LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 169

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 169

WHEREAS, In these turbulent times, Synod officials, pastors,
commissioned workers, congregations, and individual Christians
are often called upon to make difficult decisions in complex and
critical situations; and

WHEREAS, People greatly need to hear the comfort of God’s
love proclaimed through the Gospel of Jesus Christ; 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 to act boldly and faithfully on
behalf of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and be it further

Resolved, That we recognize that because such situations vary
from place to place, loca] pastors, commissioned workers, congre-
gations, and officials are ordinarily in a better position to make re-
sponsible decisions than those farther away; and be it further

Resolved, That we trust each other’s decisions and avoid nega-
tive-judgment charges against each other in such circumstances;
and be it finally

Resolved, That the convention authorize the Council of Presi-
dents and the Commission on Theology and Church Relations to
act together on developing guidelines and official procedures that
will assist the members of the Synod in developing greater mutual

respect and trust for each other, especially in recognizing and deal-_ .

ing responsibly, and lovingly, with cases of discretion.

Redeemer
Austin, TX

3-3

To Uphold Doctrine of Christian Liberty

Whereas, The theology of the Lutheran Church is centered in
the theology of the cross, “For I resolved to know nothing while I
was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2),
and not in traditionalism, legalism, or prescribed and practiced
pieties, etc. (SA II, 1); and

WuereAS, All Christians are royal priests (1 Peter 2:9) and pos-
sess the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 16:19), and all things
belong to them (1 Cor. 3:21-23; cf. Treatise 11, Tappert, p. 321);
and

WHEREAS, We believe, teach, and confess that “we do not con-
cede to the papists (the papist bishops) that they are the church, for
they are not. Nor shall we pay any attention to what they command
or forbid in the name of the church, for, thank God, a seven-year-
old child knows what the church is, namely, holy believers and
sheep who hear the voice of their Shepherd” (FC SD X, 19; SA III,
XII, 1, 2) and “holiness does not consist of surplices, tonsures, albs,
or other ceremonies of theirs which they have invented over and
above the Holy Scriptures, but it consists of the Word of God and
true faith” (SA IH, XI, 3); and

WHEREAS, We believe, teach, and confess that “no one should
assume lordship or authority over the church, nor burden the church
with traditions, nor let anybody’s authority count for more than the
Word of God” (FC SD X, 21; Treatise 11); and

Wrereas, In regard to all indifferent matters, including human-
ordered customs, traditions, ceremonies, church usages, rites,
rubrics, liturgies, buildings, architecture, church administration, the
form of church government, and so on, we believe, teach, and con-
fess “that the community of God (Gemeinde, ecclesia) of God in
every place and at every time has the right, authority, and power
to change, to reduce, or to increase ceremonies according to its cir-
cumstances, as long as it does so without frivolity and offense but
in an orderly and appropriate way, as at any time may seem most
profitable, beneficial and salutary for good order, Christian disci-
pline, evangelical decorum, and the edification of the church. Paul
instructs us how we can with a good conscience give in and yield to
the weak in faith in such external matters of indifference (Romans
14) and demonstrates it by his own example (Acts 16:3; 21:26;
1 Cor. 9:10)” (FC SD X, 9); and

WHEREAS, “We believe, teach and confess that at a time of con-
fession, as when enemies of the Word of God desire to suppress
the pure doctrine of the Holy Gospel, the entire community of God,

yes, every individual Christian, and especially the ministers of the
Word as the leaders of the community of God, are obligated to con-
fess openly, not only by words but also through their deeds and ac-
tions, the true doctrine and all that pertains to it, according to the
Word of God—nor should we tolerate the imposition of such cere-
monies—in order to undermine the genuine worship of God” (FC
SD X, 10; also refer to AC VII, XV, XVI; Ap XV, XXVIII; SA
III, XV); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Texas District of The Lutheran Church
—AMissouri Synod in convention affirm that human ordinances, tra-
ditions, commands, and so on are not the true worship of God and
are not to be imposed or coerced (conformity with ceremonies and
matters of indifference are not to be demanded) on the people of
God as necessary (FC SD x, 26, 27) and to the weak in faith; and
be it further

Resolved, That we affirm that the “community of God” does
have the “liberty to use one or more ceremonies at any time and
place, according to its circumstances, as may in Christian liberty
be most beneficial to the church” (FC SD X, 30) and to the weak in
faith; and be it further

Resolved, That all congregations, pastors, educators, church of-
ficials, and the like be encouraged not to “condemn each other be-
cause of a difference in ceremonies, when in Christian liberty one ,
uses fewer or more of them, as long as they are otherwise agreed in
doctrine and in all its articles and are also agreed concerning the
right use of the holy sacraments” (FC SD X, 31; also refer to AC
VII); and be it further

Resolved, That all congregations, pastors, educators, and Dis-
trict institutions and officials be encouraged to honor and uphold
this doctrine of Christian liberty (Gal. 2:4—5; 5:1); and be it further

Resolved, That all congregations, pastors, educators, and Dis-
trict institutions and officials be encouraged to exercise their Chris-
tian freedom in a manner that is not frivolous and offensive but or-
derly and appropriate (FC SD X, 9); and be it finally

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod gath-
ered in convention in 2004 be asked to adopt this same resolution
for implementation within our “walking together” in the Synod as
brothers and sisters in Christ.

Texas District

3-39

To Rescind Call for Ecclesiastical Discipline
for Signers of “That They May Be One”

WHEREAS, The document “That They May Be One” was drafted
in response to a Synod controversy over the issue of syncretism;
and

WHEREAS, The document has not been shown to be in conflict
with the Bible or the Lutheran Confessions; and

WHEREAS, The document is not divisive, but rather seeks to
unite our Synod around a biblical and confessional understanding
of how we are to give a faithful Christian witness to society, as is
stated in the preface of the document: “Clarity and concord are es-
sential to our unity. Therefore we present the following confession
to bring clarity and concord to this situation. Our desire is to re-
move the division that presently separates us by making a sound
confession on the basis of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.
Uniting under Christ, we will remain steadfast in the truth and pu-
rity of the Gospel, proclaiming Jesus’ love and forgiveness to the
world. We believe the following confession is in full agreement with
the Lutheran Confessions and therefore correctly expresses the
teaching of our Lord in the Holy Scriptures”; and

Whereas, Numerous other documents have been drafted and
signed throughout our Synod’s history (e.g., “A Statement of the
44,” “An Evangelical and Fraternal Plea,” “That We May Be One”)
in order to address this and other contemporary issues; and

WHEREAS, The 200] LCMS convention encouraged us to “let
charity prevail’; therefore be it