# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S179
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 179

Identical or similar:

3-58B

Memorial, Houston, Tex. Geo. Knudsen

3-59

To Request Study and Resolution
of Fellowship with ALC

WHEREAS, It is the will of the Lord that those who confess
Jesus as Lord walk together in faith, expressing that unity
which is the gift of the Spirit and confessing boldly the doctrine
of the Scriptures; and

WHEREAS, The declaration and practice of altar and pulpit
fellowship between church bodies is regarded by the Synod asa
significant relationship which must be based on the Scriptures
and the Lutheran Confessions; and

WHEREAS, The Synod, trusting in the Lord of the church and
striving to maintain a theological posture which is both
evangelical and confessional, regretfully declared itself to bein
a state of “fellowship in protest” with The American Lutheran
Church at the Dallas convention in 1977 and reaffirmed this
declaration at the 1979 convention of the Synod in St. Louis;
and

WHEREAS, These actions were taken after careful and
prayerful consideration of the theological issues which are
basic to the Synod’s commitment to the Scriptures and the
Lutheran Confessions; and

WHEREAS, Real and demonstrable doctrinal differences
exist between The American Lutheran Church and the Synod
in the following areas:

a. The inspiration, inerrancy, and authority of the Scrip-
tures;

b. The ordination of women to the pastoral office;
c. The nature and basis of fellowship;

d. Membership and participation in ecumenical organiza-
tions; and

WHEREAS, In this year of our Lord 1980, we praise our
heavenly Father for the blessings that have come to us by His
grace through the fathers who were unashamed and unafraid
to confess their faith in the Augsburg Confession and the
documents contained in The Book of Concord; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Michigan District of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod affirm every expression of true unity
and fellowship to be the gift of the Holy Spirit; and be it further

Resolved, That we pledge our best efforts to seek and foster
true unity among Christians and that we urgently request the
parishes of the Michigan District, with the assistance of the
Circuit Counselors, to faithfully study the documents treating
the theology and issues of fellowship which have been made
available and which will be forthcoming from the Synod; and
be it further

Resolved, That the Synod continue its discussions with
representatives of The American Lutheran Church in the
months prior to the 1981 convention of the Synod in order to
resolve the theological issues which presently hinder our
walking together; and be it further

Resolved, The Michigan District petition the Synod to sever
its fellowship with The American Lutheran Church if the
existing areas of doctrinal] disagreement are not resolved, in
harmony with the Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions,
prior to the time of the 1981 convention; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod, continue to beseech the Lord of
the church to lead us into true unity with those who faithfully
hold to the truth of the Scriptures and who walk by faith on our
Lord Jesus Christ.

Michigan District
Eldor Bickel, Secretary

3-60

To Recognize that Altar and Pulpit
Fellowship with ALC Does Not Exist

WHEREAS, Our Synod has adopted a position of ‘“‘fellowship
in protest” with The American Lutheran Church; and

WHEREAS, There are prohibitive differences in theology and
practices within The American Lutheran Church (for example:
abortion, doctrine of Scripture, ordination of women) that are
not in conformity with the Confessions and doctrinal position
of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Central Illinois District in convention
(1980) memorialize the 1981 convention of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod to—

1) recognize that fellowship, as commonly understood
among us, does not exist with The American Lutheran Church;

2) reinstitute the entire fellowship discussion with The
American Lutheran Church to explore if basic differences can
indeed be resolved through love, prayer, the guidance of God
through the study of Holy Scripture;

3) recognize altar and pulpit fellowship only after a God-
pleasing concord is achieved.

Central Illinois District

Arthur T. Kuehnert, President

J. Robert Cunningham, Secretary

3-61A

To Reaffirm Fellowship
and to Permit Dissent

WHEREAS, Altar and pulpit fellowship with The American
Lutheran Church was achieved after more than 40 years of
prayer and discussion; and

WHEREAS, This relationship has been based on mutual
unconditional endorsement of the Lutheran Confessions as a
correct understanding of Biblical Christian doctrine; and

WHEREAS, The ALC through its president has strongly
indicated a desire to remain in fellowship with The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod; and

WHEREAS, Fellowship provides opportunity for learning as
well as for sharing understandings about Scripture and about
Christian life; and

WHEREAS, Such fellowship is a joyful response to the prayer
of our Lord (John 17) for unity in His church; and

WHEREAS, Both church bodies are committed to evangelical
outreach as the principal mission of the church; and

WHEREAS, Congregations of both church bodies have been
blessed by the present relationship; and

WHEREAS, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Minnetonka,
Minn., has been blessed especially through joint worship,
transfer of memberships, pulpit exchange, etc. with brothers
and sisters in the ALC; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in
convention give thanks to God for the manifold blessings
received as a result of fellowship with the ALC; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirms with joy the declaration
of fellowship with the ALC, as adopted by our Synod in 1969;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod encourages member congrega-
tions to give expression to the unity that has been found with
the ALC; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod affirms the right of member
congregations to dissent from this resolution and to follow the
dictates of conscience.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Minnetonka, Minn.

Rebecca Enger, Secretary

A. H. Malotky, Pastor