LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 122

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122

RESOLUTIONS

task of providing further guidance for participation in civic events
that includes the offering of serial prayer. After the chair ruled
the amendment to be a substitute motion, the assembly voted not
to consider it. When discussion returned to the committee’s resolution, a motion to amend the resolve by striking CTCR and replacing it with President of the Synod also failed. The resolution
was adopted without amendment [Yes: 935; No: 163].)

To Assign CTCR to Address
Environmental Issues
RESOLUTION 3-06
Overture 3-91 (CW, pp. 184–185)
WHEREAS, Ecological and environmental issues affect all
citizens of the global community, including Christians; and
WHEREAS, Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions
speak to responsible Christian stewardship of the earth;
and
WHEREAS, There is a lack of resources in the LCMS addressing environmental issues in a scriptural and confessional way; and
WHEREAS, There is a need for study, for service, for responsible citizenship, and for concerted action on environmental issues based on an examination of biblical and confessional resources; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations be assigned to develop a biblical and confessional
report on responsible Christian stewardship of the environment for use by Synod entities including our schools and
churches as they develop resources for the church at large.
Action: Adopted (5)
(After debate was terminated without discussion, the resolution
was adopted as presented by the committee [Yes: 831; No: 219].)

To Study CTCR Reports Relating to the
Service of Women in the Church
RESOLUTION 3-07
Overtures 3-60–83 (CW, pp. 175–182); Appendix II
(CW, pp. 405–406)
WHEREAS, Some overtures submitted to this convention
have called for the reaffirmation of 2004 Res. 3-08A, some
have called for its rescission, and some have called for further study of the Scriptures and issues like the order of creation, the order of redemption (e.g., Gal. 3:28), and the relationship of man and woman; and
WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) discussed the biblical concept of the order
of creation in its 1985 report Women in the Church, and has
recently addressed the implications of the scriptural application of the order of creation in Section 3 of CTCR Response to Expressions of Dissent (2004–2006); and
WHEREAS, At the request of the Synod convention, the
CTCR, in collaboration with 16 consultants, including men
and women and representation from the seminaries of the
Synod, is working toward completion in 2008 of a comprehensive study on the scriptural relationship of man and
woman, and it will provide further guidance on the meaning of the term “order of creation”; therefore be it
2007 Convention Proceedings

Resolved, That the convention commend Section 3 of
CTCR Response to Expressions of Dissent (2004–2006) to
the members of the Synod for widespread study and reflection; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod await the CTCR comprehensive report on the scriptural relationship of man and
woman to be completed in 2008 and, upon its release, engage in a thorough, synodwide study of this report.
Action: Adopted (8)
(Upon the resolution’s introduction during Session 5, a substitute resolution was offered: WHEREAS, At the 1995 LCMS convention, Synod declined to approve the 1994 CTCR document, The
Service of Women in the Congregational Offices, citing a dissenting opinion by five theologians (CTCR members), which stated
that the CTCR document lacked consideration of God’s order of
creation; and WHEREAS, President Dr. Al Barry in 1994 published
his ‘regret’ in the Reporter concerning both the content of this document and the manner in which the CTCR’s executive committee
distributed the document; and WHEREAS, At the 1995 LCMS convention, the Synod (Res. 3-06A) directed the CTCR to continue
to study this document along with dissenting opinions, and to
do so ‘in consultation with the faculties of the seminaries;’ and
WHEREAS, The CTCR has not reported to any succeeding convention any record of such communication with or from the seminaries on the topic of the role of women in the church, nor has any
further report been issued; and WHEREAS, The 1994 report reappeared on the docket of the 2004 convention unchanged, without
informing delegates as to the Synod’s previous mandate for the
CTCR to seek seminary input; and WHEREAS, The 2004 LCMS
convention approved Res. 3-08A by a vote of 576–520; and
WHEREAS, This approved resolution (3-08A) may violate God’s
order of creation and His instruction ‘to all congregations of the
saints’ (1 Cor. 14:33b–38; 1 Tim. 2: 11–12); and WHEREAS, Seven
(7) districts submitted overtures to this 2007 convention requesting
that we rescind Res. 3-08A; therefore be it Resolved, That we
praise God for creating us uniquely male and female, created in
Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do (Eph. 2:10); and be it further Resolved, That we
praise God for the more than 4,000 women serving in full-time
church service in our Synod; and be it further Resolved, That 2004
Res. 3-08A be rescinded, along with any policies or administrative procedures that have stemmed from it; and be it further Resolved, That the CTCR complete the work mandated to it by the
Synod (1995 Res. 3-06A), receiving input from the faculties of our
two seminaries, and publish seminary input online; and be it finally Resolved, That the CTCR author a new document concerning the service of women in congregational offices to be presented
for discussion and possible approval at the 2010 LCMS convention. After the presenter and the floor committee were given opportunity to speak, the motion to introduce the substitute resolution failed. Later, during Session 8, a motion to amend the first
whereas by deleting on issues like the order of creation and replacing those words with of the Scriptures and issues like the
order of creation, the order of redemption (e.g., Gal. 3:28) was
agreed to by the committee. After further discussion the resolution was adopted as changed [Yes: 870; No: 286].)

To Encourage Use of CTCR’s Web Resource
on “Religious Organizations and Movements”
and to Express Appreciation to Dr. Jerald
Joersz for His 30 Years of Service
RESOLUTION 3-08
Report 3-01, III (CW, p. 73)
WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) has been given the responsibility since 2001
for assisting pastors and congregations of the Synod regarding religious organizations and movements; and