Numerous important resolutions were adopted by the 2001 LCMS Convention
that cannot be addressed in one article. However, the following are some
excellent resolutions that have direct and immediate impact on the doctrine
and practice of all congregations in the LCMS.
2-08A "Ministry to Homosexuals and their Families"
On Sunday evening, homosexuals picketed the LCMS Convention and we could
not use one of the exits out of the building. Death threats were made against
President Kuhn and President Elect Kieschnick. One man was arrested. For the
remainder of the Convention, a bodyguard followed both Kuhn and Kieschnick.
The resolution described homosexuality as, "lust and activity to be
sin contrary to the created order (Rom. 1:24-27)."
It quoted the 1973 resolution 2-04 which stated such "behavior as
intrinsically sinful." Among a number of resolves, it recommended that
LCMS congregations follow "A Plan for Ministry to Homosexuals and Their
Families" prepared by the President's task force. It was adopted 1034 to
52. Congressman Dannemeyer has written that the task force document is not
strong enough; however, the resolution 2-04 is excellent.
3-05 "To Formally Declare Altar and Pulpit Fellowship with the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia"
The Latvian church has four women clergy but we voted that the women clergy
were not in fellowship with us. Their new Bishop stated that he would not
ordain any more women.
The following resolve was added from the floor, "That this declaration
of fellowship does not acknowledge that those women who have been ordained are
recognized as ordained clergy who can serve in the capacity of ordained clergy
in the LCMS."
3-06 "To Reach Out Aggressively to Emerging Lutheran Churches"
The last resolve was changed to read, "That he [the LCMS President]
work to establish altar and pulpit fellowship with these church bodies as
expeditiously as possible when agreement in doctrine and practice
exists."
3-07A "To commend 'The Lutheran Understanding of Church Fellowship'
and the CTCR Report on the Synodical Discussions"
The resolution supported the document published on page 375 to 387 of the
Convention Work Book as the proper understanding of church fellowship, which
in effect means that Missouri Synod congregations do not serve Communion to
members of other church bodies with whom we are not in fellowship, including
members of the ELCA.
3-09A "To Commend and Clarify Intentional Interim Ministry"
There has been a great deal of confusion as to whether an "Intentional
Interim Pastor" is actually a pastor because the Bible and Lutheran
Confessions do not recognize "timed" or "temporary" calls,
which means that God may not acknowledge the human invention of a IIP or
Intentional Interim Pastor. He may be, as Christ describes it, nothing more
than a "hireling." A number of districts are telling congregations
they can't call a regular pastor if they don't have an IIP first. This is in
direct violation of the LCMS Constitution, which guarantees the congregation's
right to call the pastor of their choice when they wish to issue a call. The
last resolve was most important:
"Resolved, That the CTCR in consultation with the Council of
Presidents provide clarification of the relationship between Intentional
Interim Ministry, vacancy ministry, and 'temporary calls' and the utility
thereof for The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod as part of its soon to be
completed study of 'Theology and Practice of the Divine Call.'"
3-16 "To Encourage Use of Fruit of the Vine in the Lord's Supper"
In this resolution the congregations are encouraged to only use wine in the
Lord's Supper because this is all that Christ used and prescribed. Nothing has
the character of a Sacrament unless otherwise instituted by Christ. One
delegate asked if watermelon juice qualified as "fruit of the vine."
The answer from the Chair was, "No." It was explained that
"fruit of the vine" in the New Testament must be understood as only
referring to fermented grape juice.
3-21 "To Express Concerns Regarding ELCA"
The final resolve states, "we cannot consider them [the ELCA] be to an
orthodox Lutheran church body."
During the debate, is was brought to the attention of the Convention that
the ELCA was in effect no longer Lutheran because of its recognition of gay
and women clergy, agreement with the Catholic Church on a false doctrine of
justification, and fellowship with the Presbyterian, Episcopal, Reformed, and
United Church of Christ, which do not have the real presence in the Lord 's
Supper. Added to the resolution was a statement that recognized that in ELCA
there were still some lay people who believed and confessed the proper
understanding of Lutheranism. More than a 2/3rd majority adopted the entire
resolution.
5-11A "To Work Collaboratively re Issues of Pastoral Leadership"
There were a number of resolutions in the Convention Workbook from 5-43 to
5-55 on pages 221-224 requesting the Pastoral Leadership Institute (PLI) be
given Recognized Service Organization (RSO) status, which would make them
eligible to receive and raise funds with the blessing of the LCMS. There were
also a few that asked the PLI not receive such status by the Convention
because the Board for Higher Education (BHE) had already denied RSO status to
PLI. Committee 5 decided to simply honor the BHE decision and not bring any
resolution about PLI to the Convention.
