To Open Access to Lutheran Confessions

WHEREAS, The Symbolic al Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (Lutheran Confessions), as listed in Constitution Article II “as a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of God,” are an indispensable resource for achieving the primary objectives of the Synod as stated in Article III of the Synod Constitution; and

WHEREAS, The members of the Synod are bound by the Lutheran Confessions to regard Holy Scripture as teaching of the Holy Supper of our Lord, Jesus Christ: that His body and blood are truly and substantially present, distributed, and received in, with, and under the elements of the bread and wine (AC X); that these are received by both the believing and un believing participants, by those who eat in repentance and faith, to “forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation,” and by those who eat in un repentance or unbelief, to judgment (SC VI; Ap XXIV; FC Ep, SD VII); and that so that we may obtain the faith that counts as righteousness in God’s sight, the preaching office is instituted by our Lord to administer Gospel and Sacraments (AC V), with those filling it thus having grave responsibility for the souls in their care; and

WHEREAS, Concordia Publishing House (CPH), the official publishing house of the Synod, in 2006 published the Symbolic al Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church under the title: Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions—A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord, 2nd edition (Reader’s Edition); and

WHEREAS, The Reader’s Edition is currently restricted by copyright and licensing; removing the current restrictions would greatly assist the Synod in achieving its primary objectives;

therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage CPH to grant general license to any and all interested parties to publish, with appropriate attribution, the text of the Reader’s Edition online, in whole or in part; and to grant license to any and all interested parties to publish the text of the Reader’s Edition in print globally, in whole or in part; and to grant license to any and all interested parties to produce and publish, in print and online, derivative translations of the Reader’s Edition without restriction.