LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 273

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STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION 273

comprised of the Missouri District President, who shall serve as
chairman of the committee, the chairperson of the Synod’s
Board of Directors, and the chairman of the Council of Presi-
dents. If the Missouri District President is the chairman of the
Council of Presidents, then the vice-chairman of the Council of
Presidents shall serve as the third member of the investigative
committee.

Bylaw 3.105 ... that such illness or disability has been re-
moved. If a formal written complaint should be leveled against
the Synod President that could lead to the expulsion of the
Synod President from the Synod under Article XIII of the Con-
stitution, Bylaw 2.27 h shall be followed.

Northwest District

7-97

To Require Signed Statement
by District Presidents and Mission Executives

WuerEAS, LCMS District President David Benke worshiped
with Muslims, Jews, and liberals at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New
York City (Christian News, November 8, 1999, pp. 29, 33); and

WHEREAS, Dr. Benke signed an apology that he says was writ-
ten for him and that he was under pressure to sign; and

Wtereas, After signing the apology, he received a rising ova-
tion from pastors of the Atlantic District because of his boldness
in participating in the unionistic service at St. Patrick’s; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Benke has been circulating letters from Cardinal
O’Connor, Atlantic District vice-presidents, and the president of
St. Matthew Lutheran Church, NY (published in Lutheran Forum)
defending his participation in the unionistic service; and

WHEREAS, The Bible (Rom. 16:17) and Dr. C. F. W. Walther
opposed religious unionism; and

WHEREAS, Major Protestant denominations, the Roman Catholic
Church, and the pope maintain that Jews, Muslims, and non-Chris-
tians worship the true God and are not lost in hell if they die with-
out saving faith in Jesus Christ; and

WHEREAS, Jesus says, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life,
no man comes to the Father but by Me” in John 14:6; and

Wuereas, The Athanasian Creed says, “Whosoever will be
saved, before al] things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic
[i.e., universal, Christian] faith. Which faith except everyone do
keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlast-
ingly. And the Catholic faith is this, that we worship one God in
Trinity and Trinity in unity. ... This is the Catholic faith; which ex-
cept a man believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot be saved”; and

WHEREAS, A survey taken by Lutheran Brotherhood shows that
about 67 percent of the Lutherans in the U.S. maintain that
non-Christians still believe in the true God and can get to heaven
without faith in Jesus Christ (Christian News, November 8, 1999,
p. 2); and

WHEREAS, The LCMS is about the only major denomination
that in recent conventions has declared that Jesus Christ is the only
way to heaven, that non-Christians who do not trust in the merits of
Jesus Christ are lost in hell, and that Christianity is the only sav-
ing faith; and

WHEREAS, Dr. C. F. W. Walther insisted that Jesus Christ is the
only way to heaven; and

WHEREAS, Some members of the LCMS Council of Presidents,
including Dr. Benke, have refused to answer the question “Do you
believe Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven and that non-Chris-
tians are lost in hel] if they do not trust in Jesus Christ as their Sav-
ior from sin?’”; therefore be it

Resolved, That the President of the LCMS insist that all mem-
bers of the LCMS Council of Presidents and LCMS mission exec-
utives sign this statement: “I believe that Jesus Christ is the only
way to heaven, that non-Christians who die without saving faith in
Christ are lost, and that Christianity is the one and only divinely
revealed true and saving faith”; and be it further

Resolved, That President Barry remove Dr. David Benke as
president of the Atlantic District.

Trinity, New Haven, MO; Faith, Corning, NY; Redeemer,
John Day, OR

7-98

To Require Signed Statements from District Presidents
and All Pastors

WHEREAS, Jesus said He was the only way to heaven (John
14:6); and

WHEREAS, The Athanasian Creed, one of the Ecumenical
Creeds of Christendom, declares that the Holy Trinity is the only
true God and that all those who do not believe in this God are
damned; and

Wuereas, The LCMS 1973 “Statement on Scriptural and Con-
fessional Principles” says that Jesus is the only way to heaven and
that all those who do not trust in Him for salvation will go to hell;
and

WHEREAS, All members of the LCMS Council of Presidents
were asked several times to declare whether or not they believe that
Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven and that Christianity is the
one and only saving faith; and

WHEREAS, Many members of the LCMS Council of Presidents
did not answer this question; and

WHEREAS, Some members of the LCMS Council of Presidents
are allowing pastors in their Districts to worship with non-Chris-
tians and maintain that Christianity is not the only saving faith and
that Jesus is not the only way to heaven; therefore be it

Resolved, That all members of the LCMS Council of Presidents
sign a statement declaring that they believe that Jesus is the only
way to heaven; and be it further

Resolved, That all District Presidents of the LCMS insist that
every pastor in his District maintain that (1) Jesus is the only way
to heaven; (2) those who do not trust in Christ for salvation are
damned; and (3) Christianity is the one and only divinely revealed
and saving faith.

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

7-99

To Require District Presidents
to Hold Pastors Accountable

WHEREAS, God warns the church that she always be on guard
against false prophets and false teachers (1 Tim. 1:3); and

WHEREAS, Pastors are to be of sound doctrine and practice
(1 Tim. 1:13, 15-16; 6:20-21; 2 Tim. 2:1-2, 15; 3:14—4:1-5; Titus
1:5-9); and

WHEREAS, God commends to the laity that they verify that their
pastors are preaching and teaching in accord with His Word (Acts
17:10-12; 2 Tim. 1:13-14); and

WHEREAS, Pastors are to be blameless and above reproach, both
according to their office and their personal lives (1 Tim. 3:1-7;
2 Tim. 2:1-5, 15); and

WHEREAS, Those who hold the office of District President are to
have these same qualifications as well as those qualifications nec-
essary to serve as overseers of the doctrine and the practice of pas-
tors (Titus 1:5-9; 1 Tim. 4:6—11) in their respective Districts; and

WHEREAS, Such oversight involves safeguarding the welfare of
the people in the congregations of those Districts committed to
their care as well as of those people who may seek out pastors from
those congregations for spiritual care (2 Tim. 3:10—1la, 12-17);
therefore be it ‘

Resolved, That District Presidents place on restricted status
those pastors who are teaching falsely and/or whose practice(s) in

2001 Convention Workbook