Resolutions

Search Proposed Resolutions

Resolution results tagged Doctrinal. Theme tags are a conservative research aid, not official LCMS classifications.

28 results in Doctrinal.

5-04proposed resolutionpp. 99-101

To Address Concerns with Partner Churches

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

5-05proposed resolutionpp. 101-102

To Address Open Communion and Pastoral Exceptions in Extraordinary Circumstances

To Address Open Communion and Pastoral Exceptions in Extraordinary Circumstances RESOLUTION 5-05 Overtures 5-16–18 (CW, 345–347) WHEREAS, Holy Scripture teaches clearly that the Lord’s Supper is the true body and blood of Christ (Matt. 26:26 –8 29; Mark 14:22 –25; Luke 22:15 –20; 1 Cor. 11:23 –26), and that those who receive the body and blood of Christ are

4-09proposed resolutionpp. 92-93

To Address Uses of Artificial Intelligence

To Address Uses of Artificial Intelligence RESOLUTION 4-09 Overtures 4-51–52 (CW, 329–30) WHEREAS, The capabilities and regular use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) have dramatically increased in recent years; and WHEREAS, AI tools are increasingly being used by churches and pastors to create and curate digital content and com

9-11proposed resolutionpp. 160-173

To Amend Bylaw Section 1.5, etc., to Unify in the Bylaws and Revise Corporate Formation Requirements for Instrumental Entities of Corporate Synod and Agencies of the Synod

To Amend Bylaw Section 1.5, etc., to Unify in the Bylaws and Revise Corporate Formation Requirements for Instrumental Entities of Corporate Synod and Agencies of the Synod RESOLUTION 9-11 Overtures 9-06–07 (CW, 458–467); Report LR63 (TB, 1:37–38) Rationale “The Synod’s Constitution says our objective is to ‘strengthen congregations and their members in givin

2-04proposed resolutionpp. 71-74

To Amend Bylaws 1.7.3, 2.11.1, 3.8.3, 3.8.3.8, and 4.4.4–5 to Establish a Framework for Ecclesiastical Supervision and Pastoral Care for Independent International Congregations

To Amend Bylaws 1.7.3, 2.11.1, 3.8.3, 3.8.3.8, and 4.4.4–5 to Establish a Framework for Ecclesiastical Supervision and Pastoral Care for Independent International Congregations RESOLUTION 2-04 Overture 2-03 (CW 295–96) WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church —Missouri Synod (LCMS) has had a long history of working with independent Lutheran congregations located in inte

9-06proposed resolutionpp. 152-153

To Amend Bylaws 3.6.1.8 (c) and 3.6.4 (a) to Clarify that Two-Thirds Approval Requirements for Synodwide Corporate Entity and Lutheran Church Extension Fund Governing Document Amendments are Based on Members Actually Present at Meeting

To Amend Bylaws 3.6.1.8 (c) and 3.6.4 (a) to Clarify that Two-Thirds Approval Requirements for Synodwide Corporate Entity and Lutheran Church Extension Fund Governing Document Amendments are Based on Members Actually Present at Meeting RESOLUTION 9-06 Overtures 9-16, 46 (CW, 475, 490) Rationale During a review of Lutheran Church Extension Fund’s (LCEF) artic

9-12proposed resolutionpp. 173-174

To Amend Bylaws Exclusive to Lutheran Church Extension Fund to Clarify That It May Provide Real Estate Evaluation and Redevelopment Services in Support of Synod Mission and Ministry

To Amend Bylaws Exclusive to Lutheran Church Extension Fund to Clarify That It May Provide Real Estate Evaluation and Redevelopment Services in Support of Synod Mission and Ministry RESOLUTION 9-12 Overture 9-08 (CW, 467–68) Rationale Most congregations and ministries within the Synod are owners of real estate. Many of these ministries need assistance evalua

9-03proposed resolutionpp. 143-146

To Amend Bylaws regarding Doctrinal Review

To Amend Bylaws regarding Doctrinal Review RESOLUTION 9-03 Overture 9-04 (CW, 452–54) Rationale The Synod has a sweeping basic principle of inclusivity for doctrinal review. It is stated in Bylaw 1.9.1.1 (a): “All official periodicals and journals of the Synod as well as any material with doctrinal content issued publicly by boards, commissions, or other sub

6-10proposed resolutionpp. 118-120

To Amend Bylaws to Address Seminary Adjunct Faculty

To Amend Bylaws to Address Seminary Adjunct Faculty RESOLUTION 6-10 Overtures 6-10, 73 (CW, 367, 408) WHEREAS, Both Concordia Seminary , St. Louis and Concordia Theological Seminary , Fort Wayne make use of contracted faculty, bearing various titles including “adjunct faculty,” “guest instructors,” “guest professors,” or “visiting instructors” (hereafter “ad

9-08proposed resolutionpp. 154-157

To Amend Bylaws to Clarify and Streamline Responsibilities of Appointed Synod Officers

To Amend Bylaws to Clarify and Streamline Responsibilities of Appointed Synod Officers RESOLUTION 9-08 Overture 9-09 (CW, 468–70) Rationale Under current Bylaws, the positions of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) exist to assist the Synod Board of Directors (BOD) in carrying out the responsibilities of the BOD to the Synod.

