To Memorialize Synod to Require the CTCR to Rewrite
Guidelines for Participation in Civic Events

WHEREAS, in 2004 Res. 3-06A, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod commended for study “Guidelines for Participation in Civic Events,” a report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR), “to help pastors, teachers, and church workers make decisions about participation in civic events”; and

WHEREAS, the CTCR’s report indicates that the commission itself was divided over the matter of “serial” or “seriatim” prayer as members took positions that are mutually exclusive; and

WHEREAS, the report does not include a clear definition of “serial” or “seriatim” prayer even though this matter was an important subject within the report; and

WHEREAS, prayers are offered “seriatim” in virtually any setting — the exception being for multiple leaders to speak their prayers simultaneously; and

WHEREAS, the disagreement between commission members concerning “serial” or “seriatim” prayer is mentioned only briefly, in one paragraph of the report, and the issues underlying the disagreement are not explained; and

WHEREAS, the “Guidelines for Participation in Civic Events” report was hurried to and through the 2004 convention (the report was not approved by the CTCR until its April 2004 meeting, after the deadline for convention reports and overtures, and the Synod voted at the convention to make an exception to Bylaw 3.19.b [now 3.1.6] so the substance of the report could be considered on the floor); therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the South Dakota District memorialize the 2007 Synod convention (a.) to rescind 2004 Res. 3-06A; (b.) to assign the CTCR to re-examine the “Guidelines for Participation in Civic Events” document on the basis of input to be solicited from the membership of the Synod, attending especially to “serial” or “seriatim” prayer; and (c.) to require that the CTCR issue to the Synod a new report no later than July 31, 2008.

(The original resolution had as the date in the last resolve, "July 31, 2009" -- but it was amended so that congregations could have ample time to examine the new report and, if necessary, send overtures to their district conventions.)