LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 184

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184

LATE OVERTURES

neither commanded nor forbidden) there can be appropriate
decisions concerning use. “We believe, teach, and confess
that in time of persecution, when a clear-cut confession of
faith is demanded of us, we dare not yield to the enemies
in such indifferent things, as the apostle Paul writes, ‘For
freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do
not submit again to a yoke of slavery’ (Gal. 5:1)….In such a
case it is no longer a question of indifferent things, but a
matter which has to do with the truth of the Gospel, Christian liberty, and the sanctioning of public idolatry, as well
as preventing offense to the weak in faith. In all these
things we have no concessions to make, but we should witness an unequivocal confession and suffer in consequence
what God sends us and what he lets the enemies inflict on
us”; therefore be it
Resolved, That we remind one another of the promise we
have made to use “doctrinally pure agenda, hymnbooks,
and catechisms,” both to preserve the truth and for the
sake of good order; and be it further
Resolved, That out of love for each other congregations of
the LCMS be strongly urged to seek as much uniformity in
ceremonies as possible; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations be urged to adopt and use
approved Synod hymnals; and be it further
Resolved, That 2004 Res. 2-04 not be understood to endorse the use of Evangelical Protestant Revival or neoEvangelical worship forms or to encourage deviation from
agreed-upon forms when it resolved that the Synod “affirm
respect for diversity in worship practices as we build
greater understanding of our theology of worship”; and be it
further
Resolved, That the President of the Synod, the Council of
Presidents, the seminaries, the universities and colleges,
and the Commission on Worship continue to find ways to
foster discussion among groups with diverse viewpoints for
the purpose of building greater understanding of our theology of worship and fostering further discussion of worship
practices that are consistent with sound Lutheran theology
and practice; and be it further
Resolved, That the Southern Illinois District (SID) in
convention (2006) directs her district president to undertake a visitation with particular emphasis at looking at the
worship offered at every SID congregation in order to “Encourage congregations to strive for uniformity in church
practice, but also to develop an appreciation of a variety of
responsible practices and customs which are in harmony
with our common profession of faith” (LCMS Constitution,
Art. III 7); and
1. “To seek to bring about to the greatest possible degree the
achievement of the Synod’s objectives as expressed in Article III of its Constitution” (2004 Synod Bylaw 4.4.4b);
2. “To conserve and promote the unity of the true faith…and
provide a united defense against schism, sectarianism (Rom
16:17), and heresy” (LCMS Constitution, Art. III 1); and
3. To determine whether there is an “Exclusive use of doctrinally pure agenda, hymnbooks, and catechisms in church
and school” (LCMS Constitution, Art. VI 4).

(Note: The district president always has the right to direct his vice-presidents and circuit counselors to assist him
in the endeavor); and be it further
2007 Convention Proceedings

Resolved, That the Southern Illinois District (SID) in
convention (2006) direct the district president to present a
report to the 2009 SID convention concerning his findings
and the actions he has taken; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Southern Illinois District in convention (2006) memorialize The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod in convention (2007) to clarify that 2004 Res. 2-04 is
not to be understood to endorse the use of Evangelical
Protestant Revival or neo-Evangelical worship forms or to
encourage deviation from agreed-upon forms when it
resolved that the Synod “affirm respect for diversity in
worship practices as we build greater understanding of our
theology of worship.”
Board of Directors
Southern Illinois
L3-106

To Recognize Greater Specificity
re Functions of the Pastor Office
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and
“every member of the Synod, accepts without reservation: 1.
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as the written Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and of
practice; 2. All the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church as a true and unadulterated statement
and exposition of the Word of God, to wit: the three Ecumenical Creeds (the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, the
Athanasian Creed), the Unaltered Augsburg Confession,
the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, the Large Catechism of Luther, the Small Catechism
of Luther, and the Formula of Concord” (LCMS Constitution, Article II); and
WHEREAS, On the basis of Holy Scripture, the LCMS has
directed, as recently as its most recent convention (2004
Res. 3-08A), that service in the Office of the Holy Ministry
(i.e., as ordained pastors) be restricted to men, and that
women not serve in this office, and
WHEREAS, The above specified resolution (2004 Res. 308A) goes so far as to state, “Therefore be it Resolved, that
the Synod affirm that women on the basis of the clear
teaching of Scripture may not serve in the office of pastor
nor exercise any of its distinctive functions” (emphasis
added); and
WHEREAS, It is self-evident that “distinctive functions”
of the pastoral office include far more than the minimalistic
view of the pastor being simply present, vested, pronouncing the Absolution, preaching the sermon, and consecrating the elements for Holy Communion, but also leading the
liturgy, offering the prayers, the distribution of Communion, and other duties involved with the role of the vested
leader of worship; and
WHEREAS, Loose definitions of pastoral functions, particularly concerning roles in public worship, often result in the
“minimalistic view” described in the previous WHEREAS,
and, subsequently, may also open the door for women to appear vested (even without the pastoral stole specifically) in
vestments specifically for liturgical leaders of worship (as
opposed to choir robes) to carry out such “distinctive functions”; and