LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 136

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To Clarify the Doctrine of the Call

To Reaffirm Synod Position on Creation

RESOLUTION 4-14A

AMENDMENT TO RESOLUTION 4-15

Overtures 4-23–24, 4-26–28 (CW, pp. 173–176)

Overture 4-69 (CW, pp. 195–196)

Whereas, Call documents outline the obligations that both
called workers and congregations owe to and expect of each other;
and

Whereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has clearly
and repeatedly affirmed the scriptural teaching that “God has created heaven and earth…in the manner and in the space of time
recorded in the Holy Scriptures, especially Gen. 1 and 2, namely,
by His almighty creative Word, and in six days” (Brief Statement
[1932], par. 5; 1967 Res. 2-31; “A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles” [1972], par. 5; 2004 Res. 2-08A) of evening and
morning ex nihilo (out of nothing); and

Whereas, A called worker sins against the congregation by failing to meet the responsibilities and qualifications as outlined in its
call documents; and
Whereas, A congregation sins against a called worker by treating the worker as a “hireling” who can be dismissed or pressured
into resigning without valid biblical cause; and
Whereas, The sinful actions of either or both parties create
serious spiritual, mental, emotional, and financial problems for
all involved; and
Whereas, District presidents, circuit counselors, and reconcilers spend great amounts of time trying to resolve these matters;
therefore be it
Resolved, That congregational leaders be encouraged to meet
with their circuit counselor and the called worker shortly after
the worker arrives to review the expectations of both worker and
congregation as set forth in the call documents and in the ordination and commissioning and installation rites as found in the LSB
agenda; and be it further
Resolved, That called workers and congregations pray for the
Holy Spirit’s power to bear with each other’s frailties and forgive
one another as God in Christ has forgiven them; and be it further
Resolved, To encourage district presidents or their representatives to review call documents and congregational bylaws at the
beginning of the call process to assure harmony between bylaws
and call documents; and be it further
Resolved, That district presidents or circuit counselors be
encouraged to review with congregations the historic and biblical
reasons whereby a called worker may be removed by the calling
entity and the orderly process by which this must be done to protect the rights of the worker and the congregation; and be it further
Resolved, That district presidents be encouraged to use the ordination and commissioning and installation rites in the TLH and
LSB agendas and the call documents to catechize at the congregational and circuit levels; and be it finally
Resolved, That similar measures be taken by the appropriate
ecclesiastical supervisors for other calling entities.
Action: Adopted (9)
(During discussion of Res. 4-14A, the replacement of the words
“from office” with “by the calling entity” in the fourth resolve
paragraph and the addition of “TLH and” before the words “LSB
agenda” in the fifth resolve paragraph were accepted by the committee as friendly amendments. Following debate, the resolution
was adopted as amended [Yes: 830; No: 30].)
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2 0 1 3 C o n v e n t io n P r o c e e d i n g s

Whereas, The Synod has clearly and repeatedly rejected “all
those world views, philosophical theories, exegetical interpretations, and other hypotheses” which deny or pervert the scriptural
teaching of creation (1967 Res. 2-31; Brief Statement [1932], par. 5;
“A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles” [1972], par.
5; 2004 Res. 2-08A); and
Whereas, The Synod has clearly stated that “no educational
agency or institution of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
[is to] tolerate any teaching that contradicts the special, immediate, and miraculous creation by God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
as an explanation for the origin of the universe,” noting specifically
that the “hypotheses of macro, organic, and Darwinian evolution,
including theistic evolution or any other model denying special,
immediate and miraculous creation, undercut…support for the
honoring of life as a gift of God” (2004 Res. 2-08A); and
Whereas, False, evolutionary views regarding creation and
humanity spawned by Darwinism by their denial of a wholly good
creation subsequently ruined by sin continue to undermine teachings on marriage, human sexuality, the value and dignity of all
human life, and the conduct and ordering of human relationships
in family and society that are in accordance with Scripture and
natural law; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its clear and consistent position on special, immediate and miraculous creation as articulated
in the statements and resolutions referenced above; and be it further
Resolved, That the Commission on Theology and Church Relations be encouraged to continue and complete its current study on
the relationship between science and theology, taking into account
the concerns noted above about the detrimental effects of Darwinian views on marriage, family, and society.
Action: Adopted (9)
(The committee referred the convention to the version of this
resolution submitted by a delegate and printed on page 465 of
Today’s Business and introduced it for convention action as its own
proposed resolution. After discussion, Res. 4-15 was adopted as presented [Yes: 826; No: 57].)

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