LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 182

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182 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

3-60

To Express Concern Over
Doctrinal Differences with ELCA

Wuereas, Our Lord Jesus Christ has declared that “If you con-
tinue in My Word, you are truly My disciples,” (John 8:31) and “If
a man loves Me he will keep My Word, and My Father will love
him, and We will come:to him and make Our home with him. He
who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the Word
which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me,” (John
14:23-24), and “He who loves father or mother more than Me is
not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me
is not worthy of Me; and he who does not take his cross and follow
Me is not worthy of Me,” (Matt. 10:37-38); and

Whereas, The Small Catechism, which we confess, states that
God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its
truth and purity and we as the children of God also lead holy lives
according to it, but he that teaches and lives otherwise than God’s
Word teaches profanes the name of God among us; and

WHEREAS, Such examples of heterodoxy continue to be evi-
denced by the fact that the ELCA (1) is working toward the bless-
ing of homosexual unions and the ordination of practicing homo-
sexual pastors, (2) has not condemned abortion on demand, (3)
allows its pastors to question and deny the historicity of Christ’s
life, death, miracles, and resurrection and permits its clergy to
maintain and teach the non-existence of angels, the devil, hell,
Adam, Eve, and Jonah (as portrayed in the Holy Scriptures), (4)
endorses and practices the ordination of women, and (5) has en-
tered into full communion with the Reformed—an altar and pulpit
fellowship with church bodies which deny that the presence of
Christ’s body and blood is something more than a spiritual, figura-
tive, or mystical presence rather than a real presence; therefore be it

Resolved, That the members of the LCMS continue to pray for
and work toward the God-pleasing unity between the LCMS and
the ELCA that we may “stand firm in one spirit, with one mind
striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel,” (Phil. 1:27) and be
“of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and
of one mind,” (Phil. 2:2); and be it further

Resolved, That the LCMS and ELCA continue to work together
compassionately and diligently in such areas of human care, wel-
fare, and world relief which are possible without participating in
joint worship or Communion services that give the impression that
doctrinal differences are of no consequence; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, in con-
vention, affirm by roll-call vote that as long as the ELCA main-
tains such unscriptural positions as those mentioned above, its syn-
odical officials and representatives will treat the ELCA as a
heterodox church body according to the Handbook’s description
and treatment of heterodoxy; and be it finally

Resolved, That those delegates and Districts which cannot consci-
entiously agree to this overture be declared as being in a state of
“brotherly dissent” within The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod,
subject to the guidelines established in Bylaw 2.39 of the Handbook.

Zion
Fort Wayne, IN

3-61

To Rescind ELCA Condemnation

WHEREAS, Resolution 3-21A of the 2001 convention of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod used language that slandered
the good reputation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) by making the following statement: “Resolved that the
2001 synodical convention affirm the late President Alvin L.
Barry’s judgment that ‘we cannot consider them [the ELCA] to be
an orthodox Lutheran church body’ ” (2001 Proceedings, p. 142);
and

WHEREAS, A review of the Constitution of the ELCA reveals
words that establish doctrinal standards and norms which are

“Lutheran” in every sense of the word and not all that different
from what the LCMS states in its Constitution in Article II; and

WtereasS, A theology and practice of repentance and forgive-
ness is essential for any body daring to make use of the term
“Lutheran” as part of its name; therefore be it

Resolved, That St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church,
Saratoga Springs, New York, memorialize the 2004 convention of
the LCMS to rescind Res. 3-21A of the Synod’s 2001 convention;
and be it further ;

Resolved, That St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church,
Saratoga Springs, New York, request the 2004 convention to pass a
resolution offering an apology to the ELCA for the intemperate lan-
guage and slanderous accusations made and implore the forgive-
ness of the ELCA; and be it finally

Resolved, That St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church,
Saratoga Springs, New York, memorialize the 2004 convention to
provide for renewed and better relations with the ELCA.

St. Paul
Saratoga Springs, NY

3-62

To Rescind 2001 Res. 3-21A

Whereas, The 2001 LCMS convention adopted Res. 3-21A
which inaccurately described the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America as not being “an orthodox Lutheran church body” (2001
Proceedings, p. 142); and

WHEREAS, The Constitution of the ELCA states doctrinal stan-
dards and norms basically the same as those held by the LCMS and
stated in Art. II of the LCMS Constitution; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, gath-
ered in convention, rescind the 2001 Res. 3-21A.

Resurrection
Coronado, CA

3-63

To Rescind 2001 Res. 3-21A

WHEREAS, The 2001 convention of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod (LCMS) adopted Res. 3-21A, which put into question
the orthodoxy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) with such statements as the following: “Resolved that the
2001 synodical convention affirm the late President Alvin L.
Barry’s judgment that ‘we cannot consider them [the ELCA] to be
an orthodox Lutheran church body’” (2001 Convention Proceed-
ings, p. 142); and

WHEREAS, The Constitution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America clearly submits to doctrinal standards and norms that
are “Lutheran” in every sense of the word and are essentially the
same as those held and affirmed by the LCMS; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, in con-
vention, hereby rescinds 2001! Res. 3-21A; and be it further

Resolved, That this convention commends President Kieschnick’s
ongoing effort to engage the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
in discussions; and be it finally

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod encour-
age and provide for renewed and stronger mission and ministry rela-
tions with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Trinity
Portland, OR