LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 137

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MISSIONS 137

Resolved, That a detailed report of the Ab/aze! funds (including
the source of the funds and the dispensing of these funds) be writ-
ten by the chairman of the Synod’s Board for Mission Services to
be included in future Reporter publications.

Mount Olive
Billings, MT

1-15

To Provide for Cooperative and Joint
Campus Ministry with ELCA

WHEREAS, In the past there was good cooperative and joint cam-
pus ministry carried out between the LCMS and the LCA and
ALC, which have merged to become the ELCA; and

WueresS, For the sake of good pastoral care for and ministry
with students and faculty on campuses a united, cooperative, and
joint Lutheran campus ministry would be good for both the people
served and the campus clergy and staff who serve and also provide
for better stewardship of financial resources and of facilities; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS direct that districts and other agen-
cies of the Synod make provisions needed for cooperative and joint
campus ministry with the ELCA.

Resurrection
Coronado, CA

1-16

To Retain Statement re Prayer in Chaplain Guidelines

WHEREAS, There is a growing expectation among many within
the military that the public prayers of chaplains be non-sectarian;
and

Whereas, Our Synod’s military chaplains are called to make a
clear confession on every occasion; and

Whereas, Page 35 of the Synod’s “Chaplain Guidelines” al-
ready says the following:

“a LCMS chaplain can and should pray as is indicated in Holy
Scriptures—which certainly includes praying in our Savior’s name’;

therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention cause the director of
the Ministry to the Armed Forces to retain that statement in all fu-
ture revisions of the “Chaplain Guidelines.”

Bethany
Fort Wayne, IN

1-17

To Return to Reciprocal Word and Sacrament
Ministry with Other Lutheran Military Chaplains
WHEREAS, The 2003 convention of the Pacific Southwest Dis-

trict of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod adopted R-THEO-
06, which reads as follows:

Rationale

Members of the Armed Forces of our country benefit by the
blessings of God through the ministry of Lutheran chaplains. Be-
cause of frequent orders to locations anywhere in the world, mem-
bers of the LCMS serving in the military frequently benefit from
the ministry of ELCA chaplains, just as ELCA members serving in

the military frequently benefit from the ministry of LCMS chap-
lains.

In order to provide for continued education and professional
concerns, there are annual Lutheran chaplains’ conferences for all
Lutheran chaplains serving all branches of the Armed Forces. It is
a wonderful time for Lutheran chaplains who serve the Army,
Navy, Air Force, and Marines to encourage one another’s ministry
and to gather for worship and prayer. For many years at these con-
ferences the Lord’s Supper was celebrated so that all the Lutheran
chaplains could commune together. More recently and currently
the leaders of our denomination have insisted that there be sepa-
rate LCMS and ELCA celebrations of the Eucharist at these pan-
Lutheran chaplains’ conferences. The strange result is that while
LCMS synodical policy for LCMS military chaplains is to provide
a ministry of Word and Sacraments for all Lutherans, current
LCMS practice is to make provisions for separate celebrations of
the Eucharist so that LCMS chaplains themselves do not partici-
pate as celebrants or recipients with ELCA chaplains. LCMS and
ELCA chaplains at these conferences study Scripture together,
worship and pray together, take turns in sharing leadership and re-
source personnel to lead these conferences—they just don’t com-
mune together as a matter of LCMS policy. Many chaplains in both
the LCMS and the ELCA desire the opportunity to return to the
earlier practice of communing together to find encouragement and
strength that comes from the Lord of the Church at His Holy Meal.
Most active duty and retired military persons and their families
who have and do benefit from the ministry of Lutheran chaplains
desire that they be allowed and encouraged to commune together,
so that they receive the gift of God which they offer as servants of
the Church.

Resolved, That the Pacific Southwest District gathered in con-
vention express its thanks to our military chaplains for their dedi-
cated service to our Lord as they serve people in the Armed Forces;
and be it further

Resolved, That our Armed Forces Commission and Synod offi-
cials be commended for providing opportunities for continued ed-
ucation and support for chaplains with annual regional Lutheran
chaplains’ conferences; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Pacific Southwest District recommend that
the LCMS Armed Forces Commission reconsider a return to the
previous, long-standing practice of having LCMS chaplains them-
selves be involved in reciprocal ministry of Word and Sacrament
with other Lutherans, so that LCMS and ELCA chaplains at con-
ferences gather round Word and Sacrament just as LCMS and

‘ ELCA military people benefit from a shared ministry in other cir-

cumstances and military locations.” [end quotation of 2003 PSW
R-THEO-06];
therefore be it

Resolved, That the 2007 LCMS convention affirm the thanks to
our military chaplains, commend providing for continued educa-
tion opportunities, and affirm reciprocal ministry of Word and
Sacrament at future professional conferences; and be it further

Resolved, That the LCMS gathered in this 2007 convention di-
rect LCMS participants who plan and provide for future annual re-
gional Lutheran chaplains’ conferences to return to the previous
practice of having LCMS chaplains themselves be involved in recip-
rocal ministry of Word and Sacrament with other Lutherans, so that
LCMS and ELCA chaplains at conferences may gather round
Word and Sacrament just as LCMS and ELCA military people ben-
efit from a shared ministry in other circumstances and military lo-
cations.

Resurrection
Coronado, CA