Resolutions
Resolution results tagged Doctrinal. Theme tags are a conservative research aid, not official LCMS classifications.
50 results in Doctrinal.
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
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
To Address the Public Reading of Scripture RESOLUTION 5-09 Report R62.11 (CW, 269–70); Overtures 5-26–29 (CW, 352–54) WHEREAS, The public reading of Scripture is an integral part of Christian worship services, as seen in the New Testament (Acts, 1 Timothy 4) and throughout Christian history; and WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR)
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
To Amend Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (b) RESOLUTION 5-06 President’s Report, Part 2 (TB, 1:30) WHEREAS, Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (b)(1–3) speaks of “formal” recognition of altar and pulpit fellowship, which suggests that the Synod also informally recognizes fellowship, a confusing phrase understood by certain other churches to mean practicing church fellowship without recognized
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
To Amend Bylaws to Reinsert 2007 Pastoral Colloquy Bylaws from Policy Manual RESOLUTION 6-12 Overtures 6-11–13 (CW, 367–70) WHEREAS, The 2010 Synod convention removed numerous pastoral colloquy bylaws and added Bylaw 3.10.2.2 (a) (Res. 8 -08A, “To Realign National Synod Ministries around Two Mission Boards”), which directs the Colloquy Committee for the Past
To Amend Bylaws to Reinstate Commission on Worship RESOLUTION 4-06 Overtures 4-23–31, 40–42, 46 (CW, 314–19, 324–27) Preamble The Word of God and the Sacraments are the means by which God has promised to deal with us (SA III VIII 10). It is by these means that justifying faith is obtained (AC V). In order to obtain this faith, the ministry of purely teaching
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
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
To Clarify Lutheran Identity in Connection with the Concordia Universities RESOLUTION 7-07 Overtures 7-04–07 (CW, 422–24) WHEREAS, The 2023 Synod convention (Res. 7 -04B, “To Revise Bylaws to Revisit and Renew Relationship of Colleges and Universities with the Synod,” Proceedings, 170–72) revised Bylaw subsection 3.6.6 to direct the Concordia University Syst
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
To Clarify Oversight and Revitalize Role of Registered Service Organizations RESOLUTION 4-04 Report R1 (CW, 1–5); Overtures 4-32–35 (CW, 319–22); President’s Report, Part 2, (TB, 1:28); Overture L4-57 (TB, 1:46–48) WHEREAS, The 2016 Synod convention created a task force to review the current structure and recommend the best model for the Synod’s relationship
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
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
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
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
To Create a Task Force to Clarify Relationship Between Bylaw 1.10 and 2.14 and Consider Bylaw Changes for Dispute Resolution (Bylaw 1.10) and Expulsion of Congregations or Individuals from Membership in the Synod (Bylaw 2.14) RESOLUTION 10-02 Overtures 10-06, 08, 12–17, 20–23 (CW, 503–4, 506–13) WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church —Missouri Synod is united in a com
To Direct the Commission on Theology and Church Relations to Examine Current Political and Social Issues RESOLUTION 4-08 Overtures 4-13–22 (CW, 309–14) WHEREAS, Holy Scripture declares that God created all humanity in His image (Gen 1:27) and that all believers are one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:28), condemns all forms of racial hatred as sinful (James 2:8 –9),
To Educate Young People RESOLUTION 1-08 Report R1.2.1 (CW, 16–19); Overtures 1-10, 15, 17–19, 23 (CW, 282, 285–87, 289) WHEREAS, The LORD commands us to teach our children the Word of God diligently (Deuteronomy 6); and WHEREAS, the Large Catechism states, “… if we wish to have excellent and able persons both for civil and Church leadership, we must spare no
To Encourage University Worship Practices That Form Students to be Faithful to Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions RESOLUTION 7-06 Overture 7-06 (CW, 423–24) WHEREAS, The Synod in convention (2023 Res. 7 -04B, “To revise Bylaws to Revisit and Renew Relationship of Colleges and Universities with the Synod”) revised Bylaw 3.6.6 to direct the Concordia Universi
To Encourage Use of Counseling and Telehealth Services for Care and Retention of Church Workers RESOLUTION 3-04 Overture 3-07 (CW, 301–2) WHEREAS, Church workers of the Synod experience unique vocational stressors inherent to ecclesial callings, including isolation, heavy workloads, public scrutiny, financial strain, and relational pressures; and WHEREAS, Re
