LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 180

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180 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

him to eat and to drink for the forgiveness of sins according to our
Lord’s institution; and

WHEREAS, Pastors and congregations who have initiated the
practice of the distribution of the sacrament to the sick and shut-in
by laymen (including vicars or commissioned ministers of religion,
etc.), a practice which has previously been renounced in our Synod,
have proceeded without first taking the time and effort to discuss
this controversial practice with their neighboring pastors and con-
gregations, thus creating disunity through diversity; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod, in convention, affirm that the practice
of lay distribution of the consecrated elements of the Lord’s Supper
to the sick and shut-in stands at odds with our evangelical historic
Lutheran practice; and be it further

Resolved, That such a practice not be initiated among our
churches—or if it has been begun, it should be discontinued.

Zion

Fort Wayne, IN

3-51

To Reaffirm Use of Scriptural Formula
in Baptismal Rite

Whereas, In some denominations (including the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America) congregations and pastors are allow-
ing “the substitution of variant formula for the Name of the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit in baptismal rites and in the liturgy” (Forum
Letter 32/2 [February 2003], 5); and

WHEREAS, Among the substitute formula are “Creator, Re-
deemer, Sanctifier”; and

WHEREAS, Such changes in the baptismal formula as recorded in
the Bible call into doubt the validity of the Baptism as commanded
by Christ; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Minnesota North District memorialize The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to affirm that only Baptisms
administered in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit are in accord with the command of Jesus (Matt. 28:19); and
be it further :

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod require
its President to communicate with the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America, expressing the concern of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod about “the substitution of variant formula for the Name
of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in baptismal rites and in the
liturgy” (Forum Letter 32/2 [February 2003], 5).

Minnesota North District

3-52

To Examine Exegesis of Rom. 16:17

WHEREAS, While the writers of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod Constitution at its formation were deeply troubled by
events in Europe that led to their immigration to our shores and
thus were moved to employ Rom. 16:17 as a simple barrier to any
confusion in the United States, it nevertheless has led to conflicting
interpretations of the same; therefore, be it

Resolved, That the English District memorialize The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod, in convention, to request the exegetical
departments of the two seminaries to examine the exegesis of Rom.
16:17, especially as it is employed in paragraph 1 of Art. III of the
Constitution of our Synod and report to the 2007 convention.

English District

3-53

To Reconsider Interpretation of Rom. 16:17

WHEREAS, Jesus, before His arrest, prayed that those who be-
lieved in Him would be one: “I pray not only for them, but also
for those who believe in Me because of their message. I pray that
they may all be one. Father! May they be in Us, just as You are in

Me and I am in You. May they be one, so that the world will be-
lieve that You sent Me” (John 17:20-21); and

WHEREAS, St. Paul urges the church to “Make every effort to
keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one
body and one spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you
were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Fa-
ther of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph. 4:3-6)
and urges the church to “watch out for those who cause divisions”
(Rom. 16:17); and

WuerEAS, One of the objectives of the Synod as stated in Art.
III 1 of its Constitution is to “provide a united defense against
schism, sectarianism (Rom. 16:17), and heresy”; and

WuereEAS, Rom. 16:17 has been interpreted as a biblical basis
for separating members and pastors of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod from the larger body of Christ; and

WHEREAS, To many such interpretation runs directly counter to
the Synod’s above stated objective; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Northwest District encourage the Synod to
reconsider the interpretation of Rom. 16:17.

Northwest District; St. Paul, Saratoga Springs, NY

To Ask ILC Churches to Reevaluate
or Refrain from Membership in LWF

WuereaS, The Lutheran World Federation continues to press
for closer ties with other denominations; and

WHEREAS, The largest member churches of the Lutheran World
Federation, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Amer-
ica and the state-related churches in northern Europe, are in full
communion with Reformed and Anglican or Episcopal churches;
and

WHEREAS, Such alliances are in direct violation of the Lutheran
Confessions, especially in regard to the doctrine of the Lord’s Sup-
per; and

WHEREAS, Some churches affiliated with the International
Lutheran Conference and with historic ties to The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod are members of the Lutheran World Fed-
eration or are in the process of securing membership; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention ask those churches that are currently members of the
Lutheran World Federation and affiliated with the International
Lutheran Conference to reevaluate their membership; and be it fur-
ther

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention ask those churches affiliated with the International
Lutheran Conference and who are in the process of acquiring mem-
bership in the Lutheran World Federation to refrain from doing so;
and be it finally

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod ask all
such churches to reaffirm with us their commitment to the Lutheran
Confessions.

Holy Cross
Albany, OR

3-55

To Join Lutheran World Federation

WHEREAS, “The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a global
communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran tradition.
Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF now has 136 mem-
ber churches in 76 countries, representing 61.7 million of the 65.4
million Lutherans worldwide” (source: LWF Web site); and

WHEREAS, Some churches overseas that were initiated by the
mission outreach of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod are
members of the Lutheran World Federation, such as the Lutheran
Church in Nigeria, India Evangelical Lutheran Church, Gutnius