Convention resolutions address common concerns

Three members of Resolutions Committee 4 discuss their assignments. (l-r) Rev. Fraser Coltman, Rev. James Vosper, Karl Klatt.

After meeting April 15-16, members of Lutheran Church–Canada’s 2011 Convention Resolutions Committees brought together the themes of 43 overtures and wrote 36 resolutions for delegates to consider in Hamilton from June 3 to 6.  Moral issues, doctrine and Lutheran identity, synod governance and structure, and education are the general themes.

“The resolutions committees had their work cut out for them,” commented LCC President Robert Bugbee. “And now that work is passed along to convention delegates to look carefully at the resolutions, discuss them and ask God’s guidance as they prepare for the convention.”

Resolutions regarding moral issues include establishing a “Sanctity of Life Sunday” across LCC, and publicly opposing embryonic stem cell research, while recommending research confined to the use of adult stem cells.  It is also recommended that LCC reaffirm its scriptural position against homosexual behaviour, and drawing the consequence that men who engage in such behaviour will not be admitted to the Holy Ministry.  In addition, there is a resolution instructing synod to develop policies to guide congregations receiving requests for the use of their facilities from individuals and organizations with views on same-gender relations inconsistent with Biblical teaching.

Recommendations in resolutions regarding doctrine and Lutheran identity include welcoming into LCC two congregations, St. Paul’s in Bergheim, Saskatchewan, and Shepherd of the Hills in Airdrie, Alberta. Another resolution commends the French language hymnal  Liturgies et cantiques luthériens published in 2010 for use in LCC.  Following on the convention theme which focuses on God’s Word, a resolution asks congregations to be proactive in leading people into studying the Bible and the Lutheran confessions and also in the recruitment of individuals for church work vocations.

As for resolutions regarding synod governance and structure, they include expanding the eligibility for service on synodical boards and commissions to retired pastors; increasing the size of the Worker Benefit Plans (WBP) Board of Managers; reducing the length of the term of office for WBP board members; and developing a national compensation guide for church workers.

Several resolutions deal with education, and include declining overtures suggesting seminary mergers and consolidations as the Boards of Regents at both seminaries are close to a complete Memorandum of Understanding on how to best achieve cost-efficient seminary education.(See story here). 

In addition, another resolution requests exploring the development of a program to train men and women as missionary evangelists. There is also a resolution asking LCC’s districts to standardize the Student Aid Program so it is the same throughout the synod and another declining overtures calling for a major restructuring of Synod.

To download the resolutions, go to www.lutheranchurchcanada.ca/synod2011. They are published in Section H of the workbook which also includes corrections and editions. They are also available as PDF documents.

Responses to the resolutions can be emailed to convention@lutheranchurch.ca. The committees will also meet in Hamilton, Friday, June 3 beginning at 1 p.m. at the Sheraton Hotel.

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