LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 158

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158

LIFE TOGETHER

Whereas, TCN initially asks pastors to see how comfortable they
are with this statement, “If we do not achieve the 5% growth goal in
the next 24 months, and 5% growth annually thereafter, I will put
my name out for another call” (“Pastor Survey,” question 8 d), thus
suggesting that the man who is divinely called to be a pastor is only
effective if he meets preset worldly standards, even though both Jesus
and Paul did not always find such worldly success in their ministries
(John 6:60ff.; 2 Tim. 4:9–16; Acts 17:1–9); and
Whereas, TCN also asks congregation leaders to determine if “[t]he
leaders of this church hope to initiate a style of worship service that
appeals to unreached people” (“Leader’s Survey,” TCN, question 3 e
[http://portal.tcnbackup.com/Portals/0/6%20Leaders%20Survey.pdf]),
thus suggesting that a congregation’s worship style should be based
on sociology instead of the Word of God as it has been taught in the
Lutheran Confessions, or that a congregation’s worship style should
be changed even if it exclusively uses the approved hymnals of the
Synod; and
Whereas, The Holy Spirit alone is responsible for converting
people to saving faith by His Word and Sacraments, when and where
He pleases; and
Whereas, Jesus in Matthew 23:15 says: “Woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell
as yourselves,” which teaches that a strong missionary zeal without
the proper biblical and Christ-centered doctrinal teaching is spiritually dangerous; and
Whereas, We as Christians are called to be in this world but not
of it; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention revoke RSO status of
TCN; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod President inform all district presidents
of the theological dangers inherent in the premise, methods, and materials of TCN and to remove all district support of it on Web sites,
newsletters, etc.
Holy Cross
Albany, OR
3-33

To Provide Assurances re Transforming Churches
Network
Background

The February 2010 Reporter carried a letter by Prof. David
Berger of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, regarding the Transforming
Churches Network (TCN), a Recognized Service Organization of the
LCMS. In it, Professor Berger raised a number of specific points. His
letter was followed by a brief letter in which the executive director
of TCN offered a general response but addressed none of the specifics from the Berger letter.
To quote Prof. Berger’s letter as printed in Reporter:
To lay to rest any concerns expressed in various quarters about the
TCN corporation and its work, especially given its close relationship to
LCMS World Mission, the following assurances are important:
Because every aspect of helping congregations to “look outward,”
i.e., to proclaim the Gospel beyond their doors, has theological implications and is grounded in theological prepositions, all TCN consultants
and personnel subscribe to the Lutheran Confessions, and its resources
(print and online) conform to Lutheran doctrine and practice.

2013 Convention Workbook

TCN vigorously promotes Word and Sacrament ministry, including
catechetical instruction (teaching) and Baptism of children and adults,
as foundational to both a congregation’s outward focus and its internal
spiritual health.
TCN recognizes that the varied services in [the Synod’s hymnals],
grounded in Scripture and in the historic practice of the communion of
saints, clearly communicate the Gospel: TCN thus discourages altering
worship form and content to appeal to those whose first need is to be
instructed in the faith, including how that faith is expressed and fed in
the Divine Service.
TCN promotes an open congregational polity that encourages all
members to be alive in their faith in the work of the congregation and
advises against vesting governance in a small, centralized body or in the
pastor, whose call is to serve as spiritual shepherd of the flock.
TCN upholds the scriptural principle of Christian vocation, i.e., the
life of a Christian is one of faithful service to neighbor and family; in
fulfilling various callings with our God-given abilities, we are “masks
of God” through which/whom He calls others to Him. Cf. Eph. 4:11ff.,
1 Thess. 4:10ff.
TCN acknowledges that evangelism, God’s work of calling people
to faith, neither supersedes nor replaces the Gospel itself—the good
news of Christ’s saving work for sinners—as the heart and core of the
church’s proclamation.
Finally, TCN counsels against using membership size or growth
as a standard of “accounting” for the faithfulness and spiritual health
(or “success”) of a pastor or a congregation (cf. Eph. 1:4–14, Romans
8:28–30) and warns against turning grateful and loving witness, either
corporate or individual, into a Law-driven activity.

and
Whereas, Prof. Berger’s letter concluded, “Is it possible to check
on these details and provide assurances regarding TCN theology?”;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the Carrollton Circuit Forum memorialize the
Synod to make the following assignment to the Office of National
Mission: to check on the details from Prof. Berger’s letter and provide
assurances regarding TCN theology to the 2016 LCMS convention.
Carrollton Circuit Forum
Missouri District
3-34

To Evaluate Transforming Churches Network
Whereas, The Transforming Churches Network (TCN) is listed
on the Synod’s Web site as a “Recognized Service Organization”; and
Whereas, Although it is concerned for the health of existing
LCMS congregations, TCN determines a congregation’s health based
chiefly on numerical measurements and sociology, such as attendance
numbers and financial giving, but not on its adherence to the teaching of the Scriptures or the Lutheran Confessions; and
Whereas, TCN advocates changing the main emphasis of a
pastor’s duties from “being the lead caretaker of the existing congregation to the lead missionary to lost people in the community”
(“Pastor Survey,” TCN, question 7a http://portal.tcnbackup.com/
Portals/0/5%20Pastor%20Survey.pdf), thus diminishing the pastoral care of the Law and Gospel that pastors have historically provided
to members of the congregations they serve (John 21:15–17); and
Whereas, TCN initially asks pastors to see how comfortable they
are with this statement, “If we do not achieve the 5% growth goal in
the next 24 months, and 5% growth annually thereafter, I will put
my name out for another call” (“Pastor Survey,” question 8d), thus
suggesting that the man who is divinely called to be a pastor is only