LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 166

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166 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

WuereaS, Members of the LCMS desire to be faithful to their
Lord and also to their ties of unity and community within the
Synod; and

WuereEAs, The guidelines offered in The Lutheran Understand-
ing of Church Fellowship, written by the Commission on Theol-
ogy and Church Relations was commended by the Synod in its
2001 convention in Res. 3-07A; and

WteREAS, This document only made one reference to situations
involving non-Christians, without giving helpful guidelines for ap-
propriate interaction (“For instance, if an invitation requires a pas-
tor to pray to God without mentioning Jesus,”); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod, in convention, request the CTCR to
write specific guidelines addressing involvement in gatherings
which include representatives of non-Christian religions; and be it
further

Resolved, That these be shared with the church body prior to
the next convention, and that these be recommended for adoption
to the convention, so that we may agree on the proper way to be in
an effective Christian/Lutheran ministry working in a culture
alongside, but distinctive from, other religions; and be in finally

Resolved, That we pray that our gracious Lord would bless the
efforts of the LCMS so that we might be known as the Christian
denomination that is undeterred from sharing God’s Word and
ways with all people, in every situation possible, as the Holy Spirit
leads with power.

Lord of Life
Leawood, KS

3-26

To Acknowledge, Thank God for, Build upon,
and Guard Doctrinal Unity

WHEREAS, We, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, have
been blessed by the Lord of the church with a vast body of Chris-
tian doctrine in which we are in agreement (such as the Trinity; the
deity of Christ; the virgin birth of Christ; the physical resurrection
of Christ; the inerrancy of the Bible; justification by grace alone
through faith in Christ alone based on Scripture alone; the Sacra-
ments as means of grace; the real presence; eschatology [teaching
on end times]; and dozens of other doctrines); and

WHEREAS, This unity is the work of the Holy Spirit alone; and

WHEREAS, Such a great agreement in doctrine is lacking in
many other denominations; therefore be it

Resolved, That we give thanks to the Lord of the church for pre-
serving His pure and saving doctrine among us; and be it further

Resolved, That we joyfully acknowledge and affirm this unity;
and be it further

Resolved, That we recommit ourselves to that unity; and be it
further

Resolved, That we recommit ourselves to act and speak in keep-
ing with the command of Jesus not to set aside the commands of
God in order to observe our own traditions (Mark 10:9); and be it
further

Resolved, That we recommit ourselves to the teaching of our
Lutheran Confessions that “It is not necessary for the true unity of
the Christian church that uniform ceremonies, instituted by human
beings, be observed everywhere” (AC VII, 3); and that “Diversity
in fasting does not dissolve unity in faith” (AC XXVII, 44); and be
it further

Resolved, That we continue to enjoy and share our fellowship
together in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod under the con-
fessional standard of our Synod’s Constitution (Art. 1) without re-
quiring or imposing any other confession; and be it further

Resolved, That we remain watchful and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8),
searching the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11), and prayerfully guard-
ing our life and doctrine closely (1 Tim. 4:16).

Northern Illinois District; Trinity, Roselle, IL; Circuit 6,
Northern Illinois District

3-27

To Develop Guidelines to Assist Members of Synod
to Respect and Trust Each Other

WuerEAS, In these turbulent times Synod officials, pastors, con-
gregations, and individual Christians are often called upon'to make
difficult decisions in complex and critical situations; and

WHEREAS, The Word of God does not always directly address
such situations; and

WHEREAS, We recognize that because such situations vary from
place to place, local pastors, congregations, and officials are ordi-
narily in a better position to make responsible decisions than those
who are farther away; therefore be it

_ Resolved, That we encourage each other to approach such situ-
ations with prayer, the study of God’s Word, the counsel of our
brothers and sisters in Christ, and the desire to act boldly and faith-
fully on behalf of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and be it further

Resolved, That we trust each other’s decision and avoid judg-
ments and charges against each other in such circumstances; and
be it further

Resolved, That when we disagree with the decisions of a pas-
tor, congregation, or official in such situations, we encourage one
another to address those differences personally and privately
(Matthew 18) before making our disagreements public or bringing
formal charges against each other; and be it finally

Resolved, That the 2003 Pacific Southwest District convention
request the 2004 Synod convention to authorize the Council of
Presidents and the Commission on Theology and Church Relations,
acting together, to develop guidelines and official procedures that
will assist the members of the Synod to develop greater mutual re-
spect and trust for each other, especially in recognizing and dealing
responsibly and charitably with cases of discretion.

Pacific Southwest District; Trinity, Roselle, IL; Kansas District

3-28

To Seek Better Ways to Promote Peace
and Unity within Synod

WHEREAS, In recent history so many of us in The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod have struggled to live together in peace
and unity; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative in the Gospel that we bear with each
other and forgive whatever grievances we may have against one
another, that we forgive as the Lord forgave us, and that we put on
the love of Jesus, which binds us together in perfect unity (Colos-
sians 3); and ;

WHEREAS, It is so good and pleasant when brothers/sisters live
together in unity (Psalm 13); therefore be it

Resolved; That the members of the Northwest District of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod be leaders in heeding the call to
let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, since as members of one
body, we are called to peace; and be it further

Resolved, That we memorialize the Synod in convention to
prayerfully and deliberately seek better ways to promote unity and
peace within our walking together.

Northwest District

3-29

To Build Trust and Walk Together

WuereaS, The Gospel of Christ as Savior and Lord is our great-
est treasure; and

Whereas, Recent disagreements within the Synod have nega-
tively impacted the mission and ministry of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod; and

WHEREAS, The command of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
is to make disciples of all nations; and