LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 156

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156 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

3-25

To Require the CTCR to Rewrite Guidelines
for Participation in Civic Events

WuerEAS, 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 it-
self was divided over the matter of serial or seriatim prayer as
members took positions that are mutually exclusive; and

WHEREAS, The report does not include a clear definition of ser-
ial or seriatim prayer even though this matter was an important
subject within the report; and

WHEREAS, Prayers are offered seriatim in virtually any setting—
the exception being for multiple leaders to speak their prayers si-
multaneously; and

WHEREAS, The disagreement between commission members
concerning serial or seriatim prayer is mentioned only briefly, in
one paragraph of the report, and the issues underlying the dis-
agreement are not explained; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod (a) rescind 2004 Res. 3-06A; (b) as-
sign the CTCR to redo the Guidelines for Participation in Civic
Events document on the basis of input to be solicited from the
membership of the Synod, attending especially to serial or seriatim
prayer; and (c) require that the CTCR issue to the Synod a new re-
port no later than July 31, 2009.

Western Regional Pastors Conference
Missouri District

3-26

To Direct CTCR to Expand and Clarify Guidelines
for Participation in Civic Events and Worship

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

WHEREAS, The study of this report has stimulated extensive dis-
cussion within the church; and

WHEREAS, There is continued confusion and there are unan-
swered questions concerning the distinction between some civic
events and religious worship and the appropriate clergy participa-
tion in such; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Rocky Mountain District thanks the CTCR
for its work in providing the Synod with this study; and be it further

Resolved, That the Rocky Mountain District memorialize the
Synod at its 2007 convention to direct the CTCR to expand its
work on this study to further clarify the distinction between civic
events and worship, and provide additional guidance for pastors,
teachers, and other church workers to consider their appropriate
participation, and to request that this report be issued no later than
July 31, 2009.

Rocky Mountain District

3-27

To Direct CTCR to Prepare Additional Guidelines
for Participation in Civic Events

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, This CTCR report introduces discussion regarding
serial prayers—a series of prayers offered by leaders of differing

denominations and/or faiths—but does not offer definite guidelines
for participation in such circumstances; and

WHEREAS, There are many settings in which such serial prayers
by differing denominations and/or faiths would be offered; and

WHEREAS, It would be helpful to the pastors, teachers, and
church workers of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to have
clarification and guidelines regarding participation in such serial
prayer events; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Pacific Southwest District memorialize the
Synod in convention to assign the CTCR the task of providing a
detailed study of serial prayer and guidelines for participation in
events including the offering of serial prayers.

Pacific Southwest District

3-28

To Instruct CTCR to Clarify Civic Events Document

WuereAs, In 2004 Res. 3-06A the LCMS 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, Some of the issues addressed in this report are still
unclear and are a cause for some confusion and disagreement in
the Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That we the Northern Illinois District memorialize the
Synod at its 2007 convention to assign the CTCR to clarify the
Guidelines for Participation in Civic Events document, including
input to be solicited from the membership of the Synod, attending
especially to “serial” or “seriatim” prayer.

Northern Illinois District

3-29

To Affirm Doctrine of Original Sin

WHEREAS, Holy Scripture teaches that man was created without
sin by the triune God (“They were both naked, the man and his
wife, and were not ashamed” [Gen. 2:25]); and

WHEREAS, Since the fall of man into sin, all the descendants of
Adam share in this original sin, which corrupts man’s entire nature
(‘Just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through
sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” [Rom.
5:12]); and ‘

WHEREAS, This sin even now damns and brings eternal death
on those who are not born again through Baptism and the Holy
Spirit (“You He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins”
[Eph. 2:1] and “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he can-
not enter the kingdom of God” [John 3:5]); and

WHEREAS, In our pluralistic society many people deny the real-
ity of sin and its grave consequences; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS in convention affirm the doctrine of
original sin as revealed in Holy Scripture and confessed in the
Lutheran Confessions; and be it further

Resolved, That we reassert the necessity of this doctrine of orig-
inal sin (“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and
the truth is not in us” [1 John 1:8]); and be it further

Resolved, That any person, church body, or religion which de-
nies the scriptural, creedal, and confessional teaching concerning
original sin likewise denies our total dependence upon the triune
God for our salvation and belittles the work of Christ; and be it fi-
nally

Resolved, That the LCMS in convention direct The Lutheran
Witness to prepare a series of articles on this topic and include ex-
amples of (1) persons, church bodies, and religions that deny this
doctrine of justification and (2) how the Lutheran Confessions view
contrary doctrines.

Triune
Sharon, WI