Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2004 · 62nd Convention, St. Louis › Page 151
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 151

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

152 DISTRICT AND CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES

WHEREAS, The theory of evolution is taught as the true expla-
nation of the origins of life in public schools and widely dissemi-
nated in the media; and

WHEREAS, The Scriptures teach that “they deliberately forget”
that God is the Creator of All (2 Peter 3:5—6); therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention remind its pastors and teachers to include the doctrine of God
as the Creator and Author of life in their preaching and teaching.

Our Redeemer
Columbia Falls, MT

2-25

To Reject Theistic Evolution,
Produce Creation Curricula, and Encourage
Creation Studies in Synod Schools

WHEREAS, God’s Word clearly teaches a six-day, supernatural
creation; and

WHEREAS, The theory of evolution is contrary to the teaching
of God’s clear Word; and

WHEREAS, Christian people of all ages can be and have been
scandalized by evolutionary theory, which appears to disprove the
creation account and erode the authority of the Bible; and

WHEREAS, Scriptural teachings of God’s authority are based in
part on His being creator (for example, Rev. 14:7 speaks to His role
as judge; 1 Chron. 16:26 speaks to His right to be called the only
true God; John 1 connects creation with salvation); and

WHEREAS, Compromising teachings of theistic evolution (God
using evolutionary processes to create the universe over billions of
years of time) is an unacceptable compromise, incompatible with
the clear creation account of Gen. 1-3; and

WHEREAS, Such compromises destroy Christian theology due to
millions of years of death and suffering preceding the fall into sin,
thus making death and struggle a result of a flawed creation and
the fault of the Creator rather than a natural consequence of hu-
manity’s sin; and

WHEREAS, Young people are especially susceptible to being led
astray by often aggressively atheistic and anti-biblical evolution-
ary teaching; and

WHEREAS, It is the church’s duty to produce followers of Christ
who not only know the fundamentals of the Christian faith, but also
are “prepared to give an answer . . . for the hope that you have,”
(1 Peter 3:16); and

WHEREAS, Evangelism efforts to our current culture are often
hindered by the acceptance of naturalistic evolution as fact and the
accompanying assumption that no God exists; and

WHEREAS, The authoritative role of God’s Word in all areas has
been greatly undermined by evolution and can be restored if evo-
lutionary theory is shown to be false; therefore be it

Resolved, That all educational agencies of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod, including elementary schools, high

schools, colleges, and seminaries include as part of their curricu-

lum, studies in creation from both a biblical and scientific perspec-
tive; and be it further

Resolved, That evolutionary theory be studied and refuted in
order that young people may be equipped with a biblically and sci-
entifically sound response; and be it further

Resolved, That no educational agency of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod tolerate the teaching of evolution as the
explanation for the origin of the world; and be it further

Resolved, That all types of theistic evolution be rejected as fu-
tile, unnecessary, and dangerous compromises of biblical revela-
tion; and be it finally

Resolved, That the appropriate agencies of the Synod see to it
that curricula teaching creation and rejecting and refuting evolu-

tion, both on biblical and scientific grounds, is made available for
use in synodical congregations and schools.

Prince of Peace

Farmington Hills, MI

2-26

To Commit to Diligent Program of Doctrinal Education

WHEREAS, The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are
the written Word of God, and the only rule and norm of faith and
practice (Art. II of the LCMS Constitution); and

WHEREAS, The Symbolic Books of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church as a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the
Word of God, to wit: the three Ecumenical Creeds (the Apostles’
Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed), the Unaltered
Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession,
the Smalcald Articles, the Large Catechism of Luther, the Small
Catechism of Luther, and the Formula of Concord are the proper
exposition of the Word of God; therefore be it

Resolved, That all members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod commit to a diligent program of education throughout all
member congregations to revive in each person the knowledge of
the primary principles and doctrines of the absolute Word of the
true Triune God found in the Bible and as explained by the Sym-
bolic books of the Lutheran Church.

Bethel
Lander, WY

2-27

To Request Publication of Orthodox
Christian Literature
WHEREAS, There is a great need for good orthodox Christian lit-
erature; therefore be it

Resolved, That the 2004 LCMS convention ask the Board of Di-
rectors of Concordia Publishing House to consider publishing, or
listing in the CPH catalog:

1. A book of the writings of Dr. Raymond Surburg. Some are
listed in “Writings of Raymond Surburg, Ph.D., Th.D.” (Chris-
tian News, June 4, 2001).

2. The writings of Rev. Paul Burgdorf. Many of his writings are
listed in the Oct. 23, 1995, Christian News.

3. Bible Difficulties and Does the Bible Contradict Itself by
William Arndt.

4. An American Translation of the Bible by William F. Beck.
5. He Her Honor—She His Glory by Vernon Grieger.

6. Communism and Socialism by C. F. W. Walther.

7. Two Rivers to Freedom by Stella Wuerffel.

8. Salt, Light, and Signs of the Times—An Intimate Look at the
Life and Times of Alfred (Rip) Rehwinkel by Ronald Stelzer.

9. Pastoral Theology by C. F. W. Walther.

10. Islam in the Crucible—Can It Pass the Test by Riccoldo da
Montecroce and Martin Luther.

Trinity
New Haven, MO

2-28

To Commend and Encourage Concordia Publishing
House to Produce What About... ? Materials
WHEREAS, There is a great need for sound biblical teaching ma-
terials; and
WHEREAS, Some materials produced today by so-called Chris-
tian publishing houses are anything but Christian; and