To Give Thanks for Concordia Publishing House’s Use of Bible Translations RESOLUTION 8-05 Overtures 8-07–08 (CW, 440–41) WHEREAS, We accept without reservation that the Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament are “the written Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and of practice” (Const. Art. II); and WHEREAS, Passages of Holy Scripture are use
To Give Thanks for LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces RESOLUTION 2-01 Overtures 2-06 (CW, 296–97) WHEREAS, From the Civil War through both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and more recent areas of conflict, Synod pastors, serving honorably and with distinction as military chaplains, bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to those protecting our great nation; and WHER
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
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
To Give Thanks to God for 1700th Anniversary of First Council of Nicaea RESOLUTION 5-13 Overtures 5-37, 5-44 (CW, 358–59, 362) WHEREAS, The year 2025 marked the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nica ea, its having begun in Asia Minor on May 20, A.D. 325; and WHEREAS, The First Council of Nica ea opposed Arianism and confessed the doctrine of the Ho
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
To Promote Awareness of Christian Adoption and Fostering Needs RESOLUTION 3-02 Overture 3-01 (CW, 299) WHEREAS, Adoption figures prominently in Holy Scripture (Gal. 4:5) and the baptismal theology of the Evangelical Lutheran Church; and WHEREAS, Christians have a n historical legacy of enacting this Gospel by undertaking and coordinating care for “orphans an
To Promote Ministry Among Youth and Young Adults RESOLUTION 1-09 Report R1.2.1 (CW, 16–19); Overtures 1-13, 21 (CW, 284, 288) WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus Christ has commanded His Church to make disciples of all nations by baptizing and teaching the baptized (Matt. 28:19–20), and to raise up successive generations in the faith; and WHEREAS, The Church has the res
To Reaffirm Sanctity of Human Life Regarding Practice of In Vitro Fertilization RESOLUTION 5-11 Overtures 5-19–21 (CW, 347–49) WHEREAS, Holy Scripture teaches that human life is a sacred gift from God, who is the Creator of all life (Gen. 1:26–39 28; Psalm 139:13–16); and WHEREAS, Christ sanctified and redeemed all human beings, including human embryos, in H
To Reaffirm the Synod’s Positions on Men and Women in the Church RESOLUTION 5-08 Overtures 5-30–35 (CW, 354–57) WHEREAS, Holy Scripture clearly teaches that the pastoral office is reserved for qualified men, and therefore prohibits women from publicly preaching, teaching, or leading worship in the assembled congregation (1 Timothy 2; 1 Corinthians 11; 1 Cori
To Reaffirm the Synod’s Process for Training and Certification for Pastors RESOLUTION 6-05 Report R13.3 (CW, 68–70); Overtures 6-14–24 (CW, 370–79) Rationale Article III of the Synod’s Constitution lists the following among the objectives of the Synod: 1. Conserve and promote the unity of the true faith … 3. Recruit and train pastors … To accomplish these ob
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
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
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,
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
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
To Seek Commission on Theology and Church Relations Opinion regarding Usage of Matthew 18:15–20 RESOLUTION 10-01 Overtures 10-10, 12 (CW, 505–7) WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church —Missouri Synod, being faithful to Scripture, acknowledges, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousn
To Seek Unity and Peace in the Synod and to Establish a Practical Statement for God-Pleasing Use of Digital Communications RESOLUTION 10-04 Report R62.6 (CW, 232–34); Overtures 4-43–44, 49, 10-04–05 (CW, 326–28, 502–3) WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus Christ prayed for the unity of His Church so that the world might believe He has been sent by the Father (John 17:11,
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
To Support Residential Master of Divinity and Alternate Route Pastoral Formation for the Sake of the Flock RESOLUTION 6-04 Report R13.1–3 (CW, 64–74); Overtures 6-25–44 (CW, 379–91) Preamble The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod ( LCMS) has repeatedly identified full -time, residential pastoral formation at its seminaries as the standard, preferred route for me
To Uphold a Deep and Broad Study of Holy Scripture and Book of Concord in Synod Seminaries RESOLUTION 6-01 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,
At 3:07 each day, remember John 15:7 and pray for Christ's Church, the convention, our leaders, and the work of the Gospel among us.
