LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 185

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 185

WHEREAS, Opportunity could be given for study, for service, for
responsible citizenship, for advocacy and for concerted action on
environmental issues to Missouri Synod Lutherans in our schools
and churches through a thoroughgoing examination and dissemi-
nation of biblical and confessional resources for youth and adults;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the 2007 LCMS convention in assign the CTCR,
in conjunction with its Board for Human Care Ministries, to de-
velop biblical, confessional, and churchly resources for responsi-
ble Christian stewardship of the environment for use in our schools
and churches by youth and adults; and be it further

Resolved, That such resources, in various media and including a
human resource bank, be developed after seeking the wisdom and
experience of LCMS persons qualified in the field of environmen-
tal and ecological studies; and be it finally

Resolved, That such resources be developed and distributed in
the most timely manner possible, prior to the 2010 convention.

St. Peter
Brooklyn, NY

3-92

To Declare Opposition to Women Serving in Combat

WHEREAS, Rep. Charles Rangel of New York has proposed a
draft revival bill that calls for the federal government to “impose a
requirement that no four-year college or university be allowed to
accept a student, male or female, unless and until that student had
completed a 12-month to two-year term of service”; and

WHEREAS, Though students would be given their choice from
three officially sanctioned forms of involuntary servitude in na-
tional service programs, homeland security, or the military, “They
would be deployed as needed for peacekeeping and nation-building
missions”; and

WHEREAS, The prospect of purposely involving women in com-
bat operations is a direct result of the 1992 Presidential Commis-
sion on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces that con-
cluded in part: “Theological testimony was received from
representatives of a wide range of different religions and denomi-
nations. Among the major religious establishments in the U.S.,
none has adopted a position regarding women being assigned to
combat positions on the basis of theology. The Commission con-
cludes that although the U.S. has undeniably strong religious her-
itage, it is not one that speaks clearly on the issue of women in
combat”; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod does wish
to speak clearly on this issue; and

Wuereas, 2004 Overture 3-109 dealing with this issue was re-
ferred by the 2004 Synod convention to the Ministry to the Armed
Forces for its review and it declined to do so; and

Wuereas, Our Lutheran Confessions consistently urge men and
women to do their duty according to their calling or vocation; and
Whereas, Art. XX 3 of our Augsburg Confession states that
Lutheran teachers “have taught well what is pleasing to God in
every station and vocation in life”; and
WHEREAS, Women have no God-given calling or vocation to de-
fend men except in emergencies; therefore be it
Resolved, That 2007 LCMS convention hereby declare their op-
position to women serving in combat, thereby providing the
women of the LCMS with a theological basis to conscientiously
object to registering for a draft.
Trinity
Austin, TX

3-93

To Determine Status of 2001 Res. 3-07A
re Church Fellowship

WHEREAS, Opinion 02-2294 of the CCM ruled that 2001 Reso-
lution 3-07A is a doctrinal resolution of the Synod pursuant to the
requirements of Bylaw 1.09 (a) and (b) (2001 Handbook); and

WHEREAS, The Bytaws of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod also stipulate: “An opinion rendered by the commission
shall be binding on the question decided unless and until it is over-
ruled by a convention of the Synod” (2004 Handbook Bylaw
3.9.2.2 [b]); and

WHEREAS, CCM Opinion 02-2294 also ruled that “All members
of the Synod are to honor and uphold 2001 Resolution 3-07A to-
gether with all other doctrinal resolutions and statements until such
time as the Synod amends or repeals them” (2001 Handbook
Bylaw 1.09 [b] and {c]); and

WHEREAS, The binding nature of a doctrinal resolution is vital to
the life of the Synod as we seek to “walk together”; and

WHEREAS, Any doctrinal resolution ought to be sufficiently
clear as to the interpretation or application of the resolution or to a
document to which it refers; therefore be it

Resolved, That the South Wisconsin District again memorialize
the 2007 LCMS convention to determine whether or not 2001 Res.
3-07A is doctrinal; and be it further

Resolved, That the South Wisconsin District evangelically
memorialize the Synod in the future to designate clearly whether
or not a resolution is doctrinal before its discussion and/or adop-
tion in order to avoid future confusion.

South Wisconsin District

3-94

To Consider 2001 Res. 3-07A
Not a Doctrinal Resolution

WuerEAS, The CCM rendered the opinion that 2001 Res. 3-07A
is a doctrinal resolution of the Synod (02-2294, Jan. 2003); and

WHEREAS, “An opinion rendered by the commission shall be
binding on the question decided unless and until it is overruled by a
convention of the Synod” (Bylaw 3.9.2.2[b]); and

WHEREAS, 2001 Res. 3-07A makes no doctrinal assertions, but
only commends the CTCR’s study The Lutheran Understanding of
Church Fellowship and its response for continued use and guid-
ance; and

WHEREAS, The commended CTCR study and response were not
proposed or adopted as doctrinal statements of the Synod under
Bylaw 1.6.2; therefore be it

Resolved, That 2001 Res. 3-07A not be considered a doctrinal
resolution of the Synod.

Bethany
Fort Wayne, IN

3-95

To Commit to Working Together
with Other Denominations

WHEREAS, Each Sunday we confess our faith in the Apostles’
Creed and we say I believe in “the Holy Christian (catholic)
Church”; and

WueREAS, Jesus has called His Church on earth to exhibit its
unity as a way to witness to His love (“My prayer is not for them
alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their
message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me
and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may be-
lieve that You have sent Me. I have given them the glory that You
gave Me, that they may be one as We are one. I in them and You in
Me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know