To Commend “The Lutheran Understanding of Church Fellowship”
and the CTCR Report on the Synodical Discussions

RESOLUTION 3-07A

Report 3-01A (CW, pp. 48–51); Overtures 3-07–10, 3-12, 3-15–18, 3-21–23 (CW,
pp. 157–63)

	WHEREAS, The action of the 1998 convention called for a study of fellowship principles and practices 
(Res. 3-03B) on the nature of our church body (why we are who we are) and our fellowship principles and practices (why
 we do what we do); and

	WHEREAS, The 1998 convention (Res. 3-10C) also called for all 2000 District conventions to utilize the study to help 
build a “better understanding, general harmony and more consistent practice in our Synod”; and

	WHEREAS, The President of the Synod and the Commission on Theology and Church Relations has jointly produced 
the document “The Lutheran Understanding of Church Fellowship” which is in harmony with Scripture and the Lutheran 
Confessions; and

	WHEREAS, Our District conventions utilized and studied the document; and

	WHEREAS, “A majority affirmed The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod position on church fellowship that it set forth. 
They found it scriptural and confessional and wanted The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to maintain its historic position” 
(CTCR Report, CW, p. 49); and

	WHEREAS,  The CTCR has listened to the reactions from the Synod and written a response (CW, pp. 48-51) in 
conjunction with the synodical president; therefore be it

	Resolved, That we give thanks to God for the work of the sainted Reverend Dr. Alvin Barry and the Commission on 
Theology and Church Relations in producing the document “The Lutheran Understanding of Church Fellowship” (CW, pp.
 375—87); and be it further

	Resolved, We give thanks to God for the thousands of pastors, commissioned ministers and lay people who have 
participated in the study and discussion of this document; and be it further

	Resolved, That we rejoice and give thanks to God for the unity of doctrine and practice that this study has demonstrated; 
and be it further

	Resolved, That we commend this study and response for continued use and guidance to build that unity where it is still
 lacking; and be it further

	Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm once again its position on joint worship and recommit ourselves to live according to the
 instruction of the Lord’s Apostle, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have 
received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make very effort to keep the
unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1–3) and “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” 
(Eph. 5:21); and be it finally

	Resolved, That all action taken in this resolution shall be used to help carry out “The Great Commission” and shall not in 
any way detract or distract from the primary mission of God’s Kingdom here on Earth. We will remember 1-02!

	Action:  Adopted (7)

	(This resolution was first introduced in session 5 at which time the convention agreed to consider the following substitute 
motion: WHEREAS, The 1998 convention called for a study of church fellowship by the CTCR; and WHEREAS, The CTCR 
and President of the Synod produced, “The Lutheran Understanding of Church Fellowship”; and WHEREAS, “The Lutheran
Understanding of Church Fellowship” was utilized as a study document at all the District conventions in the year 2000; and 
WHEREAS, The study has hardly been acknowledged as a consensus document of the entire Synod in the time it has been 
under study; and WHEREAS, Numerous questions and concerns remain unresolved about the study, including the study’s 
own commitment to a genuinely Lutheran understanding of church fellowship; and WHEREAS, The theology of the Lutheran 
Confessions can be understood as appreciating the fullness of the Body of Christ than the current study document allows; 
and WHEREAS, The many practical issues of addressing church fellowship in the experience of real church remain largely 
unaddressed in the CTCR study; therefore be it Resolved, That “The Lutheran Understanding of Church Fellowship” be 
recommitted for additional study to the CTCR and input from the larger synod; and be it further Resolved, That the 2001 
convention express its thanks to the CTCR for its work to date in examining the fellowship issue. In session 7, after discussion 
continued on the substitute motion, it failed to carry and consideration returned to the original resolution. It was adopted without
 amendment [yes: 782; no: 343]. The final resolve is added as required by Res. 1-02, adopted by the convention in an
earlier session.
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 B. Cases Of Discretion

	Not every occasion where worship takes place is necessarily a manifestation of church fellowship.  There are situations 
where discretion is appropriate.  Some laity raised concerns about attending Baptisms, confirmations, weddings, funerals, etc.
of family and friends in churches not in church fellowship with the LCMS.  Attendance at such services is generally a matter
of personal judgment and individual conscience.  On such occasions LCMS members will want to refrain from receiving Holy 
Communion and participating in rites of other churches that compromise their confession of faith. Doubtful situations may 
produce emotional distress and may require pastoral counsel.

	Pastors, teachers, and other officially recognized church workers are often asked to participate in activities outside of
 their own and other LCMS congregations.  Some of these are civic events.  Offering prayers, speaking, and reading Scripture
 at events sponsored by governments, public schools and volunteer organizations would be a problem if the organization in 
charge restricted a Christian witness.  For instance, if an invitation requires a pastor to pray to God without mentioning Jesus, 
he cannot in good conscience accept.  Without such a restriction, a Lutheran pastor may for valid and good reason participate 
in civic affairs such as an inauguration, graduation or a right-to-life activity.  These occasions may provide opportunity to
witness to the Gospel.  Pastors may have honest differences of opinion about whether or to what extent it is appropriate or 
helpful to participate in these or similar civic events.  In these cases charity must prevail.

	There are also “once-in-a-life-time” situations.  It is virtually impossible to anticipate all such situations or to establish rules 
in advance.  Specific answers cannot be given to cover every type of situation pastors and congregations face.  These 
situations can be evaluated only on a case-by-case basis and may evoke different responses from different pastors who may 
be equally committed to LCMS fellowship principles.  The LCMS has always recognized this.

	However, the response to one situation should not establish a precedent for future ones.  Where pastors regularly consult 
each other and are convinced of one another’s integrity, they are freer to use their discretion where such prior consultation is 
impossible.  We do not want to fall into the trap of case law rigidity by setting down rules for every conceivable situation.
At the same time, the exception should not become the rule, lest the truth of the Gospel be compromised.

	A pastor may face situations in the community where no other pastoral care is available and he may be asked to minister
 to those outside his congregation.  Before doing this, ideally he would consult with other LCMS pastors, especially the Circuit
 Counselor, District President or Vice Presidents.  But often these cases do not allow for consultation of any kind and 
on-the-spot decisions have to be made.  In these and other situations nearly every pastor may question even his own decision 
and wish he had taken another course of action.  We do not have the option of changing the past but must be content with 
believing that we made the best possible decision under the circumstances.