RESOLUTION 4-05
Overtures 4-01, 4-30 (CW, pp. 329, 339–340)
WHEREAS, The Constitution of the Synod (Article XI B 3) enjoins the President of the Synod to “conscien39 tiously use all means at his command to promote and maintain unity of doctrine and practice in all the districts of the Synod”; and
WHEREAS, The goals of the Koinonia Project are laudable and are goals for which we fervently pray; and
WHEREAS, A framework has been established in the Koinonia Project concept paper, posted on the Synod’s website (http://www.lcms.org/Document.fdoc?src=lcm&id=884); and
WHEREAS, The Koinonia Project has been developing since 2010 and is ongoing; and
WHEREAS, True koinonia is God’s gift, whole and complete in the Lord Jesus; our work is to study the Word of God together, that being where God gives His gift of koinonia in Christ as the Holy Spirit works through the Gospel purely preached and the Sacraments rightly administered (Apology VII and VIII); and
WHEREAS, The 2013 Synod convention directed the expansion of the Koinonia Project by directing the Council of Presidents to engage in the Koinonia Project (2013 Res. 3-01A); and
WHEREAS, The Council of Presidents for the 2013-2016 triennium has engaged in and benefited from the | Pa g e Koinonia Project; and
WHEREAS, Some districts and circuits have employed the Koinonia Project with positive results; and
WHEREAS, It would be desirable if the Koinonia Project were developed to be broader and deeper across the Synod, with the prayer that there be a cultural shift toward more open and honest discussion under the Word of God, and that more resources be developed; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention assign oversight of the Koinonia Project to the Synod Praesidium (Synod President and vice-presidents); and be it further
Resolved, That the Council of Presidents continue with study groups and report its progress to the 2019 Synod convention; and be it further
Resolved, That each district president promote the Koinonia Project within his district and include an update on the Koinonia Project in his report to his district in 2018 and in his report to the 2019 Synod convention; and be it finally
Resolved, That each member of the Synod and each member of a Synod congregation follow the principles of the Koinonia Project, namely, that when there is disagreement regarding doctrine and practice, the baptized will come together through their unity in Christ to live out that unity as they study the Word of God and pray.