LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 81

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REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT
Dr. Raymond Hartwig, LCMS Secretary
Dr. Thomas Kuchta, LCMS Vice-President–Finance—
Treasurer
Dr. Albert Marcis, SELC District President Emeritus;
Chairman, LCMS Commission on Constitutional
Matters
Appendix II

2001 Convention Proceedings
To Promote Truth and Integrity
in Convention Overtures
RESOLUTION 7-04A
Overture 7-126 (CW, pp. 282–83)
WHEREAS, St. Paul says in Eph 4:17–5:2, “So I tell you this,
and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as
the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are
darkened in their understanding and separated from the life
of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the
hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they
have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in
every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You,
however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you
heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the
truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your
former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude
of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like
God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you
must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor,
for we are all members of one body. ‘In your anger do not sin’:
Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do
not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must
steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with
his own hands, that he may have something to share with
those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of
your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up
according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were
sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage
and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of
malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving
each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of
God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love,
just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God”; and

81

WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther says in his explanation of the
Eighth Commandment, “We should fear and love God so that
we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander
him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of
him, and explain everything in the kindest way”; and
WHEREAS, The convention manual is published under the
editorship of the Secretary of the Synod, subject to the approval of the President of the Synod; and
WHEREAS, Misleading and untrue material has appeared
in synodical overtures; and
WHEREAS, The inclusion of such untrue and misleading information can do irreparable harm and is a sin against God,
individuals, and entities of the Synod; therefore be it
Resolved, That those who submit convention overtures assume complete responsibility for the truthfulness of information contained therein; and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.19 c be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Overtures with reference to a case in which a member has
been suspended or expelled and which is at present in the
process of or subject to appeal, as well as overtures which,
upon advice of legal counsel, may subject the Synod or the corporate officers of the Synod to civil action for libel or slander,
or which contain libel or slander, shall not be accepted for convention consideration; and be it further

Resolved, That Bylaw 3.19 be amended to add:
PROPOSED WORDING
The synodical President shall determine if any overture
contains information which is materially in error, or contains
any apparent misrepresentation of truth or of character. He
shall not approve inclusion of any such overture in the convention manual and shall refer any such overture to the District President who has ecclesiastical supervision over the entity submitting the overture for action. If any published
overture or resolution is found to be materially in error or contains any misrepresentation of truth or of character, it shall
be withdrawn from convention consideration and referred by
the President of the Synod to the appropriate District President for action;

and be it further
Resolved, That the other provisions of Bylaw (3.19) be
relettered; 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 (10)
(The resolution was adopted without amendment [yes:
746; no: 303]. The final resolve is added as required by
Res. 1-02, adopted by the convention in an earlier session.)

2007 Convention Proceedings