ST. LOUIS — A year after a dispute resolution panel of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) lifted the suspension of a New York official who took part in a prominent interfaith prayer service, the denomination has issued guidelines for participation of its pastors in civic events.
The majority of the denomination’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations determined that Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod pastors may take part in certain public events involving leaders of other Christian and non-Christian faiths.
“The question is whether it is possible under any circumstances for an LCMS pastor to offer a prayer in a public setting involving a variety of religious leaders without engaging in ‘joint prayer and worship,’” the guidelines read.
“Some believe that this is not possible. The majority believes that it may be possible depending on such factors as how the event is arranged and understood and how the situation is handled by the pastor in question, in order to make it clear that ‘joint prayer and worship’ is not being conducted or condoned.”
Share with others: