LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 224

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224 SEMINARY AND UNIVERSITY EDUCATION

Resolved, That the 2006 convention of the Northern Illinois
District petition the 2007 LCMS convention to require all mem-
bers of the faculty of the Synod’s institutions to pledge themselves
to perform their duties in harmony with the Holy Scriptures as the
inspired Word of God, the Lutheran Confessions, and the Synod’s
doctrinal statements alone, by removing “and the policies of the
Synod” from Bylaws 3.8.2.7.3 (b) and 3.8.3.8.3 (b).

Northern I!inois District; Trinity, Roselle, IL

§-31

To Direct Synod President to Publish Report
re Teaching of Evolution in Synod
Educational Institutions

WHEREAS, “The Scriptures teach that God is the creator of all
that exists and is therefore the Author and Giver of Life” (2004
Res. 2-08A); and

WHEREAS, Res. 2-08A of the 2004 Synod convention stated,
“Resolved, that no educational agency or institution of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod tolerate any teaching that con-
tradicts the special, immediate, and miraculous creation by God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as an explanation for the origin of the
universe”; and

WHEREAS, Synod Bylaw 3.3.1.1.1 (b) establishes part of the du-
ties of the Synod President in this way: “He shall at regular inter-
vals officially visit or cause to be visited all the educational insti-
tutions of the Synod to exercise supervision over the doctrine
taught and practiced in those institutions”; and

WHEREAS, A report by the Synod President on the results of his
visitations would reassure our Synod’s congregations of right
teaching; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod President be directed to publish a re-
port of his investigation of the teaching of evolution in the Synod
educational institutions to the district presidents; and be it further

Resolved, That the Montana District in convention memorial-
ize the 2007 Synod convention to support this concern.

Montana District

§-32

To Survey Concordias re Teaching of Creationism

WHEREAS, The Bible teaches that God created the heavens and
the earth in six days; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod upholds the
teaching of creationism; and

WHEREAS, The false teaching of evolution, including the teach-
ing of theistic evolution, undermines the truth of Holy Scriptures
and has led many to doubt their faith since Gen. 1 and 2 are foun-
dational to the whole of Scripture; and

WHEREAS, There are reports that creationism is not being taught
at some of our Concordias as the explanation for origins; and

WHEREAS, Parents (and grandparents) trust our Concordias and
expect that they teach creationism to their children as the explana-
tion for origins; and it is, thus, very devastating if students are
taught the false teaching of evolution instead of creationism as the
explanation for origins at our Concordias; and

WHEREAS, Our future church workers, as well as others attend-
ing our colleges and universities, need familiarity with the solid ar-
guments of creationism to address the very fundamental question of
origins that resonates in our secular culture; and

WHEREAS, The 2004 Synod convention voted “To Commend
Preaching and Teaching Creation” (Res. 2-08A, p. 193 of Today’s
Business), but more than commending or encouraging is needed to
address this situation; and

WHEREAS, A survey of professors and instructors at our Con-
cordias would be expensive and time-consuming, another way to
get at this problem without the expense of a survey is to have each

of our Concordias declare what is taught by their faculties regard-
ing the teaching of creationism; and

WHEREAS, This would also afford a wonderful witness and
statement to parents and to the world that this is what our Concor-
dias believe and teach; therefore be it

Resolved, That Immanuel Lutheran Church, Rice Lake, Wis-
consin, petitions the 2007 LCMS convention to have each of our
Concordias, under the direction of the Board for Higher Education,
submit a statement showing what requirements, if any, they place
on faculty members regarding the teaching of creationism and evo-
lution; and be it further

Resolved, That these statements be published in the Concordia
Chronicles insert to Reporter.

Immanuel, Cedar Lake, WI; Immanuel, Frederic, WI; St.
Paul, Bonduel, WI; Circuit 13 Forum, North Wisconsin
District; North Wisconsin District; Immanuel, Brandon, FL

§-33

To Conduct Study re Teaching of Six-Day Creation
in Synod Higher Education Schools

WHEREAS, Scripture clearly teaches that God created the world
in six days; and

WHEREAS, The failure to teach a special, six-day creation
demonstrates the rejection of biblical authority; and

WHEREAS, The failure to teach a special, six-day creation even-
tually corrupts every major Christian doctrine and makes death part
of God’s design, instead of the result of His curse; and

WHEREAS, Observable science does not support the claims of
evolution; and ;

WHEREAS, The teaching of a special, six-day creation and the
science that challenges evolutionary interpretations introduces
much-needed critical thinking into our culture; and

WHEREAS, Synod colleges and seminaries are established pri-
marily to serve the Word of God, to benefit the ministry of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and to strengthen our witness
to the truth of God’s Word; therefore be it

Resolved, That Synod again specify that a special, six-day cre-
ation is to be taught and defended by faculty, in every department,
at our Synod colleges and seminaries; and be it further

Resolved, That a special committee be appointed to examine the
degree to which a special, six-day creation is or is not being taught
at our Synod colleges and seminaries; and be it finally

Resolved, That this committee report back to Synod at its next
convention on its findings, along with any recommendations for
policies and procedures for the Synod and its colleges and semi-
naries to strengthen and secure the teaching of a special, six-day
creation to students in those institutions.

Concordia, Williston, ND; St. Michael, Wayne, MI

To Place Candidate Status Pastors Along
with Seminary Graduates

WHEREAS, Our church body, The Lutheran Church-—Missouri
Synod, continues to have quite a number of congregations that are
termed “calling congregations,” that is, congregations that are in
the process of calling a pastor to serve them; and

WHEREAS, There are quite a number of men on the clergy roster
of the LCMS who do not have calls who are listed in The Lutheran
Annual as candidates; and

WHEREAS, Such candidates live in a state of limbo, awaiting a
call to serve, calls which are, all too often, not very forthcoming;
and