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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 440

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

440 OTHER PERTINENT DOCUMENTS

2001 Convention Proceedings
To Commend “The Lutheran Understanding
of Church Fellowship”
and CTCR Report on the Synodical Discussions

RESOLUTION 3-07A

Report 3-01A (CW, pp. 48-51); Overtures 3-07-10, 3-12, 3-
15-18, 3-21-23 (CW, pp. 157-63)

WHEREAS, The action of the 1998 convention called for a study
of fellowship principles and practices (Res. 3-03B) on the nature
of our church body (why we are who we are) and our fellowship
principles and practices (why we do what we do); and

WHEREAS, The 1998 convention (Res. 3-10C) also called for all
2000 District conventions to utilize the,study to help build a “better
understanding, general harmony, and more consistent practice in
our Synod”; and

Wuereas, The President of the Synod and the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations has jointly produced the document
“The Lutheran Understanding of Church Fellowship” which is in
harmony, with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions; and

Whereas, Our District conventions utilized and studied the
document, and

Wuereas, “A majority affirmed The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod position on church fellowship that it set forth. They
found it scriptural and confessional and wanted The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod to maintain its historic position” (CTCR
Report, CW, p. 49); and

WHEREAS, The CTCR has listened to the reactions from the
Synod and written a response (CW, pp. 48-51) in conjunction with
the synodical President; therefore be it

Resolved, That we give thanks to God for the work of the
sainted Reverend Dr. Alvin Barry and the Commission on Theol-
ogy and Church Relations in producing the document “The
Lutheran Understanding of Church Fellowship” (CW, pp. 375-87);
and be it further

Resolved, We give thanks to God for the thousands of pastors,
commissioned ministers and lay people who have participated in
the study and discussion of this document; and be it further

Resolved, That we rejoice and give thanks to God for the unity
of doctrine and practice that this study has demonstrated; and be it
further

2004 Convention Workbook

Resolved, That we commend this study and response for con-
tinued use and guidance to build that unity where it is stil] lacking;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod, reaffirm once again, its position on
joint worship and recommit ourselves to live according to the in-
struction of the Lord’s Apostle: “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I
urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be
completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another
in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through
the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-3) and “Submit to one another out of
reverence for Christ.” (Eph. 5:21); and be it finally

Resolved, That all action taken in this resolution shall be used to
help carry out “The Great Commission” and shall not in any way
detract or distract from the primary mission of God’s Kingdom
here on Earth. We will remember 1-02!

Action: Adopted (7)

(This resolution was first introduced in session 5, at which time
the convention agreed to consider the following substitute motion:
WHEREAS, The 1998 convention called for a study of church fellow-
ship by the CTCR; and WHEREAS, The CTCR and President of the
Synod produced, “The Lutheran Understanding of Church Fellow-
ship”; and WHEREAS, “The Lutheran Understanding of Church Fel-
lowship” was utilized as a study document at all the District con-
ventions in the year 2000; and WHEREAS, The study has hardly been
acknowledged as a consensus document of the entire Synod in the
time it has been under study; and WHEREAS, Numerous questions
and concerns remain unresolved about the study, including the
study’s own commitment to a genuinely Lutheran understanding of
church fellowship; and WHEREAS, The theology of the Lutheran
Confessions can be understood as appreciating the fullness of the
Body of Christ than the current study document allows; and
WHEREAS, The many practical issues of addressing church fellow-
ship in the experience of real church remain largely unaddressed in
the CTCR study; therefore be it Resolved, That “The Lutheran Un-
derstanding of Church Fellowship” be recommitted for additional
study to the CTCR and input from the larger Synod; and be it fur-
ther Resolved, That the 200] convention express its thanks to the
CTCR for its work to date in examining the fellowship issue. In ses-
sion 7, after discussion continued on the substitute motion, it failed
to carry and consideration returned to the original resolution. It was
adopted without amendment [yes: 782; no: 343]. The final resolve
is added as required by Res. 1-02, adopted by the convention in an
earlier session.