Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 96

2026 Convention Workbook
61
OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
C. Requests for Opinions and Bylaw-Mandated 
Assignments
The CTCR receives and responds to requests for two types of opin-
ions:
•	 Advisory opinions are requests for guidance from the Syn-
od President, district presidents, and other Synod officers, 
boards, and commissions on matters of theology and prac-
tice under the general rubric that the CTCR “shall provide 
guidance to the Synod in matters of theology and church re-
lations” (Bylaw 3.9.5.2.1) and “shall assist the President of 
the Synod at his request” (Bylaw 3.9.5.2).
•	 Bylaws also specifically require the CTCR, when requested 
to do so, to render opinions (within 30 days) on theological 
questions that may arise in cases of dispute resolution or cas-
es involving potential expulsion of an LCMS member (see, 
e.g., Bylaw 1.10.18.1 [h]; 2.14.7.8 [h][3]).
The CTCR is also responsible for responding to expressions of 
dissent. Bylaw section 1.8 provides a process for orderly “dissent 
from the doctrinal position of the Synod as expressed in its resolu-
tions and doctrinal statements.” That process involves, first, discus-
sion “within the fellowship of peers” and thereafter the dissent is 
to be “brought to the attention of the Commission on Theology and 
Church Relations” (1.8.2).
The CTCR received no official requests for bylaw-mandated 
opinions or for responses to expressions of dissent in this trienni -
um. It did, however, receive several requests for advisory opinions 
on various matters.
1. President of the Synod Request for Opinion on Lay 
Reading of Sermons and Conduct of Worship in the 
Absence of a Pastor
In November 2022, the CTCR received a request from the Pres-
ident of the Synod to provide a rationale and recommended guide-
lines for laymen who must publicly read sermons or conduct wor -
ship services in the absence of a pastor, whether in an emergency 
situation or for an extended period of time. The CTCR completed 
this assignment, which was unanimously approved at its May 2023 
meeting, but was unable to include it in the 2023 Workbook. There-
fore, the opinion is included in the present Workbook appendix.
2. President of the Synod Request for Opinion on 
Lawsuits between Christians or Members and 
Institutions of Synod
In December 2024, the President of the Synod requested an 
opinion from the CTCR that would address the appropriateness 
of lawsuits between individual Christians, members of the Synod, 
or other institutions and corporate entities of the Synod in light of 
the CTCR’s 1991 report on 1 Corinthians 6 and the Lutheran Con-
fessions. The commission approved an opinion on this issue at its 
February 2025 meeting and forwarded it to the Synod President for 
his information and use. The opinion is included in the Workbook 
appendix.
3. Joint Seminary Board of Regents Request for an 
Opinion on Admission to Seminary for Divorced Men
In November 2024, the commission received a request from 
the joint board of regents of Concordia Seminary and Concordia 
Theological Seminary on the admission of prospective seminarians 
who have been previously divorced. The commission produced an 
5. Provide Assistance Regarding Bioethics (1977 Res. 
03-26)
The 1977 convention encouraged the CTCR to address the 
moral implications of developments in bioethics and biomedical 
technology in order to provide guidance to clergy, workers in those 
fields, and the entire Synod. The commission uses this standing 
assignment to address pertinent matters as they arise, such as the 
recent report on end-of-life decision-making (see I.A.1. above). It 
continues to monitor developments in artificial intelligence, trans-
humanism, medication abortion, IVF, fetal tissue vaccines, and 
euthanasia, among others, in preparation for potential projects on 
them in the future.
6. Inter-Christian Relationships (1981 Res. 3-03A) 
Since 1981, the CTCR has completed a number of documents 
relating to the subject of inter-Christian and inter-church relation -
ships, some in specific response to 1981 Res. 3-03A and subsequent 
resolutions related to it. These include: Inter-Christian Relation-
ships: An Instrument for Study (1991), The Lutheran Understand-
ing of Church Fellowship: Study Materials (2000), The Lutheran 
Understanding of Church Fellowship: Report on Synodical Discus-
sions (2001), Church Relations in the 21st Century (2009), Prin-
ciples for “Cooperation in Externals” with Theological Integrity 
(2010), Theological Dialogue with Other Christian Church Bod-
ies (2011), and Policy for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod 
Declaring Altar and Pulpit Fellowship with Another Church Body 
(2009, rev. 2014, rev. 2021). The materials are all available on the 
CTCR’s website at lcms.org/ctcr.
The Synod’s request for “practical guidelines … to assist offi-
cials, pastors, teachers, congregations, and individuals in the Synod 
in determining which practices and activities are appropriate to the 
various levels of inter-Lutheran and inter-Christian relationships in 
which the Synod is involved” (1981 Res. 3-03A) remains perma -
nently on the commission’s agenda as a standing assignment. The 
CTCR continues to provide such guidance as needed and requested.
7. Beginning of Life Issues (2019 Res. 11-01A)
2016 Task Force 3-04 reviewed all previous CTCR resources 
related to relevant beginning of life issues and prepared an over -
ture for convention consideration. 2019 Res. 11-01A then asked the 
CTCR to “review and revisit” all pertinent documents in its corpus 
“to determine whether and/or where updates to these documents 
are needed, particularly regarding IVF, and recent developments in 
genetic testing, and how such potential updates might best and most 
effectively be communicated to the Synod.” The commission and 
its staff have reviewed and continue to review these reports with an 
eye toward if, where, and how updates might be undertaken. 
8. Biblical Six-Day Creation (2019 Res. 5-09A)
2019 Res. 5-09A encouraged pastors to study and discuss var -
ious CTCR reports related to biblical six-day creation, including 
Creation in Biblical Perspective (1970), Together with All Crea-
tures (2010), and In Christ All Things Hold Together (2015). It did 
not request any direct action from the CTCR, but the commission 
continues to review its current resources and consider new ones. 
It has also developed a bibliography of resources defending bibli -
cal six-day creation that may be commended to the Synod prior to 
convention.