Official Handbook Source Text

only Gospel set forth in the Holy Scriptures specifically as they carry out their responsibilities relating to membership in societies, lodges, cults, or any organizations of an unchristian or anti -Christian character to which the Synod has declared itself firmly opposed.

(a) It shall provide information and counsel concerning organizations, philosophies, and worldviews about which ordained or commissioned ministers and congregations may make inquiry relative to objectives, tenets, programs, practices, or ceremonies.

(b) It shall seek to explain the Synod ’s concerns to any organizations that are involved in religion and have unchristian or anti -Christian features, with the goal of persuading them to abandon such features.

(c) It shall prepare and disseminate periodic reports concerning new organizations, philosophies, and worldviews, changes within existing agencies, and developments relative to the world religious scene in general.

(d) It shall serve as the resource center for the Synod with reference to information on religious agencies and worldviews, publish study materials, and assist pastors and congregations in providing counsel.

3.9.5.4.1 The Commission on Theology and Church Relations shall assist the pastors

and congregations of the Synod in carrying out the policy of the Synod regarding fraternal organizations as set forth in the following guidelines.

(a) Pastors and congregations alike must avoid membership or participation in any organization that in its objectives, ceremonies, or practices is inimical to the Gospel of Jesus Christ or the faith and life of the Christian church. It is the solemn, sacred, a nd God-given duty of every pastor properly to instruct his people concerning the sinfulness of all organizations that

(1) explicitly or implicitly deny the Holy Trinity, the deity of Christ, or the vicarious atonement;

(2) promise spiritual light apart from that revealed in the Holy Scripture;

(3) attach spiritual or eternal rewards to the works or virtues of men; and/or

(4) embrace ideologies or principles that clearly violate an express teaching of the Holy Scriptures concerning the relationships of men to one another.

(b) The responsibility of diligent and conscientious pastoral care requires that pastors of the Synod do not administer Holy Communion to nor admit to communicant membership members of such organizations who, after thorough instruction, refuse to sever their affiliation with such organizations, since Holy Communion expresses an exclusive spiritual relationship of the communicant to his Lord and to his brethren (Matthew 10:32; 1 Cor. 10:6– 7; 1 Cor. 11:25). Earnest, continuous efforts should be put forth to bring individuals to a clear - cut decision regarding their contradictory confessions, in order that they may become or remain communicant members of the congregation, as the case may be.