To Exhort Members to Earnestly and Regularly Pray for and Pursue Synodical Unity, and To Appoint a Task Force

WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus Christ prayed for the unity of His Church so that the world might believe He has been sent by the Father (John 17:11, 20–23); and

WHEREAS, Jesus stated, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35), and “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16); and

WHEREAS, The apostle Paul enjoins God’s people to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1–3); and

WHEREAS, Holy Scripture is filled with many other similar prayers for, and exhortations to pursue, unity and reconciliation in the Church (Psalm 133:1; Matt. 5:23–25; 7:1–5; 18:15–35; Rom. 12; 15:5; 1 Cor. 1:10; 12:12; 2 Cor. 13:11; Gal. 3:28; Eph. 4:4–6; Phil. 1:27; 2:1–11; Col. 3:14; 1 Peter 3:8; 1 John 4:20); and

WHEREAS, The first objective listed in Article III of the Synod Constitution is to “conserve and promote the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4:3–6; 1 Cor. 1:10), work through its official structure toward fellowship with other Christian church bodies, and provide a united defense against schism, sectarianism (Rom. 16:17), and heresy”; and

WHEREAS, Unity in the Church is a gift from God (Rom. 15:5– 6) we should humbly seek from Him in prayer; and

WHEREAS, Division and acrimony between Christians severely compromises the witness of the Church to the world and may directly impede the proclamation of the Gospel and may, there by threaten the eternal salvation of numerous souls; and

WHEREAS, Such disunity, where it is not necessary to maintain fidelity to the Scriptures and the Confessions, but is rather the result of human sin, tarnishes God’s name and thus violates the Second Commandment; and

WHEREAS, The Synod is frequently known even outside of itself for its internal conflicts and for the refusal of pastors,congregations, and circuits to commune together; and

WHEREAS, Strife and division in the Church for sinful reasons are indications that the Church is reflecting the ways of the world rather than providing a godly alternative to it; and

WHEREAS, Satan,whoisthefatherofallliesandamurderer from the beginning (John 8:44), fervently desires to catechize Christians in the ways of hell and in demonic discord that so frequently marks interactions in the world; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention strongly urge its members to pray fervently, both in corporate worship and as individuals, for the unity and health of the Synod, believing that all things are possible with God (Phil. 4:13); and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention exhort its members to review and renew their commitment to the Eighth Commandment and to self-restraint in speech and anger (James 1:19); and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention implore its members to be quick to listen (James1:19) andto seek out opportunities to listen to and dialogue with those with whom they disagree, in order that mutual understanding, fidelity to doctrine, harmony, forgiveness, and reconciliation might be facilitated and abound among us; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage its members to employ extraordinary efforts toward caution, patience, clear communication, and love when navigating issues which have historically been or have the potential to be asourceof division, and that all such issues be approached with a posture of humility and repentance for any ways in which we have contributed to disunity in the past; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention exhort its members to resist the temptation to imitate secular partisanship by lording it over each other and employing slander, coercion, secrecy, and power as the default means of addressing disagreements, but rather to seek to be servants of all (Matt. 20:25–28), to engage in substantive and long-suffering efforts toward reconciliation with those who have something against us (Matt. 5:23–25), and to display the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:1–11); and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod in convention require the organization of a task force representative of the Synod’s makeup as a whole to study and develop the following recommendations: to clarify the distinction between doctrine and adiaphora (matters of indifference neither commanded nor forbidden by God) in matters which are currently the source of conflict; to avoid imitating patterns of secular politics and partisan ways of relating to each other within the Church; and to address and resolve divisions of altar fellowship within the Synod where any such divisions are not a matter of conscience borne out of doctrinal necessity, but instead stem from differences of opinion or preference.