RESOLUTION 02.1.01 TO RECOMMEND A PLAN FOR THE 21 st CENTURY TO THE MEMBERS OF SYNOD FOR REVIEW AND RESPONSE Ref: Overture 1.01 BMSMS Document G19-G24 the Scripture admonishes us to count the cost and recognize the commitment we must make when we respond to the Gospel, Jesus replied, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God " (Luke 9:62); and the commitment to serve the Gospel is not to be undertaken without an understanding of where we are going and what we will do as a church; and the Synod assembled in June 1999 requested that the Board for Mission and Social Ministry submit a plan for the mission and ministry of Lutheran Church Canada for the next decade; and the Board for Mission and Social Ministry has submitted such a plan for the consideration of the Synod at this convention; be it therefore that A Plan for the 21 st Century be recommended to the pastors, congregations, professional workers and administrative agencies of Lutheran Church Canada for consideration and response; and be it finally that a plan for implementation be presented at the next synodical convention. RESOLUTION 02.1.02 THAT LUTHERAN CHURCH CANADA PROVIDE LEADERSHIP IN THE FORMATION OF A AUTONOMOUS CANADIAN LUTHERANS FOR LIFE ORGANIZATION Ref: Overtures 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 1.05 the Holy Scriptures clearly states God is the Creator of all human life (Genesis 1:26-27; Job 10:12; Acts 17:26) from the moment of conception (Job 3:16; Psalm 22: 9-10; Psalm 51:5; Psalm 139:13-16; Ecclesiastes 11:1), and all human life, though corrupted by the Fall, is valued by God and therefore is sacred (Genesis 9:6; Exodus 20:13; Psalm 82:3-4), and God has through the incarnation, life, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of his Son, Jesus, redeemed all human life (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2; 2 Corinthians 5:19); and Lutheran Church Canada has clearly stated its overwhelming support for defending human life in Resolution 88-3-04, To State the Position of the Lutheran Church Canada on Abortion; Resolution 93-2-03, To Promote the Teaching of Biblical Creation; and Resolution 96-1-05, To Reiterate the Position of Lutheran Church Canada on the Sanctity of Life; and God's sacred gift of human life, continues to be cheapened, ignored, and destroyed on a variety of fronts such as: deteriorating sexual and family-life values; medical-surgical abortions; euthanasia-assisted suicide; eugenics; fetal tissue-embryonic stem cell research; human cloning; in vitro fertilization; population control; and there is an urgent need for a constant, clear Scriptural voice to be heard and distributed on these ethical and moral issues; and
there is a need to educate Canadian Lutherans on life issues so that they can clearly communicate a Scriptural perspective on these moral and ethical issues in their respective communities; therefore be it that Lutheran Church Canada encourage the development of an autonomous Canadian Lutherans for Life organization; and be it finally that Lutheran Church Canada assist in the development of an autonomous Canadian Lutherans for Life organization by providing counsel through the Board of Directors of Synod. RESOLUTION 02.1.03 TO DECLINE THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN CANADA (ELCIC) INVITATION FOR INTERIM EUCHARISTIC SHARING Ref: Overtures 1.06, 1.07, 1.08 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) has extended an invitation for "Interim Eucharistic Sharing" to Lutheran Church Canada; and in July 2001 the ELCIC declared that it was in altar and pulpit fellowship ("full communion") with the Anglican Church of Canada, a church body whose doctrine and practice is not in accord with the Lutheran Confessions; and unity of faith in the Gospel (the doctrine and all its articles, FC SD X, 31 Concordia Triglotta p. 1063) is a necessary precondition for Eucharistic sharing; and the Commission on Theology and Church Relations has provided a study document to the church demonstrating that such unity does not exist specifically in the article of the Lord's Supper (see the reference in the Convention Workbook); therefore be it that LCC thank the ELCIC for its invitation for interim Eucharistic sharing; and be it further that due to present doctrinal differences, LCC decline the invitation of the ELCIC for interim Eucharistic sharing; and be it further that we invite the ELCIC to show us how their present doctrine and practice concerning the Sacrament of the Altar harmonizes with the historic documents which have doctrinal and normative authority in the ELCIC; and be it finally that LCC (through her president) assure the ELCIC of our willingness to engage in continued doctrinal discussions. RESOLUTION 02.1.04 TO REFER OVERTURE 1.16 TO THE CTCR (TO REAFFIRM THE PUBLIC READING OF THE WORD AS A PASTORAL RESPONSIBILITY) Ref: Overture 1.16
Paul identified for Timothy, three different duties of the ministry of the Word, namely the public reading of Scripture, preaching and teaching (I Tim.4:13): and there is disagreement in our church both in practice and interpretation of I Tim. 4:13 as to whether the public reading of the Scripture belongs solely to the office of the public ministry; therefore be it that overture 1.16 be referred to the CTCR for response and direction. RESOLUTION 02.1.05a TO TO REFER THE ISSUE OF THE MODE OF SACRAMENTAL RECEPTION TO THE CTCR Ref: Resolution 02.1.05; Overture 1.13, Appendix G6 the 1999 convention of Lutheran Church Canada adopted the CTCR Report Closed Communion in Contemporary Context for reference and guidance; and the 2000 Convention of Lutheran Church Canada, East District adopted Resolution 00.3.03 To refer the question of the mode of sacramental reception to the CTCR with recommendation to the 2002 Lutheran Church Canada Convention; and the issue of the mode of sacramental reception is not germane to closed communion and deserves separate study and proper documentation, rather than a footnote referring to the opinion of one theologian in a journal article; therefore, be it that