LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 135

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Whereas, There has been a noticeable decline in men accepting appropriate responsibility in the congregation; and
Whereas, There has been a noticeable decline in men demonstrating and fulfilling responsibility toward women and children;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention thank God for the
many men and women who serve our Lord faithfully and tirelessly throughout His holy Church; and be it further
Resolved, That the 2013 LCMS convention ask the Commission
on Theology and Church Relations, in consultation with the seminary faculties, to provide materials for congregations to study the
roles of men and women in the home, church, and society; and be
it further
Resolved, That congregations of the Synod be encouraged to use
these materials as well as other appropriate resources (e.g., materials
from Lutheran Hour Ministry Men’s Network, CPH, and others)
for the proper nurture of our life together; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod encourage all people to use their gifts
within their God-given vocations for the extension and cultivation
of the Kingdom of God.
Action: Adopted (9)
(During discussion, a motion to amend Res. 4-11A by replacing
its second resolve paragraph with “Resolved, That the 2013 LCMS
convention encourage the use and study of the existing CTCR
report, ‘The Creator’s Tapestry: Scriptural Perspectives on ManWoman Relationships in Marriage and the Church’ as prepared
by the CTCR in consultation with seminary faculties and adopted
by the 2010 convention for study within the LCMS” failed [Yes:
295; No: 582]. Debate ended, the resolution was adopted without
change [Yes: 774; No: 105].)

To Encourage Confession and Absolution
for Pastors
RESOLUTION 4-13
Overture 4-13 (CW, p. 168–169)

Whereas, Pastors may also become aware of sins that they
themselves have committed and desire to confess them to another
pastor, as Luther describes in the Small Catechism, and so receive
absolution; and
Whereas, The Synod in 2007 “[r]esolved, that both laity and
pastors be encouraged to make greater use of individual confession
and absolution” (Res. 2-07A); therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention state its commitment
that in all activities, offices, and agencies of the Synod, the goal is
that all might “hear the Word of the Gospel” (Acts 15:7), as referenced in the Preamble of the LCMS Constitution; and be it further
Resolved, That the pastors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod be reassured that the Synod takes very seriously the spiritual welfare of her pastors and encourages them, when they feel a
need to avail themselves of private absolution, that they should do
so; and be it further
Resolved, That pastors be encouraged to seek a father confessor or the district president will provide for the penitent pastor
the name and contact information for another pastor who is able
and willing to hear that confession and offer absolution; and be it
further
Resolved, That the convention make clear that no one is being
forced to confess sins, or even to confess privately, but that this resolution makes provision only for those pastors who have a desire
to make use of private confession but who are unsure where they
may go to make such a confession to another pastor and hear the
word of absolution; and be it further
Resolved, That the Commission on Theology and Church Relations provide a document that sets forth our church’s teaching on
confession and absolution and offers positive guidance to pastors
and congregations in their exercise of the Office of the Keys; and
be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod in convention give thanks to God for
all the means He has given to His church whereby the forgiveness
of sins in Jesus Christ is received.
Action: Adopted (9)
(After debate, the resolution was adopted as presented [Yes: 840;
No: 32].)

Whereas, In confession “[i]t is not the voice or word of the
man who speaks, but it is the Word of God, who forgives sin, for
it is spoken in God’s stead and by God’s command” (AC XXV 3
[Tappert]); and
Whereas, Our pastors are bound by the Word of God and
their ordination vows “never to divulge the sins confessed to them”
(Lutheran Service Book: Agenda); and
Whereas, While no one should be forced to go to confession (“no one should be compelled to recount sins in detail” (AC
XXV 7), it is also true that confession should be made available
for those whose conscience is troubled (“Yet the preachers on our
side diligently teach that confession is to be retained for the sake
of absolution,…for the consolation of terrified consciences” [AC
XXV 13]); and
R e s olu t i on s

2 0 1 3 C o n v e n t io n P r o c e e d i n g s

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