To Open Access to Lutheran Confessions

Official Workbook overture source text

8-11 
To Open Access to Lutheran Confessions 
WHEREAS, The primary objectives of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod, as stated  in Constitution Article III, are  to: 
“conserve and promote the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4:3–6; 1 Cor. 
1:10), work through its official structure toward fellowship with 
other Christian church bodies, and provide a united defense against 
schism, sectarianism (Rom. 16:17), and heresy”; and to “strengthen 
congregations and their members in giving bold witness by word 
and deed to the love and work of God, the Father, Son, and Holy 
Spirit, and extend that Gospel witness into all the world”; and 
W
HEREAS, We pray in the collect for the church that “Thy Word, 
as becometh it, may not be  bound, but have free course and be 
preached to the joy and edifying of Christ’s holy  people,” (The 
Lutheran Hymnal, 14); and 
WHEREAS, The Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran 
Church (Lutheran Confessions), as listed in Constitution Article II 
“as a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word 
of God,” are an indispensable resource for achieving the primary 
objectives of the Synod; and 
W
HEREAS, Concordia Publishing House (CPH) is the official 
publishing house of the Synod; and 
WHEREAS, CPH in 2006 published the Lutheran Confessions  
under the title: Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions— A Reader’s 
Edition of the Book of Concord, 2nd edition (Reader’s Edition); and 
WHEREAS, The Reader’s Edition, with its historical introductions 
and other included materials,  presents the Lutheran Confessions 
most intelligibly and clearly; and is the generally preferred English 
translation among native and non-native English speakers alike; and 
is the preferred source for most derivative translations into other 
languages; and 
W
HEREAS, The Reader’s Edition  is currently restricted by 
copyright and licensing, so that the full text is not accessible on the 
Synod’s website nor anywhere else online; nor is the print  
publication available in most countries; nor is any derivative 
translation permitted to  be made and published in print or online 
without prior permission; and 
WHEREAS, Removing the current restrictions of the Reader’s 
Edition would greatly assist the  Synod in achieving her primary 
objectives, by enabling a wider distribution and accessibility of the 
Lutheran Confessions; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod further its goals and expand the reach 
of Reader’s Edition by directing CPH to grant general license to any 
and all interested parties to publish, with appropriate attribution, the 
text of Reader’s Edition  online, in whole or in part; and to grant 
license to  any and all interested parties to publish the text of 
Reader’s Edition in print globally, in whole or in part; and to grant 
license to any and all interested parties to produce and  publish, in 
print and online, derivative translations of Reader’s Edition without 
restriction; and be it further 
Resolved, That the Synod give thanks to God for the diligent 
work of Rev. Paul T. McCain and all the faithful laborers at CPH 
who have made  Reader’s Edition and other fine works  available; 
and be it finally 
Resolved, That if CPH  should desire remuneration in 
compensation for anticipated loss of revenue because of this action, 
Synod should pay CPH a  sum that is mutually agreeable to the 
Synod and to CPH. 
Minnesota South District 
Ov.