To Publicly Call Rev. Dr. Matthew Becker to Repentance

This resolution was drafted by Rev. Joseph Fisher for the South Wisconsin District Convention. (originally posted in facebook group We Support LCMS President Matthew Harrison)

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To publicly call Rev. Dr. Matthew Becker to repentance.

Whereas, Holy Scripture warns, Matthew 7:15(ESV) Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. And

Whereas, Holy Scriptures warns, Romans 16:17-18(ESV) I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. and

Whereas, Holy Scripture warns, 2 Timothy 4:3-4(ESV) For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. and

Whereas, Holy Scripture declares, 2 Timothy 3:16-17(ESV) All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. and

Whereas, the CCM has ruled, “While the filing of dissent does not constitute a case for removal, the member is required to teach and practice in accord with Synod’s stated confessional position during the dissent process. If the member fails to honor and uphold the stated confessional position of Synod during the dissent process, the member becomes subject to disciplinary action due both to the violation of the doctrinal position of Synod and the offense against the other members of Synod created by such failure (Constitution Art. XIII 1). In such case it is incumbent upon the ecclesiastical supervisor of the member to exercise disciplinary action against the member who fails to teach and act within Synod’s stated confessional position, whether apart from or during the dissent process (Bylaws 2.14.4; 2.15.4; 2.16.4).” (link) and

Whereas, Rev. Dr. Matthew Becker has filed dissent yet continues to publicly teach and promote false doctrine including woman’s ordination, having published articles on his own blog, and on Daystar where he published an article titled “A Case for Female Pastors and Theologians” in which he states: “There is no legitimate biblical or dogmatic rationale for why the LCMS should now prohibit women from serving as theologians and pastors in the church.” (link) and

Whereas, Rev. Dr. Matthew Becker continues to publicly teach and promote false doctrine including, participating while vested in the installation of Charlene Rachuy Cox at Valparaiso (link) ; and

Whereas, Rev. Dr. Matthew Becker continues to publicly teach and promote false doctrine including, acceptance of homosexuality and homosexual marriage, having written on his blog Transverse Markings: One Theologian’s Notes titled “Further Sign of LCMS Times” (link)

Whereas, Rev. Dr. Matthew Becker continues to publicly teach and promote false doctrine including, promoting a figurative interpretation of Genesis 1 and 2 stating in his post “The Scandal of the LCMS Mind”…”Scientific data about the reality of physical death in the animal and plant kingdoms prior to origin of human beings (e.g., fossils of animals that lived long before the origin of human beings) must lead those who interpret the Bible in light of scientific knowledge to restate the nature of God’s good creation prior to the advent of human sin (e.g., such a good creation must have included the reality of death prior to the existence of human beings) and the character of the historical origin of sin (e.g., the advent of sin is to be traced to the first hominids who disobeyed God’s will but not necessarily to their having eaten from a tree in an actual place called the Garden of Eden several thousand years).” (link ) and

Whereas, Rev. Dr. Matthew Becker has stated that he has three goals for the LCMS all of which are contrary to the Scriptures and the positions of Synod (link):

  1. to encourage members within the synod to think differently about two issues, namely, (a) the synod’s understanding of Scripture that insists that only qualified men may serve as pastor in the synod; and (b) the synod’s understanding of Scripture that requires one to interpret the creation accounts in Genesis to be literal, historical descriptions of what God did in the not-too-distant past over the course of six actual 24-hr. days (“six-day creationism”);
  2. to have the synod change its position that restricts the office of pastor only to men;
  3. to have the synod reject “creationism” in favor of a more robust doctrine of creation, one that sets forth a theological understanding that better accords with the language and genre of these Genesis texts and that better accords with what people today know to be true and valid about the natural history of our planet.

Whereas, President Matt Harrison stated on Witness Mercy Life together blog, link

“When a public teacher on the roster of Synod can without consequence publicly advocate the ordination of women (even participate vested in the installation of an ELCA clergy person), homosexuality, the errancy of the Bible, the historical-critical method, open communion, communion with the Reformed, evolution, and more, then the public confession of the Synod is meaningless. I am saying that if my Synod does not change its inability to call such a person to repentance and remove such a teacher where there is no repentance, then we are liars and our confession is meaningless. I do not want to belong to such a synod, much less lead it. I have no intention of walking away from my vocation. I shall rather use it and, by the grace of God, use all the energy I have to call this Synod to fidelity to correct this situation.”

Therefore, Be it resolved that the SWD in convention request the Synod in convention to publicly call Rev. Dr. Matthew Becker to repent and recant or remove him from the clergy roster of Synod.

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