To Reaffirm Biblical Practice of Gathered Local Congregations with Rightly Called Local Pastors and to Encourage Congregations to Practice In-person Worship, Teaching, and Administration of Sacraments

WHEREAS, The churches of the Lutheran Confession have consistently maintained membership rosters for the sake of good order and pastoral care; and

WHEREAS, Local congregations have long striven to work with one another fraternally and for the sake of good order in regard to transfers and changes in membership, as well as honoring church discipline when such has been necessary; and

WHEREAS, Pastors are instructed to “shepherd the flock of God that is among [emphasis added] you, exercising oversight,” (1 Peter 5:2) and they have vowed to “perform the functions of a pastor in an evangelical manner; to aid, counsel, and guide members of all ages and social conditions; to visit the sick and the dying; to admonish the in different and the erring” (Supplement to the Diploma of Vocation); and

WHEREAS, A pastor who is not physically among his people is not able to shepherd the flock by visiting the sick and the dying or to exercise oversight or to administer the Sacraments in person; and

WHEREAS, The emerging practice of congregations seeking and receiving as members those who are geographically distant, especially when there is a local congregation near such individuals, creates confusion and division in congregations, circuits, and districts while generating many questions about pastoral oversight and visitation, care at the time of death, and Christian burial, etc.; and

WHEREAS, There are already a number of “churches” in the quickly expanding online world of remote pastors who teach and guide virtual members; and

WHEREAS, A growing number of Christians are choosing to join virtual churches and participate exclusively online, and our Lutheran congregations are not immune from this temptation to abandon the traditional gathered body of believers as recorded in Acts 1:12–14; and

WHEREAS, The writer to the Hebrews teaches, “let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb. 10:24–25); therefore be it

Resolved, That the pastors and congregations of the Montana District be encouraged to study God’s Word and our Lutheran Confessions to be reminded what it means to be a Christian congregation and a member of the Body of Christ; and be it further

Resolved, That the congregations of the district be encouraged to limit online worship; and be it further

Resolved, That congregations of the district be discouraged from practicing remote membership and virtual congregations; and be it further

Resolved, That the congregations of the district be encouraged to teach our members the specific dangers of remote and virtual worship attendance; and be it finally

Resolved, That this resolution be forwarded to the Synod for adoption at its 2023 convention.