9-09proposed resolutionpp. 157-159

To Amend Bylaws to Coordinate Responsibilities of Chief Mission Officer with Other Synod Officers

To Amend Bylaws to Coordinate Responsibilities of Chief Mission Officer with Other Synod Officers RESOLUTION 9-09 Overture 9-10 (CW, 470–71) Rationale The 2010 Synod convention made substantial changes to the structure and organization of the national Synod office that impacted significantly the mission operations of the Synod. These changes included creatin

9-04proposed resolutionpp. 146-151

To Amend Various Bylaws for Purposes of Clarification or Improvement

To Amend Various Bylaws for Purposes of Clarification or Improvement RESOLUTION 9-04 Overture 9-05 (CW, 454–58) Preamble The Commission on Handbook (COH), responding to a variety of observations from officers, agencies, and members of the Synod, has proposed amendments to bylaws that have given opportunity to confusion or required repeated or nonobvious inte

5-15proposed resolutionp. 297

To Call Upon the AALC to Honor the Bonds of Fellowship and Resolve Matters Threatening the Unity of Doctrine and Practice

To Call Upon the AALC to Honor the Bonds of Fellowship and Resolve Matters Threatening the Unity of Doctrine and Practice RESOLUTION 5-15 Report R1.1 (CW, 5–15); Overture 5-09 (CW, 341) WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) recognized church fellowship with The American Association of Lutheran Churches (AALC) at its 2007 convention (Res. 3- 01,

4-10proposed resolutionpp. 93-95

To Celebrate Concordia Historical Institute Centenary and Renew the Synod’s Commitment to Treasure and Trumpet Its Redeemed History

To Celebrate Concordia Historical Institute Centenary and Renew the Synod’s Commitment to Treasure and Trumpet Its Redeemed History RESOLUTION 4-10 Overture 4-56 (CW, 332–33) WHEREAS, Concordia Historical Institute (CHI) will observe its centenary anniversary on April 28, 2027, under the theme: “Treasuring & Trumpeting Our Lutheran History—for All the Saints

4-05proposed resolutionpp. 86-88

To Clarify Nomenclature for Chaplaincy and Institutional Care Work and To Amend Related Bylaws

To Clarify Nomenclature for Chaplaincy and Institutional Care Work and To Amend Related Bylaws RESOLUTION 4-05 Overtures 4-38–39 (CW, 323–24) Rationale Holy Scripture teaches that the Office of the Holy Ministry is entrusted with the public preaching of the Word and the administration of the Sacraments (Matt. 28:18 –20; John 20:21–23; 1 Cor. 4:1); and the Lu

7-04proposed resolutionpp. 128-129

To Clarify Prior Approval Protocols for University Theological Faculties

To Clarify Prior Approval Protocols for University Theological Faculties RESOLUTION 7-04 Overtures 7-14–24 (CW, 428–33) WHEREAS, Numerous overtures to the 2026 Synod convention have addressed the prior approval protocols for theology faculty for our Concordia universities and a desire for transparency and clarity; and WHEREAS, The Synod treasures our Concord

4-03proposed resolutionp. 85

To Commend and Sunset Synod Mission Priorities

To Commend and Sunset Synod Mission Priorities RESOLUTION 4-03 Overture 4-01, 08, 10–11 (CW, 303, 306–07) WHEREAS, The 2023 Synod convention instructed the Board for National Mission and Board for International Mission to recommend possible revisions to the mission priorities and possible bylaw revisions that would articulate both the process for developing

5-12proposed resolutionpp. 107-108

To Conclude Created Male and Female Task Force and Receive Its Recommendations

To Conclude Created Male and Female Task Force and Receive Its Recommendations RESOLUTION 5-12 Overtures 4-36, 5-41 (CW, 322–23, 360–61) WHEREAS, Holy Scripture teaches the following truths concerning humanity: God created humanity to be male and female (Gen. 1:27; Matt. 19:4); God instituted marriage between one man and one woman as a lifelong union for com

