To Address Uses of Online Technology

WHEREAS, The use of online technology in various formats (i.e., livestreamed and recorded worship, online Bible studies, etc.) has been a great help in keeping congregations united through the hearing of God’s Word and communicating information and a benefit in proclaiming the Word to untold multitudes in the tradition of the Lutheran Hour; and

WHEREAS, The use of online technology also has its negative aspects, such as inadvertently permitting members not to gather physically as encouraged in Scripture (Acts 2:42; Heb. 10:25) and creating confusion and even conflict with Confession and Absolution, Communion, voting practices, church membership, and more, as to what is proper and beneficial and what should not be practiced “virtually”; and

WHEREAS, These technologies and platforms for “virtual” worship did not exist and were not practiced until recent times and thus have not been specifically addressed by the historical Lutheran church in terms of best practices; and

WHEREAS, Such practice of “virtual” worship has not been discussed by the Synod as a whole, much less considered and commended by it on a scriptural and confessional basis; and

WHEREAS, The Synod has historically recognized the need for collegial debate, collaborative decision-making, and consensus building, enshrining “[t]he example of the apostolic church (Acts 15:1–31)” in the Preamble of its Constitution and by adopting a process whereby those principles may be observed with respect to the adoption of doctrinal statements in Bylaw 1.6.2 (b); and

WHEREAS, The witness of Scripture and the early Christian Church was that “after there had been much debate” (Acts 15:7) on the controverted matter regarding the circumcision of Gentile converts a decision was made; and

WHEREAS, There is great benefit from the debate and discussion as described in Acts 15:7 as πολλῆς (pollēs)— much, multitudinous, plenteous, numerous, a great amount on significant and controverted matters; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Council of Presidents (COP), the office of the President, and the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) establish a process as described in Acts 15 of not less than a year that allows for much fraternal discussion and edification with respect to a theology of online technology, including practices of “virtual” worship, Bible studies, and other online ministries, as well as church membership; and be it further

Resolved, That the COP, the office of the President, and the CTCR produce a joint document to be presented in a manner that allows for appropriate theological reflection and study and provides practical guidance to the questions of online technology; and be it finally

Resolved, That this process would preferably involve face- to-face discussions within circuits and districts between leaders that reflect the divergent and diverse positions with the process and the participants to be determined by consensus of the COP