LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 201

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 201

* cause confusion and uncertainty among those who hold or seek
membership in such organizations in that they are accepted in
some LCMS congregations and rejected by others

therefore be it

Resolved, That congregations in the Synod be encouraged to
study and discuss Bylaw 3.925 c of the synodical Handbook to-
gether with materials available from the synodical Commission on
Theology and Church Relations; and be it further

Resolved, That all members of the Synod be strongly urged to
follow the guidelines of this section out of love and concern for
other members of the Synod and from a desire to help provide com-
mon witness to the world; and be it further

Resolved, That member congregations who have known mem-
bers of lodges lovingly and gently exhort these members to turn
from their two contrary confessions to the one, Christian, and
Apostolic confession; and be it finally

Resolved, That District officials be reminded of their responsi-
bility to exercise proper Christian, evangelical supervision and dis-
cipline wherever such leadership is required.

Zion
Fort Wayne, IN

3-106

To Identify and Name Questionable Organizations

WHEREAS, The Synod on various occasions has discussed the
matter of “dual membership” of pastors and congregations; and

WHEREAS, The assumed goal of this discussion and pertinent
resolutions is to encourage a unity of spirit and work among us;
and

WHEREAS, There are pastors, professors, and congregations in-
volved in organizations with obvious theological, ecclesiastical,
and financial goals; and

WHEREAS, These organizations have officers, membership lists,
financial resources, meetings, doctrinal statements, agendas, and
other characteristics that set them apart as organizations that may or
may not agree with the stated goals of the Synod Constitution;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention ask the President of the
_ Synod to identify and through the Synod’s official publications to
name such organizations; and be it further

Resolved, That persons nominated for office in the Synod be

asked to include in their resume provided to convention delegates
those organizations in which they participate.

Immanuel

Brownton, MN

3-107

To Exclude Members of American Civil Liberties
Union from Membership in the LCMS

WHEREAS, This great nation “Under God” has from its incep-
tion been blessed of God; and

WHEREAS, The leaders of this nation have recognized the bless-
ings of God with the slogan “In God We Trust” on all currency;
and

WHEREAS, The ACLU continues to remove all references to
God with its litigation (e.g., suing to have the Ten Commandments
removed from public places such as court houses); and

Whereas, The ACLU is presently pursuing the elimination of
all religious symbols in any public areas during holidays such as
Christmas; and

WHEREAS, The ACLU has cost the LCMS precious dollars in
defending itself against false charges of discrimination in the hiring
and employment at Christian radio station KFUO, dollars that
could have been used to expand the kingdom and save more souls;
and

WHEREAS, The ACLU continues to defend the abominable prac-
tice of murdering unborn children which is in direct opposition of
past resolutions of the LCMS; and

WHEREAS, The ACLU refuses to publish, or make available, a
list of its members, even though it boasts a membership of over
100,000; therefore be it

Resolved, That the 2004 Synod convention add the ACLU, and
its individual state affiliates, to the list of organizations in which
Lutherans cannot hold membership; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod, in convention, encourage all Luther-
ans to promote and support any effort to establish and maintain a
list on the Internet of all known members of the ACLU and its state
affiliates.

Our Redeemer
Knox, IN

3-108

To Study Theology of Association
for Clinical Pastoral Education

WHEREAS, The LCMS has directed the Commission on Theol-
ogy and Church Relations (CTCR) to “provide information and
counsel concerning organizations, philosophies, and worldviews
about which ordained and commissioned ministers and congrega-
tions may make inquiry relative to objectives, tenets, programs,
practices, or ceremonies” (2001 Handbook 3.925 c 1); and

WHEREAS, The purpose of the Association for Clinica] Pastoral
Education (ACPE) is to provide actual training for ministry and
spiritual care to people in crises and/or facing death; and

WHEREAS, ACPE training currently involves many pastors of
the LCMS; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Missouri District memorialize the Synod in
convention in 2004 to assign the CTCR the task of studying the
ACPE objectives, tenets, programs, and practices as they relate to
the Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and requirements in
Bylaw 3.925 c; and be it further

Resolved, That the Missouri District in convention request the
Synod to assign the CTCR to report its findings immediately to the
Board for Higher Education and to the 2007 Synod convention.

Missouri District

3-109

To Provide Theological Basis
for Opposition to Military Combat Role for Women

WHEREAS, Prior to 1993 United States women, by public pol-
icy and federal legislation (WASA), were prohibited from partici-
pation in military combat roles; and

WHEREAS, In 1993 the U.S. Secretary of Defense issued an
order containing the words “develop a legislative proposal to re-
peal the existing Combat Exclusion Law (CEL) and permit the as-
signment of women to ships that are engaged in combat missions”;
and

WHEREAS, In 1994 the U.S. Army was ordered to open Combat
Military Occupation Specialties to women; and

WHEREAS, There are those calling for the drafting of women if
the men are drafted or at least the registering of the women in the
same way that men are required to; and

Wuereas, A clearly stated position by our Synod would give
young women of the Synod a theological basis for being conscien-
tiously opposed to being drafted or registering for the draft; and

Wuereas, Adam was given the position and responsibility as
head of the relationship between himself and Eve and exercised
that authority by both naming the animals and his wife; and

WHEREAS, Woman was created from man and brought to him
as a “helper” and one who made possible a household and children;
and