2002-2B
Purpose: To promote the welcoming of all individuals to LSM-USA in the preamble of the Constitution of LSM-USA.
WHEREAS, According to the parable in Luke 10:25-37, everyone is our neighbor to whom we are to love and show mercy. Jesus says what we do unto others is what we do unto Him, for God is within us. Since God is within us and within our neighbors we should treat each other with loving kindness and respect as well as remember to not let our pride and our human flaws interfere with god’s glory, and
WHEREAS, As a Christian body, the Lutheran Student Movement-USA, we welcome all people as worthy of God’s grace, realizing as St. Paul says in Romans 3, “There is no distinction since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God – not the result of works, so that no one may boast.” Since we all sin but are saved by the grace of God, our righteousness before God is always an alien righteousness. This is God’s gift through Jesus’ death and resurrection. All our attempts at righteousness in the issues that find us in our human existence, no matter how pleasing and good, are always going to be flawed and only reveal our own sinfulness. Therefore, it is only with great patience, discernment, humility, and respect for each other that we may debate issues that will direct our common life together as God’s people.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that:
The Preamble of the Constitution of the Lutheran Student Movement-USA will amended to read as follows:
We, Christian students following in the Lutheran tradition, recognizing our identity in the Christian faith as confessed by the Lutheran churches, and living in creative and dynamic relationship with those churches, frame this Constitution to inform and empower faithful witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ in the academic community. It is our purpose to enable and facilitate that witness and service to which God calls local communities of faith in the world of higher education. We acknowledge that all have sinned and fall short of the grace of God and therefore, we welcome all individuals as we are all saved solely by the grace of God and in need of God’s forgiveness.
Sponsored by: Adela Larson, University of Wisconsin-Stout
RC/EC Recommendation: Pass