LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 165

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 165

fellowship that it set forth.” And it also recognized that a majority
“found it scriptural and confessional and wanted The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod to maintain its historic position”; and

WuerEAS, 2001 Res. 3-07A is a doctrinal resolution of the
Synod pursuant to the requirements of Bylaw 1.09 a and b; and

WHEREAS, In adopting Res. 3-07A by a vote of 782 to 343, the
2001 convention not only commended The Lutheran Understand-
ing of Church Fellowship (2001 CW, pp. 375-87) for use and guid-
ance, but also the “response,” A Report on Synodical Discussions
(2001 CW, pp. 48-51), was commended “for continued use and
guidance”; and

WHEREAS, All members of the Synod are to honor and uphold
synodical Res. 3-07A together with all other doctrinal resolutions
and statements until such time as the Synod amends or repeals
them (1.09 b c); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod affirm 2001 Res. 3-07A; and be it fur-
ther

Resolved, That the full Synod-commended document and re-
sponse including “Cases of Discretion” continue to be used for
guidance by the Synod’s members; and be it finally

Resolved, That in addressing such issues, Res. 3-07A continue
to be a basis of the advice, counsel, and guidance given by the
Synod President and District Presidents, who are charged with ec-
clesiastical supervision in the Synod, as they and all members of
the Synod “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Eph.
5:21).

St. Luke, Dix Hills, NY; St. Peter, Brooklyn, NY; Circuits
17 and 19, Texas District; Christ Our Savior, Coppell, TX;
Trinity, Portland, OR

3-22

‘To Affirm CTCR’s Interpretation of Res. 3-07A

WHEREAS, The CTCR on Feb. 18, 2003, said regarding The
Lutheran Understanding of Church Fellowship, that Section V, B
(Cases of Discretion) does not explicitly address the issue of offer-
ing a prayer by an LCMS pastor in a “civic event” in which prayers
would also be offered by representatives of non-Christian religions;
and

Whereas, The St. Louis seminary faculty has agreed with this
CTCR expression with these words, “the CTCR document, ‘The
Lutheran Understanding of Church Fellowship’ with the response,
which was commended by the 2001 synodical convention (Res.
3-07A), deals only with inter-Christian fellowship issues and does
not have in view situations of religious pluralism such as that which
took place at Yankee Stadium”; therefore be it

Resolved, That the 2004 convention of the Synod affirm the
CTCR’s interpretation of Res. 3-07A of the 2001 convention of the
Synod; and be it further .

Resolved, That any use of Res. 3-07A that has been used or is
being used to permit participation in civic religious events with
non-Christian religions is improper.

St. Paul
Brookfield, IL

To Condemn All Syncretistic Worship
and Strike 2001 Res. 3-07A

WHEREAS, The Word of God is clear in the First Commandment
that we shall have no other gods (Deut. 20:3; Is. 42:8; Is. 48:11,
Rev. 19:1; et al.) and also that we should not be yoked together
with unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14); and

WHEREAS, There is only one true God: Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit; and

WuerEAS, Those who worship any other gods worship false
gods; and

WHEREAS, Those who worship false gods shall be condemned;
and

WHEREAS, The Lord would have us to pray for the conversion
of such people, not with them as they pray to their false gods, and
also to give witness to our faith that they may be baptized and in-

‘structed in the only saving faith (Matt. 28:19-20); and

WHEREAS, In recent years there have been LCMS clergymen
joining in and giving approval to join in worship and/or prayer ser-
vices with those who do not believe in the triune God (such as
Muslims and Jews), thereby giving the public impression that all
gods are the same, can hear prayer, and can give salvation; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That on the basis of Scripture’s clear testimony, the
LCMS condemn such actions and approval; and be it further

Resolved, That Res. 3-07A be stricken lest any future syncretis-
tic events bring continued shame and disgrace to the church of
Christ, which is to be “the light of the world” and “a city on a hill”
(Matt. 5:14) and not one altar among many (Acts 17:16-34).

St. John
Culbertson, NE

3-24

To Adopt The Lutheran Understanding
of Church Fellowship as Doctrinal Statement

WHEREAS, The action of the 1998 convention called for a study
of fellowship principles and practices (Res. 3-03B) on the nature
of our church body and our fellowship principles and practices; and

WHEREAS, The 1998 convention (Res. 3-10) also called for all
District conventions in 2000 to utilize the study to help build a
“better understanding, general harmony and more consistent prac-
tice in our Synod”; and

WHEREAS, LCMS President Alvin Barry and the Commission
on Theology and Church Relations jointly produced the document
The Lutheran Understanding of Church Fellowship, which is in
harmony with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions; and

WHEREAS, “A majority affirmed The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod position on church fellowship that it set forth. They
found it scriptural and confessional and wanted The Lutheran
Church—-Missouri Synod to maintain its historic position” (CTCR
Report, 2001 Convention Workbook, p. 49); and

WHEREAS, The 2001 convention gave thanks for the work of the
sainted Rev. Dr. Alvin Barry and the CTCR, commending The
Lutheran Understanding of Church Fellowship for use and guid-
ance to build a unity within The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod” (Res. 3-07A); and

WHEREAS, The document has proven to be a useful resource and
guide in the issues relating to the fellowship principles and prac-
tices of the Synod at a time where controversy has strained an in-
ternal fellowship; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Understanding of Church Fellow-
ship be adopted as a doctrinal statement of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod in its normal fashion (Bylaw 1.09 c); and be it further

Resolved, That members of the Synod be encouraged to abide
by this doctrinal statement for the sake of expressing our unity on
the matters of fellowship principles and practices.

Christ Our Savior, Coppell, TX; Family of Faith, Houston, TX

3-25

To Request CTCR Guidelines re Public Gatherings

WHEREAS, American society is quickly becoming one that is full
of religious diversity, with Christianity being considered by many
as one of many reasonable options; and

WHEREAS, We are called to be witnesses and the Light of Christ
to the dark places in a world full of sin, suffering, and “lost” peo-
ple; and