To Address Release and Use of Luther’s Large Catechism with Annotations and Contemporary Applications

Ov. 5-40

To Address Release and Use of Luther’s Large Catechism with Annotations and Contemporary Applications

WHEREAS, 2013 Resolution 3-13A, “To Update the Synod’s Catechetical Materials,” asked the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR), in collaboration with the Office of the President and Concordia Publishing House (CPH), to produce a catechetical compendium that would be “more comprehensive and apologetic in scope”; and

WHEREAS, 2016 Res. 5 -12, “To Commend and Encourage Use of Luther’s Catechisms,” requested that the CTCR, in collaboration with the O ffice of the President and the faculties of Concordia Seminary and Concordia Theological Seminary , “explore the creation of an annotated and expanded edition of the Large Catechism for widespread use and study in the church”; and

WHEREAS, The volume underwent review by the CTCR and was certified by the Synod doctrinal review process; and

WHEREAS, The text of the Large Catechism to which we subscribe remains entirely unchanged in this volume while the essays attempt to engage contemporary questions concerning challenging and complex issues; and

WHEREAS, This volume is a significant and important project for one of the treasures of the Church and those who worked with faithfulness to produce it are to be commended; and

WHEREAS, President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, the author of the foreword to this volume, acknowledged in writing on February 2, 2023, that portions of the publication, which has caused controversy due to some of its authorship and content, “might have been expressed more clearly” (Matthew Harrison, “Update from President Harrison on Large Catechism,” Reporter Online, Feb. 2, 2023, reporter.lcms.org/2023/update-from-president-harrison-onlarge-catechism); and

WHEREAS, On February 25, 2023, President Harrison spoke at a circuit forum in Hamel, Ill., to the volume’s address of pedophilia and hidden sins of the flesh through the lens of Matthew 7:3–5 (John T. Pless and Larry M. Vogel, eds., Luther’s Large Catechism with Annotations and Contemporary Applications [Concordia Publishing House, 202 2], 242) required a careful reading , which was “unclear” and “could have been worded better,” and then went on to say “there were numerous ones of those cases”; and

WHEREAS, Currently active theologians from heterodox church bodies who have not unconditionally subscribed to the Lutheran Confessions contributed to the volume; and

WHEREAS, Bringing clarity to this matter will do much for the sake of unity amid significant discord surrounding this volume;

therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention be memorialized to instruct CPH to cease distribution of the volume Luther ’s Large Catechism with Annotations and Contemporary Applications ; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct CPH to divide Luther’s Large Catechism with Annotations and Contemporary Applications into two volumes: the first volume to contain Luther’s Large Catechism with Annotations and the second volume to contain the Essays on Contemporary Applications ; and to include with the second volume a statement to indicate the Synod or church body affiliation of each author and that not all authors are in doctrinal agreement with The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod;

and be it finally

Resolved, That pastors be encouraged to use the first volume containing Luther’s Large Catechism with Annotations for study and discussion; and pastors be encouraged to use the second volume containing Essays on Contemporary Applications as they see fit for study and discussion.

North Dakota District