Version History
Current published version
Today's Business, Issue 3. pp. 326-327. Revised published proposal.
Official Resolution Source Text
Resolution: 6-01A
Canonical number: 6-01
Committee: Pastoral Ministry and Seminaries
Source: Today's Business, Issue 3
Printed pages: pp. 326-327
PDF pages: 18-19
Version: revised, current-published-proposal
Source reference: Issue 3, pp. 326-327
Line numbers follow Today's Business, Issue 3, with numbering reset on each printed page, so delegates can compare this page with the official PDF.
Page 326
- To Uphold a Deep and Broad Study of Holy Scripture
- and Book of Concord in Synod Seminaries
- RESOLUTION 6-01A
- Overtures 6-01–8 (CW, 363–66)
- WHEREAS, Pastors of the Synod vow in the rite of ordination to teach in accordance with Holy Scripture and the
- Lutheran Confessions; and
- WHEREAS, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, have historically
- grounded pastoral formation in sustained, direct engagement with the text of Holy Scripture in the original languages;
- and
- WHEREAS, Faithful pastoral ministry requires not merely acquaintance with the biblical text through secondary
- sources, but the ability to read, translate, and interpret Holy Scripture firsthand for preaching, teaching, catechesis,
- pastoral care, evangelism, and defense of the faith; and
- WHEREAS, The church benefits when pastors are formed to handle the Word of God with confidence rooted in direct
- textual study rather than dependence upon external aids alone; and
- WHEREAS, St. Paul pronounces every word of Scripture as “God- breathed and useful” (2 Tim. 3:16 NIV) and
- declares and defends the Gospel of Christ with arguments based on the precise wording of the sacred Scriptures; and
- WHEREAS, Dr. Luther warned that the devil himself seeks to deprive the Church of the biblical languages (Luther’s
- Works 45:358) and also perceived that nothing less than the Gospel itself was at stake (ibid., 359); and
- WHEREAS, The Book of Concord serves as the Church’s binding doctrinal confession because (Latin: quia) it
- faithfully confesses the teaching of Holy Scripture, as set forth in the Formula of Concord (FC Ep, Summary Content);
- and
- WHEREAS, Pastoral formation within the Synod requires more than familiarity with the Lutheran Confessions, but
- sustained study that forms pastors who confess, teach, and practice theology in full accord with them; and
- WHEREAS, The unity of the Church is preserved when pastors are formed to interpret Scripture and conduct ministry
- within the shared doctrinal framework of the Lutheran Confessions; and
- WHEREAS, The Synod has consistently affirmed quia subscription to the Lutheran Confessions as foundational to
- pastoral formation and ecclesial trust; and
- WHEREAS, We need Master of Divinity pastors equipped and capable to supervise vicars and interns, and to oversee
- specific ministry pastors; therefore be it
Page 327
- Resolved, That the Synod’s seminaries, across all their programs, maintain and enhance courses of study that attend
- to careful, thorough study of Holy Scripture and ensure that all pastors certified for ordination demonstrate strong
- knowledge of and glad reception of “the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the …
- only true standard or norm by which all teachers and doctrines are to be judged” (FC SD, Comprehensive Summary, 3);
- and be it further
- Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm and encourage the seminaries to maintain and deepen rigorous instruction in the
- original languages of Holy Scripture, emphasizing direct translation and exegetical engagement with the biblical text,
- resisting trends toward reduced or merely introductory engagement with the biblical languages in pastoral formation;
- and be it further
- Resolved, That the Synod’s seminaries be commended and encouraged to fully commit to and persist in forming
- pastors who are capable of independent, faithful handling of the scriptural text in the original languages for the sake
- of the church’s preaching and teaching; and be it further
- Resolved, That the Synod’s seminaries instill in our future pastors those habits and disciplines that maintain
- the ongoing study of Scripture, including the knowledge and use of the biblical languages, throughout a lifetime of
- ministry, and that circuits and districts foster and encourage the same; and be it further
- Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm and encourage the seminaries of the Synod to maintain and deepen
- comprehensive, integrated instruction in the Book of Concord throughout the curriculum and extended throughout
- a lifetime of ministry, and that circuits and districts foster and encourage the same; and be it further
- Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm and encourage the seminaries to continue making the Lutheran Confessions
- a hermeneutical and theological framework shaping all pastoral instruction; and be it further
- Resolved, That the seminaries of the Synod be encouraged to form pastors whose preaching, teaching, and practice
- flow from a robust quia commitment to the Lutheran Confessions and to ensure that all pastors certified for ordination
- demonstrate knowledge of and glad reception of the Lutheran Confessions; and be it finally
- Resolved, That the Synod give thanks to God for the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions and pray for
- pastors who confess them faithfully in doctrine and life.
