Delegates adopt resolutions on fertility issues, persecuted Christians

The Rev. Dr. Lee Hagan, president of the LCMS Missouri District and chairman of Floor Committee 3 on Mercy, speaks during the July 10 session of the Synod’s 66th Regular Convention in Milwaukee. The committee’s final three resolutions were adopted on the last two days of the convention. (LCMS/Frank Kohn)

By Megan K. Mertz

MILWAUKEE (July 14, 2016) — As one floor committee finished its business and another was about to take the stage July 13 at the 66th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, a delegate asked the convention to consider Resolution 3-04 even though it wasn’t on the schedule for that day.

The resolution was one of three from Floor Committee 3 on Mercy that was omitted earlier in the week due to time constraints.

Delegate Corey Isaak works with the electronic voting system during the LCMS national convention in Milwaukee. (LCMS/Michael Schuermann)

“We have a growing number of issues where science and theology are intersecting, and the LCMS should be able to address the concerns of our members,” said the Rev. Christopher Bramich, pastoral delegate from Haslet, Texas, as he explained why the issue was important to him.

Resolution 3-04 calls for the creation of a task force within the Office of National Mission to study issues surrounding fertility, procreation and the care of the unborn.

The task force is asked to “gather and arrange points for consideration, coordinate discussion, and identify actions leading to the production of appropriate LCMS responses to these issues,” as well as to complete a report on its activities by Dec. 31, 2018, and submit recommendations as overtures to the 2019 Synod convention.

The resolution was adopted by a 924-41 vote.

The next day (Thursday, July 14), Floor Committee 3 returned before the close of the convention to present its final two resolutions.

Resolution 3-03, which was adopted by a 782-1 vote, encourages the Synod to become better informed about the worldwide persecution of Christians. Individual Lutherans are encouraged to contact their respective elected officials on behalf of these persecuted Christians, “according to their conscience.”

Finally, delegates adopted Resolution 3-06, which calls for the Synod to support and expand the work of LCMS World Relief and Human Care in the Offices of National and International Mission and to “strengthen collaboration with the Synod’s districts, congregations, Recognized Service Organizations, and partner churches, here and abroad, to identify and respond to needs for mercy.”

The 2016 LCMS convention met July 9-14 at the Wisconsin Center under the theme “Upon This Rock.” Among the 1,500 convention participants were some 1,125 clergy and lay voting delegates.

Megan K. Mertz (megan.mertz@lcms.org) is a staff writer and managing editor of Lutherans Engage the World with LCMS Communications.

Posted July 19, 2016