, Our synodical President has come under criticism
from other members of the LCMS who have questioned both his
theology and his right to speak publicly to this issue on behalf of
our Synod; and

WHEREAS, The synodical Constitution gives the synodical Pres-
ident the power to “advise, admonish, and reprove” and to “use all
means at his command to promote and maintain unity of doctrine
and practice” (Art. XI B 3); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention thank Dr. Barry for tak-
ing a difficult stand in this confused world, support him for having
spoken clearly and openly about this issue, and encourage him to
continue to give a strong witness to the true Gospel whenever con-
fusing witnesses arise.

Iowa District East

3-68

To Ask President Emeritus to Retract
Public Comments

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod President
Alvin Barry in a statement he sent to all congregations of the
LCMS, which appeared as a full-page ad in USA Today and 15
major newspapers throughout the U.S., declares that The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod does not accept the Joint Declaration on
Justification signed in Augsburg, Germany, on October 31, 1999,
by leaders of the Lutheran World Federation (which includes the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and leaders of the
Roman Catholic Church: and

WHEREAS, LCMS President Emeritus Ralph BohlImann in a let-
ter he sent to the newspapers that published President Barry’s state-
ment challenged President Barry and said that the ad does not rep-
resent the position of the LCMS on the joint declaration; and

WHEREAS, President Emeritus Bohlmann wrote in a letter he
sent to the Council of Presidents of the LCMS and other leaders of

2001 Convention Workbook