- Women may serve in positions of authority over men in the congregation (2004 Conclusions of 1994 CTCR Report: The Service of Women in Congr. And Synodical Offices /Adopted 576 - 520) (Addressed in 3-02A)and
- Women may exercise authority over men in the church by means of sufferage (1969).
- The use of wine instead of grape juice in the Sacrament "encouraged," but not required, so that some congregations are offering grape juice without reprimand (2001 To Encourage Use of Only Wine 3-16)
- The hiring of “Lay Ministers” and the issuing of temporary calls contrary to AC XIV (2001 Interim Ministry 3-09A) (Addressed in 3-03),
Whereas by not overturning the DRP's decision in the Benke case, the LC-MS in convention affirmed the DRP's decision as proper and God-pleasing and, therefore, showed public support for David Banke's sin of participating in prayer with the heterodox, pagans and unbelievers who misuse and blaspheme the name of God, (Addressed in 1-04) and, by not overturning the DRP's decision, the LC-MS has publicly confirmed the preferential use of and adherence to CTCR and CCM rulings over and above the use of Scripture alone (see Dr. Wallace Schulz' May 11, 2003 letter to Dr. Hartwig),(Addressed in 3-01 and 1-05) and
Whereas the LC-MS has created a dispute resolution process which places opinions of the CCM and CTCR as authoritative above the Holy Scriptures, designating their opinions as judgments that must be accepted and followed apart from any consideration by the Church -- a process by which Holy Scriptures are rendered irrelevant so that a) members may be justifiably removed for reasons other than those stated in Article XIII.1, or b) members may be justifiably retained while clearly and publicly violating theprovisions of Article VI (2004 Ecclesiastical Supervision and Dispute Resolution 8-01A / Adopted 683-528), (Addressed in 1-06) and
Whereas the LC-MS continues to use and put it's trust in sociological rather than Scriptural principles for evangelism and mission work as evidenced by the evangelism and fund raising efforts of Ablaze (2004 To Establish Ablaze! National Goals 1-05A / Adopted 871 - 309):
- The goal of reaching 100 million people is not Scriptural. Such a goal either limits God or tests the Holy Spirit, since He is the one who gives "opportunity" for the spreading of the Gospel, as recognized in Res. 1-01A.and
- The goal of 2,000 new congregations is not drawn from Scripture. Since only the Holy Spirit creates congregations, that is, makes disciples when and where He pleases, the setting of a specific goal results in measuring the Holy Spirit's success or failure.
- Contrary to AC V-- "To obtain such faith God instituted the office of preaching, giving the gospel and sacraments,"-- Resolution 1- 05A states: "One of the best ways to reach one person is through what has been identified as the critical event, which is 'when one Lutheran Christian gives witness about Jesus of the hope that is within him or her to another person so that person may encounter Christ . . . .'"
- The term "Lutheran Christian" indicates that Lutheranism is only one form of several valid Christian belief systems,
Whereas the LC-MS promotes and encourages diverse worship practices which undermine our public witness to a common Lutheran confession and continues to neglect the directive of Article III to "strive for uniformity in church practice," but, instead, has directed the Commission on Worship to develop diverse worship resources, contrary to the intent and emphasis of AP VII/VIII, 33; XV, 51; FC SD X, 5-9 and Article III, (2004 To Affirm Responsible Use of Freedom in Worship 2-04 / Adopted 765 - 431), (Addressed in 4-03) and
Whereas there remain on the LC-MS clergy roster pastors and congregations who, contrary to Scripture, practice open communion, (Addressed in 3-07) teach falsely concerning the work of the Holy Spirit (Charismatics), and have fellowship with heterodox congregations, and the LC-MS by its failure to either correct them or remove them in a timely manner gives the public witness that these errors are unimportant or not truly errors, and
Whereas Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions teach us that there is true fellowship only where there is agreement in the doctrine of the gospel and the right administration of the Sacraments, and, since our congregations are not in agreement with the innovative doctrines and practices of the LC-MS which have deviated from the Scriptures and the original constitution of the LC-MS and, therefore, are in fellowship with the LC-MS in name only and not in truth, and
Whereas the Constitution of the Wyoming District and of the LC-MS directs that she "shall...2. Strengthen congregations and their members in giving bold witness by word and deed to the love and work of God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and extend that Gospel witness into all the world." and "6. Aid congregations by providing a variety of resources and opportunities for recognizing, promoting, expressing, conserving, and defending their confessional unity in the true faith" (Article III Objectives). Therefore
Be it resolved that the Wyoming District in convention, in obedience to the Word of God which commands outward fellowship only with those who confess the true faith, and in keeping with her constitutional mandate to strengthen and promote bold witness to the true Gospel, formally encourage her member congregations to withdraw altar and pulpit fellowship from the LC-MS, and (Addressed in 3-08)
Be it resolved that the Wyoming District offer concrete support to all congregations that take this Scriptural step by:
- assisting them administratively in applying ecclesiastical discipline and supervision,and,
- assisting them in calling faithful Lutheran pastors and
- inviting them to participate in her educational and mission endeavors during the interim between their withdrawal and their attachment to a different synod
Be it resolved that in support of this godly course and with every effort to assist in the avoidance of sectarianism, the District Board of Directors be tasked to:
- draft a constitution for a new synod which will foster both faithfulness to God's Word and godly unity in the Gospel and all its articles--to be disseminated no later than May of 2007.Be it finally resolved that we redouble our efforts to study the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions fervently praying that our Lord would keep us steadfast and united in His Word and truth. (Addressed in 3-04)
- schedule a special convention for the congregations and pastors of the Wyoming Distict--together with those sumbitting to her care--which will take place between the fall of 2007 and the summer of 2008 to consider the draft constitution and all related matters, and