LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 457

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OTHER PERTINENT DOCUMENTS 457

Fellowship in the Lutheran Confessions the baptism. Uncle Bill represents the ELCA, a church body

4. The Lutheran Confessions say that churches should not con- with which the Synod is not in church fellowship due to doc-

demn each other over differences in ceremonies “as long as
they are otherwise agreed in doctrine ahd in all its articles
and are also agreed concerning the right use of the holy sacra-
ments” (Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, X 31; Tap-
pert, 616). Discuss the implications of this statement for
church fellowship today.

Official Position of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod on
Church Fellowship

5. The Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the Missouri
Synod says:

28. On Church-Fellowship.—Since God ordained that His Word
only, without the admixture of human doctrine, be taught and be-
lieved in the Christian Church, 1 Pet. 4:11; John 8:31,32; 1 Tim.
6:3,4, all Christians are required by God to discriminate between or-
thodox and heterodox church-bodies, Matt. 7:15, to have church-fel-
lowship only with orthodox church-bodies, and, in case they have
strayed into heterodox church-bodies, to leave them, Rom. 16:17. We
Tepudiate unionism, that is, church-fellowship with the adherents of
false doctrine, as disobedience to God’s command, as causing divi-
sions in the Church, Rom. 16:17; 2 John 9, 10, and as involving the

constant danger of losing the Word of God entirely, 2 Tim. 2:17-21. -

29. The orthodox character of a church is established not by its mere
name nor by its outward acceptance of, and subscription to, an or-
thodox creed, but by the doctrine which is actually taught in its pul-
pits, in its theological seminaries, and in its publications. On the other
hand, a church does not forfeit its orthodox character through the ca-
sual intrusion of errors, provided these are combated and eventually
temoved by means of doctrinal discipline, Acts 20:30; 1 Tim. 1:3.

trinal disagreements. What should the pastor say and do?
Why? What if the young couple is not having a baby but is
just now getting married and requests that Uncle Bill deliver
the sermon in the wedding service to be held by the Missouri
Synod congregation? What should the pastor say and do?
Why?

. On confirmation Sunday there will be Holy Communion. The

baptismal sponsors of one of the confirmands will be present
for the occasion. When they moved five years ago, they
joined a Presbyterian church. The family now wants them to
receive Communion at the confirmation service. “After all,
they were confirmed as Lutherans.” Should they commune?
Why or why not?

An earthquake has caused great destruction and loss of life
in a smal] community. The Baptist church is the only one in
town still standing. Its pastor invites the other clergy in the
community, including the local Missouri Synod pastor, to
participate as leaders in a community service to be held two
days after the tragedy. What should be done by the Missouri
Synod pastor and the members of the congregation he serves?
Should the pastor consider any alternatives besides partici-
pating in the service like other clergy on the one hand, or not
attending on the other hand? Why?

. Just before the installation service for a new Missouri Synod

pastor, the local United Church of Christ minister and a local
ELCA pastor present themselves as ready to vest and join the
other clergy in the service. What should the circuit counselor
say to them? Why?

Are these paragraphs in harmony with the Scriptures and the
Lutheran Confessions? Discuss.

6. The 1995 LCMS convention adopted Resolution 3-08 which
States:
“Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm 1967 Res. 2-19 that ‘pastors and
congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, except in
situations of emergency and in special cases of pastoral care, com-
mune individuals of only those synods which are now in fellowship
with us;’ and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm 1986 Res. 3-08, ‘that pastors and
congregations of The Lutheran Church-—Missouri Synod continue
to abide by the practice of close communion, which includes the ne-
cessity of exercising responsible pastoral care in extraordinary situa-

The Lutheran Understanding of Church Fellowship
Discussion Reporting Instrument
Tam a(n) Ordained Minister

Layperson
Commissioned Minister

Please respond to each question by assigning a numeric value to
each, according to the following scale:

5= Definitely Yes 4= Mostly Yes
2 = Mostly No 1 = Definitely No

3 = Undecided

tions and circumstances’ and beseech one another in love to remem-
ber that ‘situations of emergency and special cases of pastoral care’
or ‘extraordinary situations and circumstances’ are, by their nature,
Telatively rare.”

1. The document helps me understand how the LCMS
relates to other Christian churches.

2. After reading the document, I understand the synodical
position on church (altar and pulpit) fellowship.

Discuss this statement in the light of your study and the practice of 3

N . After reading the document, I agree with the synodical
your congregation.

position on church (altar and pulpit) fellowship.
The position set forth in these materials is faithful °
to the Scriptures. Please explain.

Case Studies 4.

1. A new pastor arrives in a congregation and discovers that it

has been participating for a number of years in joint worship
services on Good Friday and Thanksgiving with congrega-
tions of church bodies with which our Synod is not in church
fellowship. What should the new pastor say to his congrega-
tion and to the other churches involved in the joint service?
What should this pastor say to his fellow pastors and to
neighboring congregations? Why?

. An LCMS pastor receives a request from a young family.
They would like “Uncle Bill” to baptize their new baby.
Uncle Bill is an ELCA pastor. All the relatives are going to
be there and everyone would love to have Uncle Bill perform

. The position set forth in these materials is faithful

to the Lutheran Confessions. Please explain.

. These materials help provide a foundation for

addressing such situations as presented in the
sample case studies

. Are there any weaknesses in the document or areas that

need to be strengthened?

. What additional situations would you like to see addressed

in the report of the synodical President and the CTCR to the
2001 LCMS convention? Please provide details if possible.
Use additional pages for your comments if necessary.

2004 Convention Workbook