LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 46

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

46 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

C. Social Concerns Committee

The 1973 convention, on the recommendation of the Com-
mission on Organizations, the Board of Directors, the Commis-
sion on Theology and Church Relations, and the Commission
on Social Concerns itself, decided that the Commission on
Social Concerns should ‘‘cease functioning as a separate com-
mission” in order to “function on the level of a full committee
of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations.’ See
Appendix H for the complete report of the social concerns
committee. The CTCR concurs in the recommendations of the
social concerns committee and urges the Synod to give them
careful consideration.

IV. TASK FORCE AND SPECIAL COMMITTEE
REPORTS

A. Task Force on Women

Although 1973 Resolution 2-49 ‘‘To Establish a Task Force
to Study Women’s Role” was not acted on by the New Orleans
convention for lack of time, omnibus Resolution 4-47 imple-
mented its intent by resolving “that the Task Force on Women
be established.” In compliance with the provisions of Resolution
2-49, a task force to study women’s role in the Missouri Synod
was appointed by President Preus, and it is now submitting its
report and recommendations to the Synod through the CTCR.
See Appendix I for the complete text of this report.

The commission calls the Synod’s attention to this report
and notes the significant accomplishments of this task force in
such a short period of time. The results of the work of the task
force deserve the careful study and attention of the congrega-
tions. Districts, agencies, and institutions of the Synod. The
commission also notes that many of the goals and plans sub-
mitted by the task force deserve the continued attention of the
Synod. Therefore. while reiterating its opinion expressed in 1972
that ‘‘all members of the Synod should recognize the right of
each congregation to judge according to its circumstances
whether it is necessary or expedient for it to introduce woman
suffrage (cf. Bylaw 1.09), the CTCR joins the task force in
encouraging ‘“‘that all of the people of God use all opportunities
to put the gifts of the Spirit to work, in their daily lives in the
church and in witness and ministry to others in the world.”

The commission furthermore recommends:

29a. That the Synod express its appreciation to the task force
for its valuable accomplishments in sensitizing the church.
through its study of the role of women in the LCMS. to the need
for increased participation by women in the life of the church.

b. That the Synod encourage the CTCR to continue its theo-
logical study of the role of women in the LCMS.

c. That the Synod provide in a more permanent way for the
ongoing need to deepen recognition and actual utilization of the
gifts of women in the service of the church by assigning the goals
and plans of the task force to the synodical social concerns com-
mittee for study and implementation as this committee continues
to address the role of women in church and society. using task
force members as consultants as necessary.

d. That the Synod encourage all of its congregations. Districts.
institutions. and agencies to eramine their existing structures
and procedures regarding personnel practices in the light of the
task force's report.

e. That the task force's recommendations regarding changes
in the Bylaws be processed in accordance with Bylaw 2.1076
of the synodical Handbook.

B. Communion Practices

In comformity with 1971 Resolution 2-13 President Preus
appointed a special committee composed of members of the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations and members
of the Commission on Worship ‘to make a comprehensive study
of Communion Practices and policies and report through the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations to the next
convention.’’ Appointed to this committee were Dr. Henry
Eggold, Mr. John Jass, and Rev. Norbert Mueller from the
CTCR and Dr. Warren Rubel and Dr. Fred Precht from the
Commission on Worship. Dr. Ralph Bohlmann, Rev. Theo.
DeLaney, and Rev. Samuel Nafzger have provided staff ser-
vices. This committee has held several meetings during the

biennium, and a final report is nearing completion and is
expected to be available to the church later this year.

C. Task Force on Sister Churches

Since the commission has the responsibility of assisting the
President in carrying out the Synod’s theological and church
relations responsibilities toward her sister churches and since
the Board for Missions is to serve as administrative liaison
between these churches and the LCMS (1971 Res. 3-03), the com-
mission requested the President to appoint a special task force
to make studies toward the development of principles to guide
relations between the LCMS and the sister churches. The Presi-
dent appointed a task force consisting of board and staff repre-
sentatives from the Board for Missions and the CTCR together
with men who have served or are serving in overseas mission
churches. The responses to a questionnaire, developed by the
task force and submitted to the sister churches, formed the
basis for discussions that led to the writing of a statement of
principles. Task force members added their critiques to highlight
viable options. The President of the Synod received the task
force report with supporting materials and dismissed the task
force with thanks for making a useful contribution. At the
request of the President the results of the work of the task
force were also shared with the Mission Study Commission as
resource material for their larger task.

V. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
A. Repository Function

The statement of commission functions adopted by the 1971
synodical convention (Res. 2-29) provides that the commission
shall provide ‘‘a repository for theological treatises, conference
papers, and similar documents and studies.” The intention of the
committee who recommended the inclusion of this function was
that the commission would receive copies of such essays and
papers for possible use in its work or for referral to others who
might have an interest in such areas. However, the wording of
this function appears to be in conflict with responsibilities
already assigned to the Concordia Historical Institute. The
commission therefore recommends:

30. That the Synod eliminate the repository function from the
list of the commission's responsibilities in the synodical Hand-
book and request Concordia Historical Institute to keep the
commission informed of important theological treatises. con-
ference papers. and similar documents and studies that might
be useful for the work of the commission.

B. Continuing Education

Already in 1971 in the CTCR’s report to the Milwaukee con-
vention it was noted that the synodical Handbook gives the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations considerable
responsibility for the continuing theological education of the
Synod's pastors and teachers. The commission has been autho-
rized to ‘provide guidance to the Synod in matters of theology
and church relations, specifically .. . in fostering and providing
for ongoing theological education through institutes, seminars,
and other means” (Handbook 2.109 b 1 ee). At the same time it
was stated that such services need to be coordinated with
similar activities carried out by other agencies and institutions
of the Synod. In response to the CTCR’s recommendations in
1971 and again in 1973, New Orleans Resolution 2-33 called upon
the President of the Synod, in consultation with the CTCR, to
provide for the coordination of the activities of the various
agencies of the Synod in the area of the continuing theological
education of pastors, teachers, and laymen. Since this resolution
was not acted on by the New Orleans convention, it was referred
to the CTCR by the Board of Directors. Therefore the commis-
sion recommends:

31. WHEREAS, Continuing theological education is of vital
importance for the theological development of the professional
workers of the Synod: and

WHEREAS, It is important that the laymen of the Synod become
deeply involved in the study of important theological questions:
and

WHEREAS. There is a need to coordinate the activities of the
various agencies of the Synod involved in this area: and