LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations

Posted by admin on March 13, 2008

What is the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR)?

In order to provide leadership in dealing with the Synod’s needs and opportunities in the areas of theology and church relations, the Synod established the Commission on Theology and Church Relations in 1962. Since that time, the Commission has provided reports on a number of significant theological issues and has been the Synod’s primary agency for monitoring the Synod’s ecumenical relationships with other Christians.

The CTCR website contains reports and documents on a wide variety of subjects such as cloning and embryonic stem cell research. You can visit their website by clicking HERE.

You can download their report on human cloning and stem cell research by clicking below:

Defending Pre-Implantation Human Life in the Public Square - A Response to Wyoming District Concerns about the CTCR Report Christian Faith and Human Beginnings

They also have documents available on topics such as (click below to download):

  “Legislation Regarding Same-Sex Civil Unions” - Response to the question “what can we as a confessional Lutheran church say about same-sex civil unions?”

Gambling

Render Unto Caesar . . . And Unto God: A Lutheran View of Church and State

Furthermore they have reports on the following cults and religious groups with these instructions:

Congregations and church leaders are encouraged to download and reproduce these materials without seeking permission from the Commission on Theology and Church Relations.

Evaluation of:

* Baha’i Faith (October 2006)
* Christian Identity Movement (April 2005)
* Christian Science (April 2005)
* Church of Scientology (August 2005)
* Cursillo Movement (April 2006)
* Elks Lodge (January 2006)
* Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE) (May 2007)
* Human Potential Movement (September 2007)
* International Church of Christ (ICOC) (April 2005)
* Islam (December 2007) NEW
* Jehovah’s Witnesses (July 2005)
* Judaism (April 2005)
* The Lodge (April 2005)
* Kabbalah (July 2005)
* Latter Day Saints (September 2006)
* Moose International (February 2005)
* New Age Movement (April 2005)
* The Occult (April 2005)
* Overview of Cults (April 2005)
* Rastafarians (April 2007)
* Reiki (February 2006)
* Restorationism (December 2005)
* Satanism (April 2005)
* The Salvation Army (July 2005)
* Unification Church (April 2005)
* Unitarian-Universalist Association (UUA) (April 2005)
* United Pentecostal Church International (April 2005)
* Unity School of Christianity (April 2005)
* Vineyard Ministries (April 2005)
* Wicca (April 2005)
* Word-Faith Movement (Updated August 2007)
* Yoga (November 2005)

There is an abundance of resources available for you the individual as well as for your small group studies at Praise.  If you have any questions about any of the subjects covered in these reports, please take a moment to speak with Pastor Dancy.