# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1965_S105 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 3 f£ American Lutheran church life to the Pree has tended to hamper the free course of the i and the development of church unity among the j who have been gathered by the various Lu- theran missions. “Jn this connection the church will do well to take sie of the following factors: the renewed emphasis on ithe Biblical doctrine of the church; the formation of sister daughter churches; a worldwide sensitivity to na- ‘ional cultures; considerations of good stewardship; and the growing consensus among Lutheran churches in for- ion fields. These developments bring to the fore ques- fions relating particularly to pulpit and altar fellowship among the various Lutheran mission churches and to co- operation in the training of pastors and other church workers. ” Aware of these developments and in response to the "4962 convention of the Synod (Resolution 3-11) the Com- “mission on Theology and Church Relations, in consulta- “tion with the mission boards involved, recommends the following theological principles for adoption by the Synod at its 1965 convention: 4. The New Testament constrains all believers to wit- ness to Jesus Christ and to preach the Gospel, Matt. 28:19, 20; Acts 1:8. 2. The New Testament emphasizes the unity and the *“gneness which all baptized believers possess in Jesus Christ. It also speaks of the Christians’ privilege and duty of manifesting this unity to one another and to those who are not yet of the household of faith, 1 Cor. 1: 10-13; Eph. 4:1-6; John 17:20-23. 3. In keeping with Scriptural teaching, the Symbolical Books of the Lutheran Church state that it is sufficient for the true unity of the church that there be agreement on the doctrine of the Gospel and that the sacraments be administered as instituted by our Lord, AC VII. 4, The New Testament assumes that the body of be- lievers in a given place has the evangelical freedom which is essential for the church’s basic duties of proclaiming the Gospel, of preserving the purity of doctrine, and of manifesting her essential unity, 1Cor.1:4-9. Christian congregations in a given area who are united under their common Lord by a common faith and a united confession have the right and duty to determine how they can best fulfill their God-given responsibilities. 5. The example of the apostolic church in the New Testament indicates that the parent church will continue to manifest responsibility and concern for the daughter church as it develops, Acts 8:14; 15:6-32, and that the daughter church will manifest the same attitudes toward the parent church, Acts 15:2; 2 Cor.8 and 9. In the Synod the daughter churches manifest these attitudes particu- larly by working in close consultation with the respective mission boards. However, it should be remembered that the New Testament places the ultimate responsibility on the church and the pastor(s) in a given place for preach- ing the Gospel, maintaining purity of doctrine, and prac- ticing church fellowship, Acts 20:28-31; 2 Tim. 4:1-5; Titus 3:10. The responsibility of working toward the establishing of pulpit and altar fellowship within the limits of these principles, and of publicly declaring it when the necessary conditions have been fulfilled rests primarily on the churches in a given area. The unity must be established on the basis of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. While such endeavors are being carried on and when by the grace of God they have been consummated, the Synod pledges itself to continued financial support so long as the need exists or until circumstances dictate otherwise. Cooperative theological training and other related en- deavors are to be explored by the mission churches in the interest of united confessional Lutheranism and of good stewardship of manpower and money. Specific plans and arrangements are to be developed in consultation { with the respective mission boards. } } Action: This resolution was adopted. CHURCH RELATIONS 105 To Invite the Evangelical Lutheran Synod and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod to Resume Discussions, ete. RESOLUTION 3-05 Overture 2-01, para. 41 (CW, p.36) Wuereas, The Lord of the church urges us to “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-3); there- fore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod again extend heartfelt invitations to the Evan- gelical Lutheran Synod and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod to resume discussions with us on the basis of Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions and earnestly urge these synods to accept these invita- tions for the purpose of restoring the bonds of fellowship which once existed; and be it further Resolved, That the President of the Synod contact the respective synods and make every effort to arrange the resumption of such conversations; and be it further Resolved, That the President of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod in consultation with the Com- mission on Theology and Church Relations appoint a special committee for carrying on these discussions as soon as this invitation is accepted; and be it further Resolved, That these discussions be encouraged on the local level as well as on the synodical level; and be it further Resolved, That we commend and thank President Harms for the efforts he has made to bring about such conversations; and be it finally Resolved, That we ask our heavenly Father’s bless- ings upon the invitations as well as upon future dis- cussion. Action: This resolution was adopted. To Continue Discussions with The American Lutheran Church RESOLUTION 3-06 Report 2-01, paras. 24, 51, 52 (CW, pp. 34, 37) Overtures 3-25, 3-31, 3-32, (CW, pp. 104, 106) Wuereas, Upon the invitation of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, extended to The American Lutheran Church, to engage in theological conversations “for the purpose of seeking a God-pleasing unity and fellowship” (Proceedings, 1959, p. 196), meetings were held by representatives of both church bodies in 1964 and in 1965; and Wuereas, Additional meetings are contemplated; therefore be it Resolved, That this convention express its joy over