wfn.org | [LCMSNews] CTCR offers 'state of confession' guide

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	May 12, 2005 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 34

	CTCR offers guide to district presidents
	dealing with ?state of confession? protests

	Congregations and pastors raise questions about their desire to
remain members of the Synod when they protest LCMS convention
resolutions by declaring themselves "in a state of confession" and
refusing Communion to those who support the synodically adopted actions,
according to a document prepared by the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR).

	Responding to questions from the Synod president and vice
presidents, the CTCR approved the document on "in statu confessionis"
during its April 14-16 meeting.

	The CTCR found "in statu confessionis" does not have a
consistent meaning in the Lutheran tradition. The term, or similar
terms, has been used in the past to protest a government practice or
policy imposed on the church, government impositions on the state, and
one church body's protest toward another.

	"It is our understanding that certain pastors and congregations
are using the phrase 'in statu confessionis' at this time to describe
their relationship to the Synod in light of their conviction that the
Synod has taken actions that are contrary to the Scriptures and the
Lutheran Confessions," the document said.

	The CTCR concludes that a declaration of "in statu confessionis"
when used in this way seems to result in several actions:

	* unwillingness or refusal to follow convention resolutions with
which they disagree;

	* viewing the disputed resolutions as "promotion and defense of
false doctrine on the part of the Synod and its officials";

	* refusing Communion to synodical and district officials,
pastors and congregations who support the synodically adopted actions;
and,

	* feeling compelled, unless the disputed resolutions are
rectified, to sever synodical membership or to form a church body
defined by a particular confession within the synodical structure.

	When pastors and congregations become members of the Synod, says
the CTCR, they agree to follow synodical procedures for expressing
dissent. "The synodical procedures for dissent are intended to preserve
and uphold the truth of the Gospel and all its articles on which our
fellowship in the Synod is based.

	"The agreements for how we operate together as a Synod do not
include provisions for issuing a confessional protest as a way of
dealing with disagreements about doctrine and practice," states the
CTCR. "The suspension or withholding of Communion to fellow members of
the Synod is by definition a severing of church fellowship. ...

	"It is also important to be consistent in dealing with those who
stand on both sides of the line," the CTCR said. "The approach taken in
dealing with those who declare themselves 'in statu confessionis' with
the Synod and refuse to commune district or synodical officials should
be the same approach taken in dealing with those who ignore or oppose
the Synod's position on close(d) Communion and thus choose to practice
open Communion in violation of their commitment to the Synod."

	The CTCR stated that it was not making a judgment whether those
who enter a state of protest are right or wrong with regard to the
positions they hold. "Instead, we are encouraging that we work together
toward the goal of confessing together the truth of God's Word in the
Synod, and that we do so in accordance with our agreed-upon procedures
for resolving our disagreements."

	CTCR Executive Director Samuel Nafzger said, "Notice has been
served that two members of the Commission intend to submit minority
reports on ?in statu confessionis? to the Commission at its next
meeting
in September."

	In response to a 1994 Atlantic District request, the CTCR also
approved a document that reviews recent research on "authentein," the
Greek term from 1 Timothy 2:12 where St. Paul writes that he does not
permit a woman to "have authority" over a man. The word "authentein"
appears only once in the New Testament and, until recently, scholars
were hampered by a lack of evidence of the use of this term in ancient
Greek literature.

	On the basis of a review of recent studies of the newly
discovered usages of this term, the CTCR concludes that the term
"authentein" most probably means to "exercise authority," not to
"'usurp' authority." According to the Commission's report, these recent
studies confirm the translation of "authentein" in this general sense
(to exercise authority), as was stated in the Commission's 1985 report
"Women in the Church."

	In other action, the CTCR adopted a revised policy for
responding to dissent to the doctrinal position of the Synod. In the
future the commission's response to the submission of dissent will be
accompanied by a presentation of the scriptural and confessional bases
for its conclusion. The conclusion and bases for decisions will be sent
to the dissenter and reported on the Synod Web site and in the
commission's report to the synodical convention.

	The CTCR also:

	* approved posting on its Web site descriptions of the history
and beliefs, plus a Lutheran perspective, of 15 religious organizations
and movements, with more to be added in the future;

	* drafted questions for discussion at the model theological
conference planned for August in Phoenix; and,

	* discussed a possible Bible study dealing with the "Left
Behind" series of books and movies.

	***************************************

	If you have questions or comments about this LCMSNews release,
contact Joe Isenhower Jr. at joe.isenhower@lcms.org or (314) 996-1231,
or Paula Schlueter Ross at paula.ross@lcms.org or (314) 996-1230.

	***************************************

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