the issue of the mode of sacramental reception with particular reference to whether intinction or Communion in one kind fall within the bounds of our Lord s Words of Institution, the rest of Scripture and the Confessions, be referred to the CTCR for full study and response to the next Synodical Convention. ACTION: ADOPTED, Sessions 3 & 5 RESOLUTION 02.1.06 TO REINFORCE THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH FOR CHRIST S SAKE Ref: Overture 1.11 the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification signed by the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation in October 1999 declared that the mutual condemnations drawn up in the sixteenth century on the teaching of justification are lifted; and in the October 1999 issue of The Canadian Lutheran, President Mayan reasserted our church s position in opposition to the Joint Declaration; therefore, be it that Lutheran Church Canada through its Board of Directors continue to publish articles that reinforce Scripture s doctrine of justification; and be it finally
that pastors be encouraged to communicate this doctrine to their local community in appropriate ways. ACTION: ADOPTED, as amended, Session 3 RESOLUTION 02.1.07 TO DECLINE OVERTURE 1.09 (TO REAFFIRM LUTHERAN CHURCH CANADA S COMMITMENT TO OUR HISTORIC DOCTRINAL STANCE) Ref: Overture 1.11 the concerns of this overture have already been addressed by a former convention, (Resolution 99.1.03A To Decline Overture 1.03 To Reaffirm Lutheran Church Canada s Commitment To Our Historic Doctrinal Stance ); and the fundamental Christian teachings of the Lutheran Church are contained in our statement of confession in the Constitution of Lutheran Church Canada; and the documents supporting the doctrinal position of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, as adopted by Lutheran Church Canada (Resolution 90.1.02) include all theological documents and are not limited to specific documents as listed in overture 1.03; and dissent from doctrinal resolutions or doctrinal statements is governed by existing Bylaw 1.19e; therefore be it that we respectfully decline overture 1.09. ACTION: ADOPTED, Session 5 RESOLUTION 02.1.08 TO REAFFIRM THE SCRIPTURAL DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE Ref: Overture 1.11 God in creation made human beings male and female, brought man and woman together and blessed them (Genesis 1:27-28, 2:18-25); and Christ concludes from Genesis that in marriage God has joined together one man and one woman (Matthew 19:4-6); and the definition of marriage in the Ontario Marriage Act was challenged by the publication of banns and subsequent "marriage" of two homosexual couples in Toronto in January, 2001; and similar challenges have taken place in other provinces; therefore be it that Lutheran Church Canada reaffirm that "marriage" is the union of one man and one woman as God has created and instituted it; and be it finally that the officers, pastors and parishioners of Lutheran Church Canada affirm our Scriptural position whenever opportunities arise.
RESOLUTION 02.1.09 TO PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR SCRIPTURALLY-BASED PARENTING Ref. Overture 1.12 the fourth commandment, "Honour your father and your mother" concerns God's representatives (i.e., parents, employers, police, government, etc.) and how we relate to them; and the Bible speaks about the discipline of children in terms of corporal punishment (Proverbs 13:24; Proverbs 19:18; Proverbs 22:15; Proverbs 23:13; Proverbs 29:15); and fathers are not to exasperate their children either by disciplining in abusive ways or by failing to provide correction, but are to bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord (Eph.6:4); therefore be it that Lutheran Church Canada reaffirm its condemnation of all manner of physical abuse; and be it further that corporal punishment be recognized as a godly form of discipline for Christian parents with their children; and be it finally that the Board of Directors provides a list of materials to assist parents with scripturally-based parenting. ACTION: ADOPTED, as amended, Session 5 RESOLUTION 02.1.10 TO REAFFIRM THAT SEXUAL RELATIONS OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE IS SIN Ref: Overture 1.14 sexual attitudes within Canadian society have drastically changed in the last generation; and sexual relations outside of marriage (fornication) is no longer condemned in society, but is considered acceptable and almost expected behaviour; and these attitudes may have affected the church so that pastors permit those continuing to live together outside of marriage to receive the Lord s Supper; and many who come to their pastors to be married are already living together, satisfied with the acceptance of society and unconcerned about God's disapproval; and Reginald Bibby reports that nearly half the teens in Canada who attend religious groups weekly, approve of sex before marriage; therefore be it that Synod in convention reaffirm the Bible's teaching that fornication is contrary to the Word and will of God (ie. 1 Cor.6:9-10, 13, 18; 10:8; Gal.5:19; Eph.5:3, 5; Col.3:5; Heb.13:4; & Rev.21:8); and be it further
that when it becomes known, pastors approach couples living together outside of marriage for the purpose of confronting the sin, calling to repentance and absolving the penitent; and be it finally that congregations be encouraged to clearly address this issue when discussing the sixth commandment with confirmation classes, preferably with parents present. ACTION: ADOPTED, as amended, Session 5 RESOLUTION 02.1.11 TO UPDATE A COMPARISON OF LUTHERAN BELIEFS AND PRACTICES IN CANADA Ref: Overture 1.10; CTCR report A (G1-G5) questions frequently arise concerning the differences between the ELCIC and LCC; and the ELCIC and LCC jointly prepared summary statements in the past to describe the respective church s positions; therefore be it that Board of Directors distribute an updated revision of our summary statement, and that the ELCIC be invited to participate by updating their summary statement.