LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 158

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Whereas, As reported jointly (https://www.lcms.org/Document.fdoc?src=lcm&id=3864), the WELS-ELS-LCMS discussions
have enabled participants to identify many points of common
understanding and practice; to honestly recognize points of difference; and to realize that many assumptions about the teaching
and practice of the other churches were false or exaggerated; and
Whereas, All the participants in these discussions with the
WELS and the ELS agree that (1) though such conversations will
likely not in the near future enable altar and pulpit fellowship
between our churches because of continuing differences in teaching and practice, they are (2) highly beneficial, have increased the
degree of common understanding, and have enabled our churches
to encourage one another in faithful confession of the Christian
faith and holy living in grateful obedience to the triune God; therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention give thanks to God for
the WELS and the ELS and our joint desire to be faithful confessors of the truth of God’s Word; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention give thanks for the
increasingly cordial relationship with these fellow Lutherans and,
in particular, for their willingness to send representatives to this
convention; and be it finally
Resolved, That the LCMS commend the Office of the President
and the Commission on Theology and Church Relations for pursuing these opportunities to conserve and promote unity without
compromise of God’s Word and strongly encourage such discussions to continue.
Action: Adopted (6)
(Res. 5-08 was adopted without discussion as presented [Yes:
848; No: 17].)

To Commend and Encourage Interchurch
Conversations with Anglican Church
in North America and North American
Lutheran Church
RESOLUTION 5-09
Report R11 (CW, pp. 66–73)
Whereas, Beginning in 2009, shortly after the establishment of
the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA, formed as a result
of The Episcopal Church’s unscriptural views of biblical authority, creedal dogma, and morality), representatives of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and our Canadian partner, the
Lutheran Church—Canada (LCC), have met twice each year with
ACNA leaders for a series of cordial and productive discussions;
and

on matters such as sexuality and marriage are to be upheld) and
also areas where our churches have differing traditions and teachings (e.g., the Lord’s Supper, the doctrine of ministry), as reported
• in 2012 (https://blogs.lcms.org/2012/acna-lcms-releasejoint-statement),
• in 2016 (https://www.lcms.org/Document.fdoc?src=lcm&id=3994),
• and in a joint statement on marriage (http://www.lcms.
org/page.aspx?pid=726&DocID=2384); and
Whereas, Beginning in 2009, after the North American
Lutheran Church (NALC) was established (formed largely because
of the ELCA’s departure from scriptural and confessional teaching
in a variety of areas), representatives of the LCMS and our Canadian partner, the LCC, have met twice each year with NALC leaders
for a series of cordial and productive discussions; and
Whereas, The LCC-LCMS-NALC discussions have revealed
areas of strong agreement (e.g., the understanding of the Gospel
and the necessity of faith in Christ for salvation, the doctrine and
practice of marriage) and also areas where our churches have differing practices (e.g., women in ministry), and have resulted in a joint
statement on marriage (together with the ACNA; see http://www.
lcms.org/page.aspx?pid=726&DocID=2384) and a joint report on
the authority of Scripture (which is under consideration by the leaders of the three church bodies); and
Whereas, All the participants in these discussions with the
ACNA and the NALC agree that (1) though such conversations
will likely not in the near future enable altar and pulpit fellowship
between our churches because of continuing differences in teaching and practice, they are (2) highly beneficial, have increased the
degree of common understanding, and have enabled our churches
to encourage each other in faithful confession of the Christian faith
and holy living in grateful obedience to the triune God; therefore
be it
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention give thanks to God for
these church bodies and our joint desire to be faithful confessors
of the truth of God’s Word; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention give thanks for the
increasingly cordial relationship with these fellow Christians and,
in particular, for the willingness of the ACNA and the NALC to
send representatives to this convention; and be it finally
Resolved, That the LCMS commend the Office of the President
and the Commission on Theology and Church Relations for pursuing these opportunities to conserve and promote unity without
compromise of God’s Word and strongly encourage such discussions to continue.
Action: Adopted (6)
(After discussion, debate was ended [Yes: 837; No: 24] and Res.
5-09 was adopted as presented [Yes: 901; No: 26].)

Whereas, The ACNA-LCC-LCMS discussions have revealed
areas of strong agreement (e.g., the ACNA firmly believes and
teaches that the Bible is God’s Word, that the Creeds rightly confess the Christian faith, and that the moral teachings of the Bible
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U P O N T H I S R O C K • Resolutions

“5. Theology and Church Relations”