To Call All in Synod to Love, Peace, and Brotherly Care

Official Workbook overture source text

4-43 
To Call All in Synod to Love, Peace,  
and Brotherly Care 
WHEREAS, Christ our Lord says, “By this all people will know 
that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 
13:35); and 
WHEREAS, St.  Paul writes, “Let all bitterness and wrath and 
anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all 
malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one 
another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:31–32); and 
WHEREAS, Our Synod has too often been torn by harsh words, 
pride, and strife, which weaken our witness and grieve the Spirit; 
and 
W
HEREAS, The unity of the Church does not rest in uniformity of 
human will but in the pure preaching of the Gospel and the right use 
of the Sacraments (AC VII); therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod urge all its members, from laity to 
pastors to leaders, to repent of anger, pride, and harsh speech; and 
be it further 
Resolved
, That the Synod call on all its members to “bear with 
one another in love” (Eph. 4:2), to speak well of each other, to pray 
for one another, and to seek peace; and be it finally 
Resolved
, That we, brothers and sisters in Christ, commit 
ourselves anew to walk in love, so that our life together may be 
marked not by strife but by joy in the Gospel, to the glory of God 
and the good of His Church. 
Christ Greenfield, Gilbert, AZ; Circuit 16 (Faribault), Minnesota 
South District; Circuit 28, Pacific Southwest District 
Ov.