Documents of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod

Documents and Declarations of the Synodical Convention

I. Convention Proceedings, Etc.:

• The Ends of the Earth, 60th Regular Convention (1998).
• Secret Societies: A Resolution of the Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod, trans. Robert E. Smith from the Seventh Synodical Report of the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States for the year 1853. (Microsoft Word format)

II. Doctrinal Statements:

• Of the Holy Scriptures
  
• Of God
  
• Of Creation
  
• Of Man and Sin
  
• Of Redemption
  
• Of Faith in Christ
  
• Of Conversion
  
• Of Justification
  
• Of Good Works
  
• Of the Means of Grace
  
• Of the Church
  
• Of the Public Ministry
  
• Of Church and State
  
• Of the Election and Grace
  
• Of Sunday
  
• Of the Millennium
  
• Of the Antichrist
  
• Of Open Questions
  
• Of the Symbols of the Church

III. Reports of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR)

Introductory Information

A Brief Explanation of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations, by Rev. Robert E. Smith.

1. Abortion in Perspective

A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of the Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod as prepared by its Social Concerns Committee, May 1984
• Part I: Introduction, Medical Perspective
• Part II: The Legal Perspective
• Part III: The Theological Perspective
• Part IV: Conclusion, End Notes, Appendix

2. Civil Obedience and Disobedience

Civil Obedience and Disobedience. A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations. The Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod. [July 1966]

3. The Charismatic Movement and Lutheran Theology

A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of The Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod, January 1972.
• Preface and Part 1
• Conclusion and Notes

4. Church Discipline in the Christian Congregation

A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of the Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod, November 1985.

5. Divorce and Remarriage: An Exegetical Study

A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of The Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod, November 1987.
• Part 1: Exegetical Study
• Part 2: Summary Statements

6. The End Times: A Study on Eschatology and Millennialism

A Report of Commission on Theology and Church Relations of The Lutheran Church -- Missour Synod, September 1989.
• Part 1: Contents, Introduction, Current Millennial Views
• Part 2: Eschatology and Millennialism
• Part 3: Eschatology and Millennialism (continued)
• Part 4: Conclusion, Appendix, Glossary, Selected Bibliography

7. Evangelism and Church Growth

with Special Reference to the Church Growth Movement. A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of The Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod, September 1987:
• Part 1: Preface, Introduction, The Mission of the Church: Theological Presuppositions, The Church Growth Movement: A Brief History and Basic Missiological Principles
• Part 2: Evaluation with Recommendations, Conclusion, Glossary, Bibliography

8. Gospel and Scripture

Gospel and Scripture. The Interrelationship of the Material and Formal Principles in Lutheran Gheology and Church Relations. The Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod, November 1972.

9. Guidelines for Crucial Issues in Christian Citizenship

Guidelines for Crucial Issues in Christian Citizenship. A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, May 26, 1968.

10. Human Sexuality: A Theological Perspective

A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of The Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod as prepared by its Social Concerns Committee, September 1981.
• Introduction.
• Part I: Man as Male and Female.
• Part II: Marriage and Its Purposes
• Part III: Some Problems
• Part IV: Some Affirmations

11. The Inspiration of Scripture

The Inspiration of Scripture. A Report on Theology and Church Relations, The Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod. March 1975.

12. A Lutheran Stance Toward Contemporary Biblical Studies

A Lutheran Stance Toward Contemporary Bible Studies. Report of the Commission on Theology Church Relations, The Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod. [1967].

13. A Lutheran Stance Toward Ecumenism

A Lutheran Stance Toward Ecumenism. A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations, The Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod. November 1974.

14. The Ministry in Relation to the Christian Church

The Ministry in Relation to the Christian Church as Seen on the Basis of Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confession with Applications to Specific Problems of the Church in Our Time. A Report by the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of the Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod. March 1973.

15. The Ministry: Offices, Procedures, and Nomenclature

A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of the Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod, September 1981.
• Introduction, Contents
• The Ministry in the Lutheran Confessions
• Definitions and Distinctions
• Theses on the Office of the Public Ministry and Auxiliary Offices
• Some Practical Applications
• Summary
• Citation: Appendix: C.F.W. Walther's Theses on the Ministry Notes.

16. The Nature and Implications of the Concept of Fellowship

A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, April, 1981.
• Part 1: The Nature of Fellowship
• Part 2: The Implications of the Nature of Fellowship for Church-Body-Level Relationship
• Part 3: Conclusion and Postscript

17. Report on Equal Rights Amendment

Report on Equal Rights Amendment. A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of the Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod, August 1980.

18. A Statement on Death, Resurrection, and Immortality

A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations. A Statement on Death, Resurrection, and Immortality. The Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod, Mar. 16, 1969. A Position Paper.

19. Thesis on Justification

Thesis on Justification. A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations. The Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod, May 1983.
• Centrality and Function, Definition, The Nature of Justification, Man's Need for Justification, Basis for Justification, Universal and Finished Results of Christ's Work of Obedience.
• Appropriation of Christ's Righteousness, Unbelief- Rejection of Christ's Righteousness, Gospel and Absolution, Justification and Renewal, Certainty of Salvation

20. Theology and Practice of The Lord's Supper.

A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod as preapared by its Social Concerns Committee, May 1983.
• Theology of The Lord's Supper
• Practice of The Lord's Supper
• Questions and Answers; Notes and Citations

21. Women in the Church: Scriptural Principles and Ecclesial Practice

A Report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of the Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod.
• Introduction, and Part I: Women and the Scriptures: An Overview
• Part 2: Scriptural Principles
• Part 3: Guidelines for Practice
• Conclusion, Further Reading, Notes

22. Women Suffrage in the Church

Report of the Commission on, Theology and Church Relations, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
• I: Declaration, and II: Historical Background
• III. Exegetical Evaluation, and IV: Some Practical Observations

IV. Documents of the Council of Presidents

Policy Statements

1. Close(d) Communion

A Reaffirmation of the Synod's Position on Close(d) Communion. A Statement of the Praesidium of the Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod. 21 August 1996.

2. Marital Crisis

Guidelines for Dealing with Marital Crisis Involving Separation and Divorce of Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod Clergy A policy statement adopted by the Council of Presidents, LCMS, Apr. 29, 1987.

V. Cogent References to Internet

The Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod at One Hundred and Fifty Years (1847-1997), a Museum Exhibit from the Concordia Historical Insitute.

The President's Commission on the Sanctity, Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod That They May Have Life

The Commission on Social and Bioethical Questions of the Lutheran Church of Australia has placed on line the Commission's Social Statements from the Doctrinal Statements and Theological Opinions of the Lutheran Church of Australia :

Abortion

The Attitude of the LCA to Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage

Attitude Toward Birth Control

Capital Punishment

The Church's Involvement in Social and Political Problems

Euthanasia or Mercy Killing

Homosexuality

Human Reproductive Technology

Man's Treatment of Animals

Marriage and De Facto Relationships

The Use of Drugs

War, Peace and Conscientious Objection to Service in War