The issues that will come before the LCMS delegates in convention have been presented and positions about them advanced in a variety of venues. Even though most people in the LCMS would find themselves well right of center on the continuum of theological thought and practice, we still find ways to intensely disagree with each other. And so, I suspect that we, the LCMS convention delegates, will be afflicted with vehement disagreement, and possibly be enticed to engage in it, as well.
The business of the convention will generally happen through votes and discussions of resolutions. Some decisions will joyfully receive near unanimous support. Some will pass by the required margins. Some will hardly cause a stir. Some issues, however, have the potential to create a maelstrom. And perhaps the decision that has been most controversial has been Resolution 7.03, which is titled, “To Call Concordia University Texas Leadership to Repentance.”
There are two very strong sides in this matter. The Concordia University System, the LCMS Board of Directors, and LCMS President represent one side and advance concerns and accusations (no other way to say it). The Concordia Texas President, senior administration, and CTX Regents advance another set concerns and accusations (no other way to say it). The delegates to the convention need to ferret out which side is telling the truth, and will likely, or have already, taken one side or the other.
Like many of our secular political issues, it is difficult to truly be certain about the things being said by the folks on either side of Resolution 7.03. Preparing to vote on this resolution is particularly difficult for me. It would be simple if things broke out this way:
However, I’ve read as much as I could. I’ve watched video interviews of parties on both sides, and I’m not convinced that the full story about what has brought us to this point is possible to discern by what is out there right now - at least not to most delegates. In the “fog of war” it is not possible to see what is going on clearly. And I am convinced that both sides have been at war – the worst kind – spiritual warfare. I believe each side believes that the truth is on their side. However, I’m not certain whether each side realizes how subjective their perspectives appear to one who is seeking the truth. To me the matter looks more like this:
As one who has honestly been seeking the facts and the truth in order to decide on Resolution 7.03, these have been hard to come by. In the absence of this clarity, one is almost compelled to follow a party position - which I loath. The other option is to take a position based on friendship or other ad-hominem consideration. But that is precisely what leads to the conflicts and conflictive debates. If one could be absolutely assured that one side, the other, or both have taken sound, biblical positions, I, and perhaps other delegates would not face a dilema as we decide how to vote on Resolution 7.03.
There are things that can happen legally. However, if we as a Christian church cannot resolve our issues scripturally, we are "hurting puppies." So my friends, I believe that both sides of Resolution 7.03 need to come to the table humbly, asking Christ to lead them to reconcile. May our Lord hear and be merciful. May our synodical convention delegates, congregations, pastors and people be in much prayer as we approach this matter.
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