LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 187

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 187

3-99

To Give Thanks to God for Rejection
of Ordination of Women
by Lutheran Church of Australia

WHEREAS, In October 2006, the Lutheran Church of Australia
met in convention and deliberated to ordain women in the pastoral
office; and

WHEREAS, This false teaching was rejected by our fellow
Lutherans, having failed to receive the necessary two-thirds major-
ity; and

WHEREAS, The struggle to confess the biblical truth regarding
the Office of the Pastoral Ministry continues throughout Christen-
dom; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod give
thanks to God for the rejection of the ordination of women into the
pastoral office by the Lutheran Church of Australia; and be it fur-
ther

Resolved, That the LCMS encourage our brothers and sisters in
the Lutheran Church of Australia who are contending for the truth,
by reaffirming that the ordination of women into the pastoral of-
fice is contrary to the clear Word of God; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Northern Illinois District East Region Pas-
toral Conference submit this overture to the 2007 LCMS conven-
tion for action.

East Region Pastoral Conference
Northern Illinois District

3-100

To Rescind 2001 Res. 3-21A re ELCA

WHEREAS, The 2001 LCMS convention adopted resolution 3-
21A which inaccurately described the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America as not being “an orthodox Lutheran church body”
(2001 Convention Proceedings, p. 142); and

WHEREAS, The Constitution of the ELCA states doctrinal stan-
dards and norms basically the same as those held by the LCMS and
stated in Art. II of the LCMS Constitution; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS gathered in convention rescind the
2001 Res. 3-21A.

Resurrection
Coronado, CA

3-101

To Pray for ELCA re Human Sexuality Issues

WHEREAS, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) continues to struggle to confess biblical mandates regard-
ing human sexuality in general, marriage, and homosexuality; and

WHEREAS, Homosexual activity is a violation of God’s holy will
as revealed in the Sixth Commandment; and

WHEREAS, The ELCA and the LCMS are involved in joint ac-
tivity, and the public confession of the ELCA affects our coopera-
tion with them; therefore be it .

Resolved, That the President of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod lead the 2007 LCMS convention in prayer for the
ELCA, imploring our Father in heaven to bestow the Holy Spirit
so that all false teaching regarding human sexuality, marriage, and
homosexuality in the ELCA be uprooted by the Word of God for
the good of the members and congregations of the ELCA and for
the sake of those within and without the ELCA who are trapped in
ungodly sexuality.

St. Paul
Brookfield, IL

3-102

To Meet with Confessional Lutherans
Within the ELCA

WHEREAS, Synod President Gerald Kieschnick and Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson have
agreed to conduct a series of meetings between leaders of the
LCMS and ELCA; and

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon us as a synod to encourage and
support all groups and organizations that uphold the Scriptures and
the Confessions of the LCMS as the rule and norm of faith; and

WHEREAS, There are pastors in the ELCA who are greatly con-
cerned about the ELCA’s support of theological liberalism and tol-
eration of denials of basic doctrines of the Christian faith; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the 2007 LCMS convention ask the Praesidium
of the LCMS to invite leaders of conservative groups (both pastors
and congregations) within the ELCA to meet with them to encour-
age them in their confessional walk and to explore together any
possible future steps.

Cedar Hill
Cedar Hill, MO

3-103

To Establish Theological Talks and Altar and Pulpit
Fellowship with Our Lutheran Neighbors

Whereas, Altar and pulpit fellowship is not enjoyed with our
brothers and sisters in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA), the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), the
Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS), and other Lutheran bodies; and

WHEREAS, Most families in the congregations of the LCMS are
affected in some way by fellowship issues, meaning that when fam-
ilies worship together in one of our congregations, some members
being a part of other Lutheran church bodies not in fellowship with
the LCMS, unity at Holy Communion does not happen although
there is in most cases a common confession and understanding of
the Lord’s Supper; and

WHEREAS, The need for unity in the Church is needed and is
what Christ’s prays for in His High Priestly prayer in John 17; and

WHEREAS, Christ Himself has given us a new commandment to
“Love the Lord, thy God with all thy heart, soul and mind” and
“Love thy neighbor as thyself”; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS in convention ask the Praesidium to
appoint a committee, to include professors of both of our seminar-
ies, to seek out opportunities for theological talks with the ELCA,
the WELS, the ELS, and other Lutheran church bodies to bring
agreement and unity to our churches so that our church bodies
might have altar and pulpit fellowship together; and be it further

Resolved, That said committee report back to the Synod annu-
ally through the district presidents and circuit counselors to our
member congregations and ministers of the process and progress
being made in these areas; and be it further

Resolved, That said committee report back to the 2013 Synod
convention the results and progress of theological talks and also
recommendations for the Synod in regard to these matters; and be it
finally

Resolved, That the LCMS in convention stand and pray that
unity and fellowship can be restored among us through the working
of the Holy Spirit and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Savior
Pratt, KS

3-104

To Declare Pulpit and Altar Fellowship with ELCA
WuHEeREAS, The Lord of the Church calls His people to live at

_ peace and to be one; and