LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 75

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SYNODICAL REPORTS 75

words, the burden one spouse bears due to the other’s emotional,
mental or physical weaknesses, is not an excuse for escape. Sum-
mary point 5.b of the Commission’s report Divorce and Remar-
riage cautions: “The freedom granted by the apostles’ words ‘the
brother or sister is not bound’ must not be understood as license to
‘get out from under’ one’s marital obligations” (39). Efforts at rec-
onciliation under such circumstances are necessary not only out of
concern for the relationship but also out of concern for any chil-
dren who suffer in the case of divorce.” Similar cautions and en-
couragements for making every effort toward reconciliation are of-
fered in the Council of President’s 1987 policy statement
“Guidelines for Dealing with Marital Crisis Involving Separation
and Divorce of LCMS Clergy,” its 1989 policy statement, ““Guide-
lines for Dealing with Marital Crisis Involving Separation and Di-
vorce of Commissioned Ministers of Religion of the LCMS,” as
well as the excursus on “Clergy Divorce” in the CTCR’s report Di-
vorce and Remarriage (42-45).

Adopted December 6, 2003

Notice has been served that a proposed minority opinion has
been submitted to the Commission.

6. Commission on Worship Request Regarding Bible Translation

In a memo dated March 27, 2003, the Executive Director of the
Commission on Worship (COW) forwarded a formal request from
the COW for an opinion from the Commission “regarding the
choice of Bible translation for the new hymnal.” The COW asked
for “an opinion that specifically addresses the question of accuracy
of translation for the following translations: New International Ver-
sion, New King James Version, New American Standard Bible
(1995 revision), and the English Standard Version.” At its Septem-
ber 2003 meeting the Commission adopted the following response
to this request:

On theological and linguistic grounds, the English Standard Ver-
sion, the New American Standard Version, and the New King James
Version are preferable to the New International Version. On text-critical
grounds, the English Standard Version and the New American Standard
Version are preferable to the New King James Version. The CTCR
elects to leave “readability” questions to the Commission on Worship.
In principle, the CTCR declines to endorse officially any English trans-
lation of the Bible.

Adopted September 16, 2003

D. Expressions of Dissent

The bylaws of the Synod contain a provision for the expression
of dissent from doctrinal resolutions of the Synod (See Bylaw 2.39
c). During the triennium the Commission has received, and in keeping
with its established policy (cf. 1998 Convention Workbook, 54), con-
sidered and/or responded to the following expressions of dissent.

1. Expression of Dissent to 1998 Resolution 3-17B “To Prepare Policy
Guidelines for Intentional Interim Ministries”

In January 2001 an LCMS pastor submitted his dissent to 1998
Resolution 3-17B “To Prepare Policy Guidelines for Intentional In-
terim Ministries.” The Commission studied the issue of the ex-
tending of temporary calls for specially trained pastors to assist
congregations in transition, such as the sudden death of a pastor,
the retirement of a long-time pastor, a pastor-congregation conflict,
or the removal of a pastor because of moral and misconduct issues.
Following consultation with the Council of Presidents, the CTCR
in February 2003 adopted its report Theology and Practice of “the
Divine Call.” In this report the Commission stated:

The office of proclaiming of the Gospel and the needs of the con-
gregation, as we have maintained, are often best served when the call is
regarded as open-ended for those congregations in which the Word of
God is being proclaimed and the sacraments are administered on a reg-
ular basis. The first of these criteria certainly applies to all who occupy
the office of the public ministry. Thus the norm in the church is that an

‘frage and Board Membership

open-ended call be issued to everyone who serves in the office of the
public ministry.

At the same time, the call to proclaim Law and Gospel does not take
place in a vacuum. It occurs within specific contexts and situations. Ac-
cording to the second principle (recognition of the congregation’s
needs) we may conclude that, in addition to regular Word and sacra-
ment ministry within congregations, the church’s need for particular
gifts or specialized skills at times is best met by something less than an
open-ended call. We may proceed in this way (and have already done
so) as long as we do not undermine the divine institution of the office or
hinder in any way the proclamation of the whole counsel of God. Such
has been the case within The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod for
much of its history with regard to theological professors, District and
synodical officials, military chaplains, campus pastors, missionaries,
church planters, etc. Several examples can illustrate such situations (39).

Turning directly to the Intentional Interim pastors, the Com-
mission stated:

Another form of specialized ministry that may involve calls of lim-
ited tenure (also by mutual agreement) is that of Intentional Interim Pas-
tors. In recent years congregations experiencing a pastoral vacancy after
a period of conflict, controversy, or turmoil have found it helpful, before
they call a new permanent pastor, to take some time to work through
issues troubling them with the assistance of a specially trained pastor.
There are other instances when an interim pastor may be of benefit to a
congregation (for example, a vacancy arising when a pastor leaves the
congregation after a particularly long term of service, or the death of a
pastor in office). In cases like this the congregation may be in need of
reflection, healing, or reorganization before calling its new pastor. The
interim is normally for a specific period of time mutually determined
by the congregation and the interim pastor. Most certainly, it is not good
for the congregation to go without Word and sacrament ministry. Con-
gregations have an obligation to fill the office that exists within their
midst. At the same time, for a congregation to call another permanent
pastor before these special concerns are addressed may contribute to
ongoing difficulties or may result in new congregational conflict as a
result of unresolved issues. While vacancy pastors have always been a
part of the church’s life, today it may be beneficial to enlist the services
of an interim pastor who has acquired specialized skills for guiding the
congregation through a transitional period while serving them with
Word and sacrament. The congregation has the right to determine
whether or not it wants an interim pastor. An interim ministry must
never be imposed.

In each of the above-mentioned cases the church engages in careful
deliberation so that any call issued for a limited period of time may not
dishonor the divine institution of the office of the public ministry nor re-
strict the pastor’s freedom to proclaim the whole counsel of God in
keeping with his subscription to the Scriptures and the Lutheran Con-
fessions (40-41).

2. Expression of Dissent to 1969 Resolution 2-17 “To Grant Woman
Suffrage and Board: Membership”

At its February 2002 meeting the Commission adopted a re-
sponse to expressions of dissent to the Synod’s official position on
woman suffrage and board membership as set forth in 1969 Reso-
lution 2-17.

CTCR Response to Dissent from 1969 Resolution 2-17
“To Grant Woman Suffrage and Board Membership”

In keeping with Bylaw provisions for the expression of dissent
from doctrinal resolutions of the Synod (2.39c) and with its own
procedure for handling expressions of dissent, the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations has given consideration to “Dis-
sent from LC -MS 1969 Resolution 2-17 ‘To Grant Woman Suf-
*” submitted to it initially by 30 pas-
tors of the Synod on August 1996. The policy of the Commission
for dealing with such matters calls for ““a determination regarding
whether or not there is sufficient basis in the dissent for support-
ing the dissenter(s) claim(s) that the doctrinal position of the Synod
is in need of revision.”

The Commission recognizes that the Synod since 1969 has re-
peatedly reaffirmed its position regarding the permissibility of
woman suffrage and board membership. As recently as 1995 Res-

2004 Convention Workbook