We have approved two overtures to be presented at the Missouri Synod's convention in Houston this coming July. 

Click on the underlined link to read the overtures:

• To Agree that the Practice of Female Readers in Public Worship Is Divisive and Offensive Contrary to the Doctrine We Have Learned

and

• To Affirm the Biblical Practice of Admission to the Table of the Lord in LCMS Congregations

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To The Pastors And People Of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod:

Whereas, it behooves the Christian pastor to rebuke those who contradict the truth of God’s Word, as is clear from St Paul’s instruction to Titus (1:9) that the overseer “cling to the faithful word in accordance with the teaching, in order that he may be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to rebuke those who contradict”; and

Whereas, my three-year attempt to bring my concern through a congregational overture to the attention of the Synod ended in its censorship by the very one about whom I sought to warn the pastors and people of our beloved church; and

Whereas, I can only assume that future attempts through similar channels will end with the same result three years down the line while the sin continues to do public damage; and
 
Whereas, despite the public nature of the sin, I have spoken privately and in person with the public sinner with no success in bringing him to see his error; and

Whereas, many others have both spoken and written on the matter publicly; and

Whereas, the failure of synodical vice-presidents, the Council of Presidents, and the entire Synod meeting in convention to rebuke the error and require repentance on the part of the sinner does not relieve the individual pastor of his God-given responsibility to rebuke the one who contradicts sound doctrine; therefore

With great sadness and fear of God I have taken it upon myself, though unworthy yet called and ordained to do so, to offer the following public rebuke.

Humbly in the fear of God,

Thomas L Olson, MDiv, MA, STM
Pastor, formerly of St. John † Bingen, presently Trinity Lutheran Church, Tryon, NC
16 February 2006/revised 10 February 2010

Click Here to continue reading "A Final Word on a Matter of Syncretism: Seeing the Big Picture and Calling a Spade a Spade."

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