# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1962_S110
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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DOCTRINAL MATTERS 10u

The Relationship Between Valparaiso
University and the Synod
RESOLUTION 3-26
Memorial 346, p. 171, Reports and Memorials

Wuereas, The Synod recognizes its opportunities and
obligations in the field of Christian higher education; and

WuerEas, Valparaiso University is assuming an in-
creasingly responsible role in the church through the
growing influence of its educational program, including
its training of deaconesses, youth leaders, and teach-
ers; and

Wuereas, There is justifiable concern that the teach-
ing of the university remain consonant with the doc-
trinal position of the Synod; and

Wuereas, The relationship between the university
and the Synod should be formally defined; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the convention instruct the President
of the Synod to initiate a process by which representa-
tives of the university and of the Synod would join in
the formulation of articles of relationship and mutual
responsibility and to offer these articles for acceptance
to the next convention of the Synod.

Action: This resolution was adopted.

Lutheran Interchurch Association
in the United States

RESOLUTION 3-27

Report 301, I, F, and I, F, and Memorials 313, 315, 316,
317, 321, 322, pp. 145, 146, 147, 152—154, 155, 156, Reports
and Memorials

Unprinted Memorials 321 A, 359, pp. 62, 63, 65, 66, To-
day’s Business

Since 1918 there has been a Lutheran agency in the
United States known as the National Lutheran Council.
While not holding membership in this agency, our Synod
did coordinate some of its activities with the NLC with
the understanding that such joint activities would not
compromise our doctrinal principles.

A significant development has taken place as a re-
sult of an invitation from the NLC to all unaffiliated
Lutheran bodies to discuss “the possibilities and extent
of cooperation among Lutherans in America.” Our
Committee on Doctrinal Unity, in accepting the invi-
tation, suggested that consideration of the theological
and confessional aspects should be given priority. The
NLC officials declared themselves willing to proceed
along these lines. This willingness is highly significant
because it marks the first time that conversations on
theological issues relevant to cooperation would take
place between representatives of our Synod and repre-
sentatives of the NLC.

The reasons for a favorable response to the invita-
tion by the NLC to the Committee on Doctrinal Unity,

and a report on the outcome of meetings held thus far,
are given on p.145f. of Reports and Memorials. The
resolutions of our committe follow:

Wuereas, The President of the Synod, in consulta-
tion with the Committee on Doctrinal Unity, accepted
the invitation of the National Lutheran Council to enter
into preliminary conversations regarding the possibili-
ties and extent of cooperation among Lutheran bodies
in the United States; and

Wuereas, Theological and confessional aspects were
given priority in the conversations noted above; and

Wuereas, Tentative agreement was reached that
a requirement for membership in the proposed associa-
tion be participation in serious theological discussions
by all member churches; and

Wuereas, No commitments are to be made without
proper authorization by the Synod at the next conven-
tion; and

Wuereas, The Committee on Doctrinal Unity re-
quests authorization to continue conversations with
representatives of other Lutheran church bodies in the
United States regarding the possibility of forming a Lu-
theran interchurch association; and

Wuereas, All Lutheran church bodies in the United
States are to be invited to participate in these conver-
sations; therefore be it

Resolved, That the President of the Synod, in con-
sultation with the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations, appoint seven representatives of the Synod
to meet with a similar number of representatives of
other Lutheran church bodies in the United States will-
ing to enter into conversations regarding a Lutheran
interchurch association; and be it further

Resolved, That this committee of seven issue a full
report to the Synod three months prior to the next
convention; and be it finally

Resolved, That all pastors, teachers, and congrega-
tions of the Synod study the pertinent documents
(“Toward Cooperation Among American Lutherans”
and “Essays on the Lutheran Confessions Basic to Lu-
theran Cooperation,” copies of which are available to
members of the Synod from the headquarters of the
Synod) and that they send comments to the proposed
committee of seven representatives of the Synod.

Action: This resolution was adopted.

“The Theology of Fellowship”
RESOLUTION 3-28

Appendix, pp. 9—21, Reports and Memorials
Memorials 332, 333, pp. 163, 164, Reports and Memorials

It is the confession of our church body that “Synod,
and every member of Synod, accepts without reserva-
tion:

“1. The Scriptures of the Old and the New Testa-
ment as the written Word of God and the only rule and
norm of faith and of practice;