Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1973 · 50th Convention › Sheet 452

LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Sheet 452

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

APPENDIX Il

Referred Resolutions

; The following resolutions were prepared by floor committees of the Milwaukee conven-
tion but were then referred en masse under a so-called “omnibus resolution” to the Board

of Directors “for study and report to next convention.”

These proposed resolutions are re-

ferred to at various times in several reports to the convention, especially the report of the
Board of Directors. They are printed here for handy reference.

To Explore New Methods
for Mission Support
RESOLUTION 1-11
Overture 1-21, 1-22 (CW, pp. 27—28)
Wuereas, There is always a need to explore new methods
of supporting our world missions program, and
Wuereas, The direct and personal approach to world mis-
sions offers many advantages; therefore be it

Resolved, That Synod’s Board for Missions and the Board
of Stewardship be requested to explore methods of further
decentralizing and personalizing interest in and financial
support for the Synod’s world mission program.

To Continue Concerns for Moral Standards
RESOLUTION 2-26
Overture 2-181 (CW, pp. 99—100)
Wuereas, The Synod has expressed its concern for moral
standards (1969 Proceedings, Res. 9-03, p- 140); and
Wuereas, Moral standards are a continuing concern of the
church: therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod. through the word of reconcilia-
tion, continue its determination to improve the moral climate
in society.

To Receive Report “Abortion: Theological,
Legal, and Medical Aspects’

RESOLUTION 2-27

Report 2-01, 7-02; Overtures 9-174, 2-176—2-186 (CW, pp. 31

to 44, 501—504, 96—101)

Wuereas, The New York convention (1967 Proceedings,
Res. 2-28, p. 94) assigned the matter of the study of abortion
to the Commission on Theology and Church Relations: and

Wuereas, The CTCR has presented to the Synod a study
document (“Abortion: Theological, Legal. and Medical As-
pects”) ; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod receive the document, “Abor-
tion: Theological, Legal, and Medical Aspects”; and be it also

Resolved, That this document be commended to the mem-
bership of the Synod for reference and guidance.

To Clarify Mission Affirmations
RESOLUTION 2-33

Overtures 9.204—2-208 (CW, pp- 105—107)

Wuereas, In the above overtures issues have been raised
in regard to the Mission Affirmations; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod approach the Mission Affirma-
tions with the presupposition that:

a) —“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Him-

self, not counting their trespasses against them and entrust-
ing to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:19 RSV):

419

b) —the purpose of the earthly ministry of the incarnate
Son of God was to offer Himself as a sacrifice (Heb. 7:27;
9:26), propitiation (Rom. 3:25), and ransom (Matt. 20: 28)
for the sins of the world, not only to be a sign or symbol of
God's love for the world:

c) —the primary mission of the church is to preach re-
pentance and remission of sins to all men (Luke 24:47), thus
to lead to faith in Jesus Christ or to strengthen faith in
Christ;

d) — the ultimate question men must be taught to ask
is not concerned with their own joy, happiness, pleasure,
political, or economic freedom, but the question concerning
the will of God for their lives (2 Cor. 5: 14-15); and be it also

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm Resolution 2-20 of the
New York convention that:

“1, In declaring that the church is Christ’s mission, the
affirmations by no means present the mission of the church
as one which confuses an ethic of love with the speaking of
the Gospel (Rom. 10:17);

“29 The affirmations were designed to remind us that
those who proclaim the message of God's love in Christ
should also witness to Christ in Christian actions (Matt.
5:16);

“3 The affirmations offer no license for unionism or sep-
aratism but rather emphasize our responsibility to minister
also to other Christians in the body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-12);

“4, The affirmations, in emphasizing the ‘Church's Mission
to the Whole Man,’ do not thereby imply any improper con-
clusions regarding man's state of existence between death
and resurrection... + the affirmations rather stress that our
loving concern for man be for his body and mind, which
God has created and redeemed. (Matt. 4:23)”

To Continue CTCR Study
(Mission Affirmations )

RESOLUTION 2-34

Report 2-01, Ill, D: Overtures 9.200—2-208 (CW, pp. 36, 104
to 107)

Wuereas. The Denver convention (1969) assigned the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations the responsi-
bility of being the consultant with the Commission on Mis-
sion and Ministry so that the Mission Affirmations might be
used as the possible basis for the revision of the Constitution
of the Synod, the bylaws of Districts, and the constitutions
of congregations (Denver Proceedings, Res. 1-15A, p. 80);
and

Wuereas. This assignment has not been carried out at this
present time in that the Commission on Mission and Minis-
try says “further consultations are still to be had with the
CTCR” (CW. Rep. 5-04 II, p. 250), and the CTCR recom-
mends “that the Synod take no action on this matter until
it has been thoroughly studied by the CTCR” (CW, Rep. 2-01,
III, D, 19, p.36): and

Wuereas, Both commendations and questions have been
stated in the above overtures; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod direct the CTCR to continue
its previous assignment (Denver Proceedings, Res. 1-15A,
p. 80) on the Mission Affirmations and in connection with
their work evaluate issues. concerns, and positive implemen-
tation raised in the above overtures.