Version History
Current published version
Today's Business, Issue 1. pp. 99-101. Original floor committee resolution.
No later published versions have been added.
Official Resolution Source Text
Resolution: 5-04
Canonical number: 5-04
Committee: Theology and Church Relations
Source: Today's Business, Issue 1
Printed pages: pp. 99-101
PDF pages: 99-101
Version: original, current-published-proposal
Source reference: Issue 1, pp. 99-101
Line numbers follow Today's Business, Issue 1, with numbering reset on each printed page, so delegates can compare this page with the official PDF.
Page 99
- To Address Concerns with Partner Churches
- RESOLUTION 5-04
- Overtures 5-03–09 (CW, 337–41)
- WHEREAS, The psalmist writes, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the
- precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is
- like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life
- forevermore” (Psalm 133); and
- WHEREAS, We give thanks to God through His Son, Jesus Christ, for our 43 Synod partner churches united with us in
- Christ, in confession, in worship, and in the church working together through mission, mercy, vocation, and stewardship;
- and
- WHEREAS, Many of our partner churches and their leaders have often contended for the truth of God’s Word in adverse
- circumstances; and
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- WHEREAS, The Holy Scriptures enjoin us to maintain the unity of the faith in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3, 13); and
- WHEREAS, The Formula of Concord (FC), in line with this biblical truth, confesses that external fellowship in the
- church is to be based upon agreement “in the doctrine and all its articles,” as well as “in the right use of the holy
- Sacraments” (FC SD X 31); and
- WHEREAS, The first objective of the Synod is 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” (Const. Art. III 1); and
- WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has confessed that “all Christians are required by God
- … to have church-fellowship only with orthodox church-bodies,” (A Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the
- Missouri Synod [adopted 1932], 28) in accordance with the divine command to avoid those who “cause divisions and
- create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught” (Rom. 16:17); and
- WHEREAS, In recent years, a number of concerning teachings, practices, and internal theological disputes have arisen
- or persisted among a small number of partner churches, including:
- • the practice of fellowship between church bodies without agreement in the doctrine of the Gospel in all its articles;
- • the consideration of the ordination of women and the service of women in roles that cause confusion with the pastoral
- office;
- • the advocacy of apostolic succession and the necessity of episcopal ordination;
- • unionistic and syncretistic practices in relationships with heterodox church bodies;
- • membership in the Lutheran World Federation;
- • inappropriate conduct inconsistent with their own constitutions and bylaws and unbecoming of Christian brothers;
- • unwelcome involvement in the ministry of other LCMS partner churches; and
- • violation of protocol and operating agreements with the Synod on matters of discipline and the rostering of pastors
- removed from the Synod with cause;
- and
- WHEREAS, The President of the Synod, as the chief ecumenical officer of the Synod (Bylaw 3.3.1.1.2), is charged
- with preserving the doctrinal integrity of the Synod and representing the Synod in its relationships with other church
- bodies; and
- WHEREAS, The President of the Synod, in his role as chief ecumenical officer, has sought to address many of these
- issues through his church relations staff, by annual International Church Relations Conferences, visitation, theological
- education, regional International Church Relations Fora, and publications such as The Lutheran World Federation Today:
- Missio Dei, Imago Dei and the Ongoing Reformation (2024), Women’s Ordination through the Lens of the Apostles’
- Creed: A Fraternal Theological Dialogue of the Lutheran Church in Korea and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod,
- rev. ed. (2024), Church Body Fellowship: A Collection of Theological Essays, ICRC 2025 (2026), and others; and
- WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) has, in consultation with the President of the
- Synod, addressed many of these concerns in recent documents, including Lutheran World Federation: An Introduction
- and Evaluation from the Theological Perspective of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (2022); Response to the
- Lutheran Church of Australia’s Way Forward Proposal (2024); and Apostolic Succession in Lutheran Theology (2026);
- therefore be it
- Resolved, That the President of the Synod, his church relations staff, and the CTCR be commended for their efforts
- to date in addressing concerns with partner churches, and that the noted CTCR resources be commended to members of
- the Synod and LCMS partner churches and their leaders, that they might be informed about these concerns and our
- theological responses to them; and be it further
- Resolved, That we give thanks to God for the progress already made in these important conversations and for the
- willingness of many partner churches to listen to and respond to our concerns, and that the President of the Synod be urged
- to continue his efforts in this regard, making use of his church relations staff and others as he deems appropriate; and be it
- further
- Resolved, That the CTCR, in accordance with Synod bylaws, be urged to assist the President of the Synod by studying
- controversial theological matters in partner church relations in order to “provide guidance to the Synod in matters of
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- theology and church relations” (Bylaw 3.9.5.2.1) and “bring matters of theology and church relations through special
- studies and documents to the membership of the Synod and to conferences” (Bylaw 3.9.5.2.1 [a]); and be it finally
- Resolved, That the President of the Synod continue to address these matters directly and urgently in the coming
- triennium and report to the next convention concerning his progress.
