LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 155

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 155

dominately civic in nature, and when it is conducted in such a way that
does not correspond to the LCMS understanding of a ‘service’; when
no restrictions are placed on the content of the Christian witness that
may be given by the LCMS pastor; when a sincere effort is made by
those involved to make it clear that those participating do not all share
the same religious views concerning such issues as the nature of God,
the way of salvation, and the nature of religious truth itself);
and

WHEREAS, The notion of “civic events” sponsored by govern-
ments has been used to justify participation of LCMS pastors in
syncretistic and unionistic services; and

WHEREAS, 2004 Res. 3-06A was commended “for study to help
pastors, teachers, and church workers make decisions about partic-
ipation in civic events”; therefore be it

Resolved, That the 2006 Southern Illinois District convention
memorialize the 2007 LCMS convention to recognize that the
CTCR document Guidelines for Participation in Civic Events
(2004 Res. 3-06A) and the CTCR Document The Lutheran Under-
standing of Church Fellowship (2001 Res. 3-07A) are ambiguous;
and be it further

Resolved, That the 2006 Southern Illinois District convention
memorialize the 2007 LCMS convention to have clear and unam-
biguous guidelines produced by the Council of Presidents, in con-
junction with the faculties of the two seminaries, regarding partic-
ipation in civic and other events that would be in keeping with the
LCMS Constitution Art. VI condition for membership “Renuncia-
tion of unionism and syncretism of every description.”

Southern Illinois District; St. Paul, Edna, TX; Trinity, Herrin, IL

3-21

To Reaffirm Renunciation of Syncretism and Unionism
WHEREAS, The Scriptures reveal to us that God is the triune
God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and
WHEREAS, Out of love for us in the First Commandment God
strictly forbids us from worshiping any other god; and

WuerEAS, Art. VI of the Constitution of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod lists as a condition for membership “Re-
nunciation of unionism and syncretism of every description”; and

WHEREAS, For the sake of our own consciences and for a testi-
mony to future generations, we want to give clear testimony to our
faith in Jesus Christ as the only way to the true God; therefore be it

Resolved, That we reaffirm our “renunciation of unionism and
syncretism of every description’; and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage the members of the Texas District
and its congregations to give a clear witness to Jesus Christ as the
only Savior in all appropriate opportunities; and be it finally

Resolved, That we memorialize the 2007 LCMS convention to
do the same.

Texas District

3-22

To Not Mislead Non-Christians but Proclaim
Christ to Them
WHEREAS, Jesus Christ is the one, true God; and

WHEREAS, Those of the Muslim and Jewish faiths do not be-
lieve that Jesus Christ is the one, true God; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention acknowledges that Muslims and Jews do not worship the
one, true God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and

WHEREAS, The prayers of those who are of the Muslim and Jew-
ish beliefs are therefore not directed to the one, true God; and

Wuereas, In love for unbelievers, we Christians do not want to

mislead them or any other unbelievers into believing that they wor-
ship and pray to the one, true God; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod expects
that her pastors and all those who are members of her congrega-
tions

(a) will not engage in joint worship or prayer with Muslims, Jews,
or any others who do not believe in the one, true (triune) God but in-
stead

(b) will pray fervently that the Holy Spirit will bring them to faith in
Jesus Christ, and

(c) will make every effort to teach Muslims, Jews, and all unbeliev-
ers that they, like we, are sinners who cannot save ourselves, and boldly
proclaim to them that Jesus Christ, the only way to heaven, has died
and risen also for them.

Mon-Clair Circuit 6 Forum
Southern Illinois District

3-23

To Direct CTCR to Restudy
Guidelines for Participation in Civic Events

WHEREAS, In 2004 Res. 3-06A the LCMS commended for study
Guidelines for Participation in Civil Events, a report of the CTCR
“to help pastors, teachers, and church workers make decisions
about participation in civic events”; and

WHEREAS, The CTCR’s report indicates that the commission it-
self was divided over the matter of “serial” or “seriatim” prayer
even though this matter was an important subject within the report;
and

WHEREAS, Prayers are offered “‘seriatim” in virtually any set-
ting—the exception being for multiple leaders to speak their
prayers simultaneously!; therefore be it

Resolved, That the 2006 Missouri District convention memori-
alize the Synod at its 2007 convention to (a) to assign the CTCR to
restudy the issues raised by and to clarify the Guidelines for Par-
ticipation in Civic Events document on the basis of input to be so-
licited from the membership of Synod, attending especially to “‘se-
rial” or “‘seriatim” prayer; and (b) to require that the CTCR issue to
the Synod the new report no later than July 31, 2009.

Missouri District; Zion, Moberly, MO

3-24

To Require CTCR Restudy and Clarification
of Civic Events Guidelines

WHEREAS, In 2004 Res. 3-06A, The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod commended for study Guidelines for Participation in
Civic Events, a report of the CTCR, “to help pastors, teachers, and
church workers make decisions about participation in civic events”;
and

WHEREAS, The CTCR’s report indicates that the commission
itself “disagreed” (p. 19 of Guidelines for Participation in Civic
Events) over the matter of “serial” (Latin word “seriatim’”) prayer
as members took positions that are. mutually exclusive, and the is-
sues underlying the disagreement are not explained; and

WHEREAS, The report does not include a clear discussion and
application of serial prayer even though this matter was an impor-
tant subject within the report; and

WHEREAS, The Guidelines for Participation in Civic Events still

leave much confusion concerning serial prayer; therefore be it

Resolved, That the South Dakota District convention memorial-
ize the 2007 LCMS convention to assign the CTCR to restudy the
Guidelines for Participation in Civic Events document on the basis
of input to be solicited from the membership of the Synod, attend-
ing especially to serial prayer; and be it further

Resolved, That the CTCR issue to the Synod a clarification of
this report no later than July 31, 2009.

South Dakota District