# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S120 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 120 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS Resolved, That all delegates to this synodical convention and all member congregations be regularly invited and urged to pray to our Lord to bless the vital, cooperative voice of Lutheran Christians in the U.S. Board of Directors Ohio District Douglas E. Riley, Secretary 3-89 To Increase Involvement in the Lutheran Council in the U.S.A. WHEREAS, We as acongregation have always rejoiced in the fact that Lutherans from all traditions have joined together in the mission which the Lord has given us in this time and place; an WHEREAS, The Lutheran Council in the U.S.A. has provided a vehicle for the vast majority of Lutherans in this country to join together in mission and ministry since 1967; and WHEREAS, The Council continues to be the primary means whereby our congregation can be involved in refugee place- ment, relief efforts, military ministry, campus ministries, social service ministries, film production and distribution, and regional mission planning; and WHEREAS, Three of the Council's five member church bodies are preparing to unite in 1988, thus possibly making necessary arealignment of some Council programs and a continuation of others; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod in convention reaffirm its commit- ment to the Lutheran Council in the U.S.A.; and be it further Resolved, That all changes made in Council programs be done with the goal of enhancing mission, ministry, and cooperation: and be it further _ Resolved, That the Synod increase its level of involvement in the Council through the coming years. Resurrection Lutheran Church Franklin, N.C. Walter Roth, President Verlie Hibbing, Secretary Paul Kibler, Pastor OTHER INTERCHURCH MATTERS 3-91 To Cease Participation with the ALC and LCA in All Programs Promoted by and Through CCCPCL WHEREAS, Synod resolved not to publish a joint catechism with the ALC and LCA lest this imply full church fellowship and doctrinal agreement with those bodies (Res. 7-05, St. Louis, 1979); and WHEREAS, The door is still open to work in the areas of parish education, worship, evangelism, youth ministry, social ministry, and stewardship with the ALC and the LCA through the agency known as the Coordinating Committee for Coop- erating Projects in Congregation Life (CCCPCL); and WHEREAS, Such joint participation in CCCPCL would give the impression that we are in full church fellowship and doctrinal agreement with these bodies; therefore be it Resolved, That henceforth no programmatic board, no synodical committee, or any individual in our Synod partici- pate in any CCCPCL programs and projects; and be it further Resolved, That this action become immediately effective and binding upon adoption. Mount Hope Lutheran Church Casper, Wyo. John G. Evans III, Secretary J.B. Brown, Pastor 3-92A To Deny Petitions for Membership in the World Council of Churches, the National Council of Churches, and the Lutheran World Federation WHEREAS, Some in our Synod continue to advocate Lu- theran Church—Missouri Synod membership in the World Council of Churches, the National Council of Churches, and the Lutheran World Federation; and WHEREAS, The WCC, the NCC, and the LWF embrace in their fellowships many church bodies diametrically opposed to our loyal commitment to the inerrant Word of God; and WHEREAS, The fractured fellowship with our own commu- nion currently demands fulltime responsibility in contending for the truth within our Synod; and WHEREAS, Many Christian people throughout America would be encouraged in their witness to the truth of God's Word by a decision of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod un- equivocally and decisively to reject any and all involvements with the anti-Christian and modernistic WCC, NCC, and LWF; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod declare itself out of harmony with and in Biblical opposition to the World Council of Churches, the National Council of Churches, and the Lutheran World Federation; and be it further Resolved, That we register the seriousness of our protest by withdrawing any and all sundry commitments we may have in official and. or unofficial association with the WCC, NCC, and LWF as now constituted; and be it finally Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod unreservedly reject any and all overtures to identify with these groups as now constituted. St. Thomas Lutheran Church Rocky River, Ohio Richard Dorow. President Kenneth Maver. Secretary Identical or similar: 3-92B Mt. Hope, Casper, Wyo. J.B. Brown 3-93 To Encourage Relations with Lutheran Church of Australia WHEREAS, Particularly through the former Evangelical Lutheran Church of Australia (ELCA), which in 1966 merged with the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Australia (UELCA) to form the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA). The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has deep historical and theological bonds with this LCA; and WHEREAS, Despite the LCA’s decision at its constituting convention to pursue the fellowship question ‘with urgency” (1966 Report, p. 14), it has so far not been possible for the LCA to sort out its ecumenical fellowship relations; and WHEREAS, The LCA will be asked to consider full member- ship, though with certain reservations, in the Lutheran World Federation; and WHEREAS, Inits Document of Union the LCA itself officially confesses “that wherever continued cooperation in the preach- ing of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments and worship exists, there we have a witness to the world of unity in the faith and a profession of church fellowship” (par. 5), and also recognizes as the LWF’s unresolved “‘ecclesiological prob- lem” the question: “Can a federation with a specific doctrinal