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

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184 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

3-86

To Declare Doctrinal Resolutions Bylaw
Unconstitutional

WHEREAS, Art. VIII C of the Synod’s Constitution states, “All
matters of doctrine and of conscience shall be decided only by the
Word of God. All other matters shall be decided by a majority
vote”; and

Whereas, The Synod has historically understood these to be
two distinctly different ways of acting on resolutions; and

WHEREAS, Though votes on doctrinal issues have been taken as
far back as Walther’s and Pieper’s time, forcing both Walther and
Pieper to try to justify voting on doctrinal resolutions, their justifi-
cation raised more problems than it solved; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod declare Bylaw 1.6.2, which states,
“Such resolutions (i.e., doctrinal resolutions) come into being in
the same manner as any other resolutions of a convention of the
Synod,” and Bylaw 1.6.2 (b) 4-9 unconstitutional.

Hosanna
Mankato, MN

3-87

To List Qualifications for CTCR Membership

WHEREAS, Integral to its functions, the CTCR prepares theolog-
ical statements and makes judgments upon theological issues; and

WHEREAS, The complexity of the issues which engage the
CTCR requires theological expertise and the aptitude to address
such intricate theological issues; and

WHEREAS, The CTCR needs members who are able to carry out
its obligations in these areas competently and in a timely manner;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the CTCR develop a list of the requisite qualifi-
cations, namely, the knowledge and skill sets that members of the
commission need to carry out its work; and be it further

Resolved, That the qualifications for membership on the CTCR
always be published with documents calling for nominations for
Synod offices and also with the names of those who have been
nominated for election to the CTCR by Synod in convention wher-
ever the names of such nominees are published for consideration.

Faculty
Concordia Seminary
St. Louis, MO

3-88

To Study Use of Term Bishop

Resolved, That the Atlantic District memorialize the Synod at
its next convention to request that the CTCR undertake a study of
the nomenclature connected with the office of district president and
to make specific recommendations regarding the advisability of
using the term bishop.

Atlantic District

3-89

To Petition CTCR To Provide Guidance
re Immigration and Ministry to Immigrants

WHEREAS, The current issue of immigration, and comprehen-
sive immigration reform, affecting both documented and undocu-
mented immigrants is a contentious and even divisive societal issue
that perplexes and disturbs members of our LCMS congregations
and other Synod entities; and

WHEREAS, Behind the various views, opinions and positions on
immigration, both legal and illegal, are profound biblical and con-
fessional insights, principles and directives with practical applica-
tions and implications for congregational and community life; and

WHEREAS, The LCMS, as a northern European immigrant
church, has a great wealth of experience and theological acumen
and rationale in the re-settlement of thousands of German, Norwe-
gian, Swedish, Danish, and other Scandinavians immigrants over
an extended period of time, including the periods after World Wars
I and II; and

WHEREAS, A thorough historical and theological study of the
LCMS’ past, recent past, and current role in addressing the plight
of immigrants migrating to the United States, would render an in-
valuable service to our congregations, located in communities
where the foreign, documented and undocumented, immigrant mis-
sion field has come to their neighborhoods, and are Ablaze! to share
the Gospel with them; and

WHEREAS, Reaching out to undocumented immigrants with
body and soul ministries has been deemed a crime in some of our
American legislative bodies, further intensifying the need for bib-
lical and confessional guidelines for ministry to the undocumented,
which many of our congregations are engaged in; and

WHEREAS, A clear, soundly biblical and confessional statement
from the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod would give our local
LCMS congregations desperately needed guidance in the difficult,
and potentially illegal decision of ministry to undocumented immi-
grants; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS in convention, direct the CTCR to
thoroughly research the historical and theological unpinning rele-
vant to this crisis issue affecting both our church and society, as
well as our local LCMS congregations in many locales across the
country, where many documented and undocumented immigrants
call home, and be it further

Resolved, That the results of this research, study and subsequent
theological and practical directions and guidelines be presented to
the Synod at its 2010 convention.

St. Paul, San Antonio, TX; St. Peter, Brooklyn, NY;
El Calvario, Brownsville, TX

3-90

To Discourage Practice of Pledging to Christian Flag

WHEREAS, We promise at confirmation to hold to the doctrine of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church as we have learned it in the cate-
chisms; and

WHEREAS, The faith as taught in both the Large and Small Cat-
echisms is expressed chiefly in the Apostles’ Creed; and

WHEREAS, None of the several pledges to the so-called Christian
flag rightly identifies the faith as that one taught in our catechisms;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention discourage the mem-
bers of the Synod from the practice of pledging allegiance to the
Christian flag; and be it further

Resolved, That when the need to promise fidelity to Jesus’ doc-
trine arises, the members of our Synod be encouraged to confess
the faith using one of the three ecumenical creeds.

Bethany
Fort Wayne, IN

3-91

To Assign Environmental Issues
Resource Development to CTCR

WHEREAS, Issues of global warming, ecological and natural dis-
aster, food and water supply, and demographic change affect all
citizens of the global community, including Christians; and

Wuereas, Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions speak
to responsible Christian stewardship of the earth as an aspect of our
belief in God the Father and Creator (First Article); and

WHEREAS, There is a distinct paucity of resources in the LCMS

addressing environmental issues in a scriptural and confessional
way; and