To Open Access to Lutheran Confessions

Ov. 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

WHEREAS, 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

WHEREAS, 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

WHEREAS, 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