On Saturday before the Convention, speaking in favor of Committee 5's
decision before the Committee were Rev. Herman Otten, Congressman William
Dannemeyer, Rev. Jack Cascione, and Mrs. Georgann McKee of St. John's Lutheran
Church in Orange, CA. Doctor Norbert Oesch, the director of PLI, also
testified before Committee 5 and agreed that it might be more prudent for PLI
not to seek RSO status from the Convention. Committee 5 presented 5-11a, which
simply encouraged a generic effort by both seminaries to encourage pastoral
leadership training. Unless the BHE reverses itself or the Board of Directors
takes up the issue, it appears that PLI will not be a part of the Missouri
Synod and all pastoral education will remain with the seminaries.
6-02A "To Reiterate Synod's Stance on Abortion"
Once again the LCMS restated its excellent position against abortion as
murder. The words, "unless it is done to save the life of the
mother," were added to the resolution. The resolution also condemned the
use of RU234.
6-12 "To Support Lifelong Sexual Purity"
This rather mundane resolution became a focal point of declining sexual
morals. It condemns couples living together without marriage. The Convention
voted 724 to 204 to describe cohabitation as "sin." A second
addition was made to describe marriage as being "between one man and one
woman." This eliminates the imaginary status states such as Vermont wish
to give to gay couples.
7-03 "To Observe the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod"
This resolution addressed the issue of whether officers and agencies of the
Synod had to follow the Synodical Constitution. The resolution states that all
officers, agencies, staff members, and boards must follow the LCMS
Constitution and may not exceed the authority given to them in the
Constitution.
7-11 "To Move Property Ownership Bylaw to Constitution"
This resolution illustrates the brilliance of Committee 7 Chairman, Montana
District President Doctor George Wollenburg. For the first time in the history
of the Synod, the Convention voted by an overwhelming 1103 to 36 to add the
following words to Article 7 of the LCMS Constitution on congregational
autonomy.
"2. Membership of a congregation in the Synod gives the Synod no
equity in the property of the congregation."
In other words, the Synod can't own congregations as does the Catholic
Church, Orthodox Church, United Methodist Church, the ELCA, the Presbyterian
Church USA, the Disciples of Christ, and others. As more congregations give up
voter supremacy for a pastoral or board of directors hierarchy as found in
other large US church bodies, this resolution will prevent the LCMS from
owning the deeds of its member congregations. Well done, Dr. Wollenburg!
7-17A "To Affirm Synod's Official Position on Church and
Ministry"
An article about this resolution, which may have taken more Convention time
and interest than any other resolution, was published by Reclaim News titled,
"Missouri Synod Confesses 150 Year Old Doctrine of Church and
Ministry" and gives a more thorough examination of 7-17A.
This resolution reaffirmed the Synod's unique congregational polity after
the ELCA adopted Episcopal hierarchy and pastoral domination of congregations.
This resolution restated the doctrinal basis for voter supremacy in all LCMS
congregations. The phrase "under Scripture and the Lutheran
Confessions" was added to the resolution. It was pointed out that all
LCMS Convention resolutions are under the authority of Scripture and the
Lutheran Confessions. The most important impact of the resolution is the last
resolve.
"Resolved, that all pastors, professors, teachers of the Church and
congregations honor and uphold the resolutions of the Synod as regards the
official position of our Synod on Church and Ministry and teach in accordance
with them."
In other words, all the professors, officials, and pastors have to teach
that Walther's "Church and Ministry" is the official position of
Synod. Concordia Publishing House sold out about 200 copies of the book to the
Convention delegates. It is now being reprinted. At the moment, this is the
hottest book in Synod. It is a direct slam against every attempt to change
worship, prevent a call to a pastor, or disenfranchise voters' assemblies in
all LCMS Congregations. The congregation is above the pastor, the district
president, and the Synodical president. Well done, Dr. Wollenburg!
7-22A "To Clarify Opinion of Commission on Constitutional
Matters"
This resolution addressed the question as to whether doctrinal resolutions
adopted by the Convention were binding on LCMS congregations. The third
resolve addressed the issue.
"Resolved, While expressing dissent (bylaw 2.39 c) no congregation of
the Synod is free to disregard or refuse to abide by the doctrinal resolutions
of the Synod;" It passed 658 to 441.