# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S118 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 118 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS Resoived, That the LCMS notify LCUSA that it does not wish to be identified with (either for or against) past, present, or future positions and practices of LCUSA unless the LCMS has taken or will take specific, formal positions either for or against LCUSA’s stands; and be it further Resolved, That the LCMS will notify LCUSA that, upon completion of all current obligations and agreements, the LCMS will no longer give financial support or enter into any program in the future until it can be determined that all members of LCUSA are in doctrinal agreement with the LCMS. St. Thomas Lutheran Church Rocky River, Ohio Richard Dorow, President Kenneth Mayer, Secretary Idential or similar: 3-82B Redeemer, Grand Rapids, Mich. Allen Maleske 3-83 To Discontinue Comity Agreements with LCUSA WHEREAS, Comity is defined as an agreement among Chris- tian denominations to avoid duplication of churches or mis- sions in a specific area; and WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod began the practice of comity with LCUSA member churches in 1963, and WHEREAS, ALC, LCA, and AELC have made it abundantly clear during these past 18 years that they do not agree in doctrine and practice with the LCMS; and WHEREAS, The practice of comity with ALC, LCA, and AELC, all of which adhere to false teachings regarding (1) the authority of Scripture, (2) Gospel reductionism, and (3) the third use of the Law as noted in New Orleans Res. 3-09, is expressly forbidden in such Scripture passages as 2 Tim. 4:3; 1 Tim. 6:3-4; Matt. 5:19; Heb. 13:9; therefore be it Resolved. That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod notify LCUSA that all current comity agreements which are now finalized will be honored but that no new agreements will be entered into after December 1983. St. Thomas Lutheran Church Rocky River, Ohio Richard Dorow, President Kenneth Maver, Secretary 3-84A To Form a New Inter-Lutheran Association Replacing LCUSA WHEREAS, The President of the Synod has called for the formation of a new inter-Lutheran association to replace the Lutheran Council in the U.S.A.; and WHEREAS, The Synod’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations has concurred with this suggestion; and WHEREAS, A different understanding of the priority of theological consensus has become increasingly evident during the past several years, culminating with the decision of The American Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Church in America, and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches to commune with members of the Episcopal Church, thereby demonstrating a clear departure from confessional Lutheran- ism; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, in consultation with the other members of LCUSA, work toward the termination of the Council as soon as feasible. and be it further Resolved, That a new inter-Lutheran structure, to function as a “broker” for member churches rather than the program arm, be organized; and be it further Resolved, That the new structure be empowered to coordi- natea limited number of joint activities and programs, such as immigration and refugee services, and arrange for free theo- logical conferences among American Lutherans to study and discuss the doctrinal differences that divide us from each other; and be it finally Resolved, That all Lutheran bodies in the United States be invited to become a part of this new structure which would emphasize cooperation in externals and work toward a God- pleasing unity of doctrine and practice. Lutheran Church of Messiah Grand Junction, Colo. Tom Moore, President John W. Meyer, Pastor Identical or similar: 3-84B to 3-84H Beautiful Savior, Broomfield, Colo. Our Savior, Vernal, Utah Mt. Calvary, Fort Lupton, Colo. Harlan Harnapp David L. Bahn John C. Wohlrabe Hope, Victoria, B.C. L. M. Carlson Redeemer, Delta, Colo. Alvin Hahn Trinity, Rangely, Colo. John Stube Mt. Calvary, New Orleans, La. Marvin Lehnhardt 3-85 To Form a New Lutheran Association to Replace LCUSA WHEREAS, Three of the five bodies making up the Lutheran Council in the United States of America have decided to forma new church body, thus making many of the functions of LCUSA unnecessary for them; and WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is not in fellowship with any of the church bodies now forming LCUSA: an WHEREAS, Events such as the Interim Eucharistic Sharing between these same three bodies and the Episcopal Church have made it clear that the churches forming LCUSA are farther apart now than they were when this agency was organized, thus demonstrating that it has failed to accomplish its primary purpose (LCUSA Constitution, Art. IV b); and WHEREAS, LCMS membership in LCUSA is a continuing stumbling block to a restoration of fellowship with the Evan- gelical Lutheran Synod and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lu- theran Synod; and WHEREAS, Membership in LCUSA gives the impression to other Lutherans, other Christians, and even to members of our own congregations, that we are in doctrinal agreement and practicing fellowship with member bodies, thus violating the spirit if not the letter of Art. X of the Formula of Concord (FC SD X 5-6, 10, 16, Tappert Edition, pp. 611—63); and WHEREAS, Dr. Ralph A. Bohlmann, President of our Synod. has now proposed a new association to replace the Lutheran Council on the basis of five factors: 1. The decision of the three LCUSA member bodies to form anew church body: 2. Changing priority (from the same three bodies) for seeking theological consensus; 3. Increasing unsuitability of many Council programs: 4. Desirability of broadening Lutheran membership; and 5. Need for greater cost efficiency; and WHEREAS, Among these unsuitable LCUSA programs are public relations and the news bureau, campus ministry, joint mission planning including comity arrangements, Indian affairs, and governmental relations: and WHEREAS, Dr. Bohlmann’s proposal provides for continued