LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 161

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2:42; 15:35; 28:30–31; Rom. 6:17; 1 Cor. 4:17; 1 Tim. 3:2; 4:11; Titus
2:1; 2 John 1:9–10); and
Whereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has
a long heritage of preparing editions of Luther’s Small Catechism
that include further explanations of and biblical support for the
chief parts (e.g., the 1943 and 1991 editions of Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation); and
Whereas, 2013 Res. 3-13A directed the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) in concurrence with the Office
of the President to propose revisions to the explanation portion
of the 1991 An Explanation of the Small Catechism and, “with the
help of Concordia Publishing House (CPH), [to] field test the proposed revisions and make any further revisions necessary before
publication”; and
Whereas, A drafting committee appointed by the CTCR and
the Office of the President has prepared a revision of the Explanation that has been approved by the CTCR (working in concurrence
with the Office of the President) for field-testing and feedback and
that will be available to the Synod soon (electronically and in print
form) for this purpose; and
Whereas, Luther published both the Small Catechism and the
Large Catechism (in 1529) because many ordinary persons knew
“absolutely nothing about the Christian faith” and many pastors
were “completely unskilled and incompetent teachers” (SC Preface 2); and
Whereas, Some of our churches have come to limit new member instruction to a few hours, sometimes neglecting the catechism
and its critical teachings; and
Whereas, The catechisms remain invaluable tools for parents,
pastors, and teachers, and its contents are necessary affirmations
in this time of great religious diversity, widespread spiritual confusion, and pervasive impatience with clear teaching (2 Tim. 4:3);
therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS reaffirm the importance of the Small
Catechism as a handbook and a rich resource for faith and life and
a tool to be used for teaching baptized Christian children and also
for teaching adults who are preparing for Baptism or desire to join
the Lutheran church; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS reaffirm the necessity of faithful catechesis for the church’s mission; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention encourage the use of
both the Large and Small Catechisms in the continuing instruction
and inclusion in the devotional life of its people; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS commend the drafting committee, the
CTCR, the Office of the President, and CPH for working together
to prepare and make available a draft revision of the Explanation
and urge widespread participation in field-testing the draft; and
be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS encourage publication of the revised
Explanation during 2017, the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran
Reformation, after appropriate attention to feedback from the field
test; and be it finally
“5. Theology and Church Relations”

Resolved, That the CTCR, in concurrence with the President of
Synod and the seminary faculties, explore the creation of an annotated and expanded edition of the Large Catechism for widespread
use and study in the church.
Action: Adopted (6)
(After discussion, a motion to end debate carried and Res. 5-12
was adopted as presented [Yes: 928; No: 33].)

To Reaffirm Scriptural Teaching re Royal
Priesthood and Office of Public Ministry
RESOLUTION 5-13
Overtures 5-25–28 (CW, pp. 352–354)
Whereas, The Christian Church confesses that God created
humanity, male and female, in His image and with His blessing
as His stewards (Gen. 1:27–28; 2:21–24; 5:2) and, by grace through
faith, to be His “chosen priests” living in service to Him (1 Peter
2:9–10; and see Matt. 4:10; Acts 2:18; Gal. 3:27–28); and
Whereas, All of God’s chosen priests (the congregation of
saints, the church) are “to offer themselves as living sacrifices” and
“to proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness
into his marvelous light” (Rom. 12:1; 1 Peter 2:4–9; see also Matt.
28:19–20; Rev. 1:6; 5:10; as examples of this see John 4:39; Acts 8:4;
11:19–21) and therefore to them Christ gives the Office of the Keys
(Matt. 18:18; Tr 67; 1932 Brief Statement, § 30); and
Whereas, The Word of God teaches that although all believers are royal priests and possess the keys of the kingdom of heaven,
God has also established a particular office to proclaim the Word
and administer the Office of the Keys publicly (i.e., on behalf of
the church), and this Office of Public Ministry is to be held only by
certain men who are “above reproach,” “able to teach,” and then
rightly called to this office (John 21:15–17; 1 Cor. 4:1; 1 Cor. 12:29;
Rom. 10:15; Eph. 4:11; Jam. 3:1; 1 Tim 3:1–6; 2 Tim. 2:1–2; Titus 1:5–
9; see also AC V, XIV); and
Whereas, The priestly work of the people of God and the special calling to the office of preaching and the administration of
the Sacraments on behalf of the church are complementary, not
competing, existing side-by-side in Scripture and in the life of the
church; and
Whereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has
affirmed this complementary understanding of the royal priesthood and the Office of the Ministry throughout its history by (1)
adopting C. F. W. Walther’s Theses on the Church and the Office of
the Ministry (1851); (2) adopting the Brief Statement of the Doctrinal
Position of the Missouri Synod (1932; see §§ 30–34); and (3) recently
reaffirming Walther’s Church and Ministry (2001 Res. 7-17A; see
also 1992 Res. 3-06A); and
Whereas, Misunderstandings have arisen in recent years, such
as denials of the right or responsibility of the laity to proclaim the
Gospel and of the efficacy of the Word when lay people proclaim it,

U P O N T H I S R O C K • Resolutions

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