LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 104

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104 RESOLUTIONS

stitutes, seminars, and other means” (Bylaw 2.109 b 1
ee); therefore be it

Resolved, That the President of the Synod, in consul-
tation with the CTCR, provide for the coordination of the
activities and programs of the various agencies and
institutions of the Synod in the area of continuing theo-
logical education of pastors, teachers, and laymen.

Action: This resolution died since it failed to receive
action before adjournment.

To Issue Study Document
on Eschatology

RESOLUTION 3-21
Overture 3-149 (CW, p. 108)

Wuereas, Today many people in the Christian church
are taking a new interest in Biblical prophecy pertaining
to the end times as evidenced by the popularity of books
such as The Late Great Planet Earth, There’s a New
World Coming, The King Is Coming, etc.; and

Wuereas, Historically during times of crisis people
have been prone to depart from clear teachings of Scrip-
ture and follow popular apocalyptic movements; and

Wuereas, Christians are asking about matters such
as the millenium, the rapture, the revelation of the
Antichrist, and other phenomena said to be associated
with the “day of the Lord” and searching the Scriptures
for answers; and

Wuereas, We wish neither to be led astray by popu-
lar error nor to ignore God’s prophecies about the end
times; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention ask the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations to pre-
pare a study document dealing with the millennium, the
rapture, the Antichrist, and other phenomena said to be
associated with the “day of the Lord.”

Action: This resolution died since it failed to receive
action before adjournment.

To Commend the Report “A Lutheran
Stance Toward Ecumenism”

RESOLUTION 3-22

Report 3-01, I, Rec. 5; Overtures 3-147, 3-148, 3-243
(CW, pp. 40, 107— 108, 131— 132)

Wuerzeas, Our interchurch and intrachurch relations
have always been of deep concern among us; and

Wuereas, The report “A Lutheran Stance Toward
Ecumenism” offers to the Synod guiding principles and
recommendations for ecumenical involvement; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the position paper “A Lutheran Stance
Toward Ecumenism” be commended to the church for
study and response.

Action: This resolution died since it failed to receive
action before adjournment.

(The committee substituted “position paper” for “report” and
eliminated “guidance” from the resolved. These changes were
filed with the Secretary.)

To Support Efforts to
Protect the Unborn

RESOLUTION 3-23A

(Replacing Resolution 3-23)

Report 3-01, I, D; Overtures 3-163A —3-164, 8-09A—C
(CW, pp. 42, 111, 399)

Wuereas, The CTCR has studied the matter of abor-
tion and prepared the report “Abortion: Theological,
Legal, and Medical Aspects,” which states that “Life is a
gift from God . . . that unborn (nascent) life is of special
value before God . . . and that life and death belong to
the province of God”; and

Wuereas, The Synod assembled in convention at
Milwaukee, 1971, resolved that “willful abortion is con-
trary to the will of God” (Res. 2-39, 1971 Proceedings, p.
126); and

Wuereas, The Synod has Stated in its Social Ministry
Affirmations, adopted in convention at Milwaukee, 1971,
that “human life must be treasured, supported, and
protected” and that “we encourage all people to avoid
perverting God’s will through such acts as abortion or
euthanasia” (Res. 9-07, 1971 Proceedings, p. 191); and

Wuereas, On the first anniversary of the opinion
delivered by the Supreme Court of the United States
which declared abortion constitutionally permissable
under the terms stated, the CTCR repeated the Synod’s
position and protested the legalization of non-therapeutic
abortions; and

Wuereas, The Social Concerns Committee has been
charged with the initiation of a life concerns program for
various segments of the constituency of the LCMS and
has conducted workshops on the subject of abortion at
numerous colleges (schools) of the Synod; and

Wuereas, In testimony before the United States Sen-
ate Sub-Committee on Constitutional Amendments, a
member of the Synod’s Social Concerns Committee noted
that “while our denominational statements are explicitly
theological . . . a constitutional amendment will help to
safeguard the concerns of our constituency for innocent,
defenseless life which has an intrinsic value and dignity
beyond being ‘wanted’”: and

Wuereas, Through the process of proposing to the
states for ratification a constitutional amendment to
protect all human beings, regardless of age or depend-
ency, the people of our church would have the opportunity
guaranteed under the 14th Amendment of the Constitu-
tion; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod encourage its members,
both corporately and individually, to speak for the un-