# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S96 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 96 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS commission was organized in 1962 (1962 Res. 3-O6A). During this time the committee has made it possible for pastors and professors from almost every partner church of the LCMS to study at synodical seminaries in this country, and it has also assisted many LCMS professors in teaching at partner semi- naries. - “Beginning with the 1981—82 fiscal vear. however. the Exchange Study Committee has received no funding from the synodical budget to carry out its program. The committee has been informed by the Board of Directors that its funding would come in the future from Forward in Remembrance funds in cooperation with the Board for Mission Services and the Board for Professional Education Services. Because of these devel- opments the Exchange Study Committee has not made any new grants during this past biennium, but has only continued to support the study program for Pastor Gregory Lockwood from Australia at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis by means of funding supplied by the Board for Mission Services. In the fall of 1982 President Bohlmann appointed a com- mittee consisting of Dr. Walter Rosin. executive secretary of the Board for Professional Education Services, Dr. Edward Westcott, executive secretary of the Board for Mission Services. and Dr. Samuel Nafzger. executive secretary of the CTCR. to evaluate the various scholarship programs of the LCMS and to prepare a proposal for coordinating them. In response to this assignment. this special committee has submitted a proposal to the President of the Svnod calling for the formation of a Committee Responsible for International Study Programs (CRISP). It is reeommended that this com- mittee should be composed of the President of the Svnod, the presidents of the St. Louis and Ft. Wayne seminaries. and the executive secretaries of the Board for Professional Education Services, the Board for Mission Services. and the CTCR. According to this proposal. this committee would be respons- ible for the coordinating of all international study and teach- ing programs. Both the CTCR and the Exchange Study Committee have indicated their approval of this basic proposal and have encouraged the President of Synod to give serious consider- ation to this way of carrying out the responsibilities given to the Exchange Study Committee. Serving on the Exchange Study Committee during the past biennium were Dr. Lowell Schoer, Dr. Karl Barth, and Dr. Robert Preus. B. Bible Versions Committee The Bible Versions Committee. an auxiliary committee of the CTCR. has been assigned the function of providing guid- ance to the members of the Synod as they evaluate the various translations of the Bible. Appointed by the CTCR to serve on this committee during the 1981—83 biennium were Dr. Harold Buls (Ft. Wayne seminary), Dr. John Grothe (St. Louis semi- nary), and Dr. Horace Hummel (CTCR liaison). During this past biennium the committee held one meeting and convened two telephone conference calls to carry out its work. The committee has arranged for the publication of a series of five articles on Bible translations to appear in the Lutheran Witness in 1983—84. At the request of the committee, the following topics are to be included in this series: intro- duction—translating the Bible. a survey of current versions. a look at the New King James Bible. the New International Version—the Psalms. and the use of translations in studying the Scriptures. C. Social Concerns Committee The Social Concerns Committee, an auxiliary committee of the CTCR, prepares studies on current social issues. In the fall of 1981 the CTCR distributed to the Synod a study on “Human Sexuality: A Theological Perspective” prepared by the SCC. The committee is presently working on a new document on abortion which it hopes to complete within the next vear. Also on its agenda is the preparation ofa report on ‘The Theology of Social Ministry” and studies in the areas of medical ethics and Christian counseling. The commission calls attention to the report of this com- mittee, which is attached as Appendix A to this report. IV. CONFESSIONAL ANNIVERSARIES During the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Book of Concord and the 450th anniversary of the Augsburg Con- fession in 1980, the Committee on Confessional Anniversaries appointed by the CTCR received from a number of Districts extra anniversary celebration funds to be used for the Synod- wide celebration. Following the 1980 anniversary activities, the commission was informed that extra money was available in the confessional anniversary celebration account. In con- sultation with the Committee on Confessional Anniversaries and with the Board for Mission Services the CTCR decided to present a special gift to one of the partner churches of the Synod. A portion of this money has been used to present the Lutheran Church of Nigeria with enough copies of The Book of Concord for all of their pastors and evangelists. Additional projects are still under consideration. Concluding Word The goal of the apostle Paul's labors was that he. together with all the apostles. might “present every man mature in Christ” (Col. 1:28). This growth toward maturity in Christ. insists the apostle. happens through the proclamation of Jesus Christ in Law and Gospel. As the congregations, pastors, teachers, and other members in the Synod work together toward this same end in the days ahead, the commission especially commends to them for their study and enrichment the ‘Theses on Justification” prepared during this biennium. It is the conviction of the commission that when this doctrine is rightly proclaimed and correctly taught, genuine Christian growth takes place and good works abound in the lives of Christians. As the commission has stated in its introduction to these theses. the CTCR “offers the theses... with the special prayer that they will assist pastors and congregations as they seek to bring comfort and peace to troubled consciences in their midst and to edify one another for the work of Christian service.” Michael J. Stelmachowicz. Chairman Norbert H. Mueller. Secretary Appendix 3-01A Report of Social Concerns Committee The Social Concerns Committee (SCC) functions as an auxiliary committee of the CTCR. Appointed by the CTCR, the purpose of the SCC is to assist the CTCR in its assigned task of “suggesting and outlining studies of contemporary issues, including also current social issues, as they affect the church and as the church may affect such social issues” (Bylaw 2.593 b 4). The SCC in recent years has been composed of nine members. However, during the past biennium the SCC has experienced a number of membership changes due to the loss of personnel and to the reorganization of the CTCR. The com- mittee was saddened, first of all, by the death on Aug. 23, 1982. of Dr. Martin Scharlemann. Upon the acceptance of his new position as executive secretary of the Board for Social Ministry Services of the Synod, Dr. Eugene Linse, chairman of the SCC for a number of years. resigned his membership on the com- mittee. Mrs. Mabel Warnke, a long-time member of the com- mittee, requested for personal reasons that she not be con- sidered for reappointment by the CTCR to the SCC. The SCC wishes to express its deep gratitude to God for the faithful service of these members. The committee also acknowledges with thankfulness to God the services of Dr. Henry Eggold, who was a member of the SCC for many vears and who died on June 2, 1982. Taking into account these changes in personnel and the membership reduction called for in 1981 Resolution 2-27 “To Establish Membership of Theology and Church Relations,” the CTCR decided at its February 1982 meeting to reduce the membership of the SCC from nine to seven members. At its November 1982 meeting the CTCR proceeded to appoint to the SCC two new members, Dr. Richard Schultz of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and Dr. Randall Shields of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, to fill two unexpired vacancies ending in December 1983.