LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 65

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SYNOD REPORTS 65

permit women to hold all congregational offices—as long as their
assigned responsibilities do not include the distinctive functions of
the pastoral office.

In light of the Synod’s adoption of this resolution, the CTCR,
immediately following the 2004 convention, authorized the publi-
cation of its 1994 report as a separate document (previously pub-
lished in the December 1994 issue of the Reporter, and
subsequently available online on the CTCR’s Web site). Upon the
request of the President, the CTCR also included in its publication
the “Guidelines for the Service of Women in Congregational Of-
fices” prepared by the special task force. For reference, the com-
mission included two appendices: 2004 Res. 3-08A; and an April
2004 response to a request from the Minnesota South District for an
opinion regarding women serving in the “congregational offices of
Executive Director/President or Assistant Director/Vice President”
(see section D.! below for this opinion). The document described
here is included in Appendix II of the Convention Workbook and is
available online at www.lcms.org/cter.

5. Meaning of Greek Word Authentein.

The President of the Atlantic District, in a June 1994 letter, for-
warded a resolution from the Atlantic District Convention (June
3-4, 1994) requesting that the CTCR address concerns related to
“terms and definitions...as they explicate how women function as
church.” Included among these terms was the Greek word authen-
tein (“to exercise authority over’) as used in | Tim. 2:12. In re-
sponse to this assignment, the commission adopted a study on the
word authentein at its April 2005 meeting. At its September 2005
meeting the commission acknowledged the receipt of a minority
statement submitted by Mr. Paul Nus. The document, which sum-
marizes current research on the word, and the minority statement
are included in Appendix II of the Convention Workbook and are
available online at www.lcms.org/ctcr.

6. Christian Faith and Human Beginnings.

The commission has an ongoing assignment from the Synod
(beginning with 1977 Res. 3-26, and included in Bylaw 3.9.6.2.1
[c]) to provide guidance on issues raised by developments in bio-
medical research and the life sciences. In 1998 Res. 3-15B, the
Synod asked the commission to prepare a study to help the church
“make informed judgments concerning cloning and attendant is-
sues.” In April 2002, the commission adopted a report on cloning
titled What Child Is This: Marriage, Family and Human Cloning
(available online at www.lcms.org/ctcr). The commission then con-
tinued work on the related issue of stem cell research and at its Sep-
tember 2005 meeting adopted for distribution to congregations,
pastors and other members on the Synod’s roster a report titled
Christian Faith and Human Beginnings: Christian Care and Pre-
Implantation Human Life. This report focuses on Christian partici-
pation in public debate concerning the use of embryos for medical
research and therapy. It is included in Appendix II of the Conven-
tion Workbook and is available online at www.Icms.org/cter. At its
December 2005 meeting, the commission rejected a minority state-
ment to this report submitted by Mr. Paul Nus “as not in compli-
ance with the commission’s Guidelines” regarding minority
statements.

7, In Statu Confessionis: A Response to Questions from the
Praesidium of the Synod

In December 2004, President Kieschnick forwarded to the com-
Mission, at the encouragement of the Synod’s Praesidium, a num-
ber of questions on the meaning and implications of in statu
confessionis (a state of confessional protest) prepared and discussed
by the Council of Presidents at its meeting in November 2004. At
its April 2005 meeting, the commission adopted a response to this
request, which is included in Appendix II of the Convention Work-

book and is available online at www.Icms.org/ctcr. At its Septem-
ber 2005 meeting, the commission acknowledged the receipt of mi-
nority statements signed by Dr. Kurt Marquart and Mr. Paul Nus,
which are also included in Appendix II of the Convention Work-
book and are available online at www.|cms.org/ctcr._

8. A Bible Study Companion to A Lutheran Response to the “Left
Behind” Series

In view of current heightened interest in end-times topics (e.g.,
the millennium, the rapture, the Antichrist, Armageddon) and in re-
sponse to suggestions made by members of the Synod, the CTCR
placed on its agenda the preparation of a Bible study guide to ac-
company its 2004 report A Lutheran Response to the “Left Behind”
Series. The commission adopted this Bible Study Companion for
distribution to the members of the Synod at its May 2006 meeting
and has included it in Appendix II of the Convention Workbook
(also available at www.lcms.org/ctcr).

B. Studies in Progress
1. Theological Conferences

In November 2001, the President of the Synod requested the
CTCR, together with the Council of Presidents, to develop a series
of theological conferences to facilitate discussion throughout the
Synod on topics of current importance (see Bylaw 3.9.6.2.1 (d) for
the CTCR’s responsibility in this area). A planning committee
composed of five CTCR representatives and five COP members
developed plans for a model theological conference, to be followed
by similar conferences in the districts of the Synod. Mr. Ted Kober
was asked to serve as facilitator of the conference. The first Model
Theological Conference was held in Phoenix, AZ, Aug. 5—7, 2002,
under the theme ‘Conflict, Confession and Unity: Addressing Doc-
trinal Issues Faithfully and Fraternally for the Sake of Christ’s Mis-
sion.”

In the fall of 2004, the planning committee developed plans, ap-
proved by both the CTCR and the COP, for a second model con-
ference to be held in Phoenix on Aug. 23~—25, 2005, under the
theme “The Congregation’s Ministry and Mission: Who’s in
Charge Here?” Attending this conference were 223 participants
from the districts of the Synod (151 pastors; 43 laymen; 29 lay-
women). Mr. Kober was also the facilitator of this conference.

All 35 districts of the Synod participated in both of these model
conferences by developing follow-up conferences in some form.
Papers presented at these conferences are available on the CTCR’s
Web site at: www.Icms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=506.

The model theological conferences held in 2002 and 2005 were
made possible by generous grants from Thrivent Financial for
Lutherans.

2. Church Relations in the 21st Century

In a June 2004 memorandum, President Kieschnick requested that
the commission address the following question: “Would it be bib-
lically and confessionally appropriate for the LCMS, in certain cir-
cumstances, to seek to establish some kind of formalized
relationship with another church body, a group of Christians, or an
emerging church body other than a declaration of altar and pulpit
fellowship?” He further asked that if this were possible, what
would be the “basis, nature, and parameters of such a relationship?”
In response to the President’s request, the commission has for-
warded to him a document under the title “Church Relations in the
21* Century” for his response, reaction, and further discussion.

3. Comprehensive Study of Man/Woman Relationship (1995 Res. 3-10)

The 1995 convention of the Synod requested that “the CTCR
coordinate a comprehensive study of the scriptural relationship of
man and woman, together with the faculties of both seminaries,
making use of other persons who are competent in the area of the-

2007 Convention Workbook