# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S121 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 121 basis act in essential church work (in sacris) on behalf of its member Churches without itself assuming the character of Church in the New Testament sense?” (par. 16a); and WHEREAS, The historical-critical destruction of Biblical authority, as widely prevalent in the Lutheran World Federa- tion, stands in the sharpest possible contrast to the LCA’s solemn public confession, in its “Theses of Agreement” and in further statements, of the full inspiration and inerrancy of Holy Scripture (e.g. the LCA’s specific rejection of the view “that what according to clear biblical statements ‘actually is or actually happened’ may be regarded as what actually is not or actually did not happen” and the description of certain his- torical-critical assumptions as “an attack not only on the apostolicity of the Church (Eph. 2:20), but on the very Lordship of Christ” [1972 Report, pp. 360, 362]); and WHEREAS, We owe one another the sort of faithful mutual concern for the shared treasures of our precious orthodox confession which the former ELCA exhibited when ata time of great crisis in the Missouri Synod it sent a formal and fraternal letter of admonition to the Missouri Synod, dealing with the very issues of Scripture, church, and ecumenism which are now also agitating the LCA itself (cf. 1962 ELCA Report. pp. 36— 38); therefore be it Resolved, That the CTCR together with the President of Synod be authorized to consider and, if they deem it advisable, to draft and send to the LCA a letter of encouragement—in the spirit of mutual regard and concern, not of interference or censoriousness—expressing appropriate concerns and offering collegial consultations and particularly a close collaboration in seeking a worldwide fraternal and orthodox Lutheran settlement and concord in those questions concerning Scrip- ture and church fellowship which challenge all our churches in our time. Faculty Concordia Theological Seminary For Wayne, Ind. Norbert H. Mueller, Secretary 3-94A To Exercise Doctrinal Supervision of LCMS Campus Ministries WHEREAS, A segment of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod campus chaplains have sought permission to practice intercommunion hospitality with Roman Catholic campus chapels; and WHEREAS, The Scriptural and Confessional position of the LCMS is far removed from official Roman Catholic doctrine; and WHEREAS, The practice of unionism has been openly advocated and practiced in some of the LCMS campus ministries; therefore be it Resolved, That the office of the President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod be directed to exercise doctrinal supervision and discipline in accord with the Scriptural, Confessional, and Constitutional stance of the LCMS over the campus ministries of the Synod. Our Saviour Lutheran Church Vernal, Utah Russ Case, President Roberta Johnson, Secretary David L. Bahn, Pastor Identical or similar: 3-94B to 3-94D Messiah, Grand Junction, Colo. Redeemer, Delta, Colo. Beautiful Savior, Broomfield, Colo. John W. Meyer Alvin Hahn Harlan Harnapp 3-95 To Strengthen Discipline for Stronger Unity in Doctrine and Practice WHEREAS, Since God wants Christians to have unity in doctrine and practice, Synod has written as one ofits objectives under Art. III: The Synod, under Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, shall— Conserve and promote the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4:3-6; 1 Cor. 1:10), work through its official structure toward fellowship with other Christian church bodies. and provide a united defense against schism, sectarianism (Rom. 16:17), and heresy; and WHEREAS, The Synod’'s Constitution, in harmony with Scripture, requires this of its members as conditions for acquiring and holding membership (Art. VI); and WHEREAS, The synodical President is required by the Con- stitution to supervise doctrine and practice to bring this about (Art. XI, B):, and WHEREAS, District Presidents are required to do the same (Bylaws 3.71, 3.73, and 3.75); and WHEREAS, Unionism continues to plague and prevent the full unity of our beloved Synod because of continuing incidents of participation in mixed confession worship services and wedding services and in charismatic movement meetings and rallies, even though Res. 3-27, ‘To Promote Proper Discipline,” was passed at our 1977 Dallas convention (Proceedings. p. 137): and WHEREAS, Bylaw 8.13 states that the District President may on his own initiative institute proceedings and take adminis- trative action: therefore be it Resolved, That the synodical President shall carry out the duties of his office (Art. XI, B), especially as it relates to supervision of the doctrine and administration of all District Presidents, to admonish all who in any way depart from the Synod’s Constitution; and be it further Resolved, That every District President shall represent the Synod in his respective territory to cause the resolutions of the Synod to be implemented in his District and to supervise the doctrine, the life, and the official practice on the part of the pastors and teachers of his District, thus following the synodi- cal President’s leadership in promoting and maintaining stronger unity of doctrine and practice in a//the Districts of our beloved Synod. St. Peter Lutheran Church Hilbert, Wis. Delmar Schroeder, President Dean Bergelin, Secretary Gene R. Kangas, Pastor 3-96 To Terminate Unionistic Activities WHEREAS, By becoming members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, the pastors and congregations, strictly voluntarily, accept the conditions as outlined and set forth in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod; and WHEREAS, Involvement in the services and sacramental rites of heterodox congregations or congregations of mixed confession (Constitution, Article VI 2 b) is expressly forbidden and thus is a violation of the conditions for membershp in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and WHEREAS, Public violations of these conditions for member- ship in the Synod through involvement in unionistic services of worship (including those sometimes labelled “rallies” and “celebrations”’) by member clergy and congregations of the Synod have been thoroughly documented throughout the church; and WHEREAS, Such unionism violates ‘the conservation and promotion of the unity of the true faith” (Eph. 4:3-6; 1 Cor. 1:10) and ‘“‘a united defense against schisro and sectarianism” (Rom.