Lutheran in Name?

From the Guidelines for LCMS Congregations found on the Church Office Administration Resources page:

III. GUIDELINES FOR CONSTITUTIONS

The following are subjects that ordinarily should be addressed in a congregation’s constitution.

Instructive comments are provided together with sample paragraphs. For ease of reference, a numeral and decimal numbering system is also recommended.

1.0 NAME

Legal counsel should be consulted to make certain that this paragraph follows the requirements for ecclesiastical corporations established by the state in which the congregation is located. In addition, 1995 Synod convention Resolution 3-13A resolved that “all congregations and mission stations in our Synod boldly profess in their official title and/or name that they are ‘Lutheran.’”

Example:
The name of this congregation shall be [Name] Lutheran Church of [City,] [County,] [State].

Here is the actual resolution (found on page 17 of the document above):

1995 Convention Proceedings

To Use the Name Lutheran

RESOLUTION 3-13A

Overtures 3-120-130 (CW, pp. .187-91)
Whereas, We have been called Lutheran since the formation of our Synod (and since Reformation times) and are thankful for our doctrinal background and heritage; and
Whereas, The name Lutheran clearly identifies what the member congregations and The Lutheran Church¾Missouri Synod believe, teach and confess; and
Whereas, Basic Christian honesty and integrity require that no deception of any sort be used in declaring the truth of the Gospel before all the world; as St. Paul declares: “Rather we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God” (2 Cor. 4:2); therefore be it
Resolved, That all congregations and mission stations in our Synod boldly profess is their official title and/or name that they are “Lutheran”; and be it further
Resolved, That all congregations and mission stations of our Synod state in their materials (bulletins, newsletters, etc.) that they belong to The Lutheran Church¾Missouri Synod; and be it finally
Resolved, That all LCMS congregations gladly proclaim our great doctrinal heritage to a world that needs the clear proclamation of the truth.
Action: Adopted (11).

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