4-07proposed resolutionp. 91

To Condemn Political Violence and Encourage Participation in Public Life

To Condemn Political Violence and Encourage Participation in Public Life RESOLUTION 4-07 Overtures 4-45, 47–48, 53–55 (CW, 327–28, 330–32) WHEREAS, Scripture (Matt. 22:15 –21) and the Lutheran Confessions ( AC XVI; LC I 4) affirm that the entire civil realm is an institution of God to be respected and supported; and WHEREAS, Our Lord commands us to pray for

5-03proposed resolutionpp. 98-99

To Give Thanks for the Mission Province in Sweden

To Give Thanks for the Mission Province in Sweden RESOLUTION 5-03 Report R1.1, R12 (CW, 7, 62) Preamble The Mission Province in Sweden (MPS) was formed in 2003 to support confessional Lutheran pastors and congregations and to restore the possibility of ordination for future pastors who either could not be ordained or would not be properly supervised in the i

6-03proposed resolutionpp. 111-112

To Give Thanks for the Office of the Holy Ministry and our Synod’s Pastors

To Give Thanks for the Office of the Holy Ministry and our Synod’s Pastors RESOLUTION 6-03 Reports R13.1–2 (CW, 64–67) Preamble The foundational confession of the Lutheran Church was made before Emperor Charles V in 1530 at the Diet of Augsburg. The seven Lutheran princes made the Gospel the center of their Confession in Article IV: “Our churches teach that

1-02proposed resolutionpp. 58-59

To Proclaim 2029 the 500th Year of Luther’s Catechisms

To Proclaim 2029 the 500th Year of Luther’s Catechisms RESOLUTION 1-02 Reports R1, R1.1, R1.2.2, R33, R35, R58 (CW, 1–15, 19–28, 117, 119–20, 141–43); Overtures 1-22–23, 29–30 (CW, 289, 291–92) WHEREAS, The year 2029 marks the 500th anniversary of the publication of Martin Luther’s Small and Large Catechisms; and WHEREAS, Luther’s catechisms remain among the

5-01proposed resolutionpp. 95-97

To Recognize Altar and Pulpit Fellowship with Evangelical Lutheran Christian Church of Bolivia

To Recognize Altar and Pulpit Fellowship with Evangelical Lutheran Christian Church of Bolivia RESOLUTION 5-01 Overture 5-01 (CW, 335–36) Preamble Iglesia Cristiana Evangelica Luterana, the Evangelical Lutheran Christian Church (ICEL) has its roots in the work of the Norwegian Lutheran Mission (NLM) that began in the 1970’s, primarily in rural, Quechua -spea

5-07proposed resolutionp. 103

To Refer “Sister Church” Nomenclature Change to Commission on Handbook

To Refer “Sister Church” Nomenclature Change to Commission on Handbook RESOLUTION 5-07 President’s Report, Part 2 (TB, 1:30) WHEREAS, “Partner church” is a confusing term that can refer both to church bodies in fellowship and to church bodies not in fellowship but partnering toward a variety of ends (e.g., disaster relief, medical programming, seminary forma

5-10proposed resolutionp. 106

To Request Commission on Theology and Church Relations Report on Human Organ Donation and Transplantation

To Request Commission on Theology and Church Relations Report on Human Organ Donation and Transplantation RESOLUTION 5-10 Overture 5-23 (CW, 350) WHEREAS, The 1981 Synod convention adopted Resolution 8 -05, “To Encourage Donation of Kidneys and Other Organs” (Proc., 204), which encouraged organ donation; and WHEREAS, Both medical technology and its academic,

5-14proposed resolutionpp. 109-110

To Respectfully Decline Overtures

To Respectfully Decline Overtures RESOLUTION 5-14 Overtures 5-11–12, 38–39 (CW, 342–44, 359–60) WHEREAS, The floor committee has considered all overtures assigned to it and has concluded, for various reasons, that certain overtures should be declined; therefore be it Resolved, That the following overtures be respectfully declined for the reasons given: Overt

10-07proposed resolutionp. 185

To Respectfully Decline Overtures

To Respectfully Decline Overtures RESOLUTION 10-07 Overtures 10-07, 11, 18–19, 26, 33 (CW, 504, 506, 511, 514, 519)3 WHEREAS, The floor committee has considered all overtures assigned to it and has concluded, for various reasons, that certain overtures should be declined; therefore be it Resolved, That the following overtures be respectfully declined for the

5-02proposed resolutionpp. 97-98

To Support and Encourage Recognition of Altar and Pulpit Fellowship with Lutheran Mission—Australia

To Support and Encourage Recognition of Altar and Pulpit Fellowship with Lutheran Mission—Australia RESOLUTION 5-02 Overture 5-02 (CW, 336–37) Preamble By its own acknowledgement, the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand (LCANZ; hereafter LCA) has struggled with deep theological divisions for decades. One of the most public areas of disagreement has

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