# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1965_S236 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 236 UNPUBLISHED REPORTS AND OVERTURES all others as they carry on the important offices im- posed upon them. LuTHERAN CHURCH OF THE GooD SHEPHERD Tulsa, Okla. Henry Davusert, President [8-15 Un] To Have Pete Seeger Removed from the 1965 Convention Program of the International Walther League Wuereas, The appearance of Mr. Pete Seeger on the international Walther League convention program has caused considerable anxiety and unrest within the church; and Wuereas, We are not the authorized powers to de- termine the guilt or innocence of the man in question; and Wuereas, The fact that Mr. Seeger is a controversial figure will reflect unfavorably upon the image of the church; and Wuereas, Dr. Oliver Harms advised the Synod’s Board for Young People’s Work against Mr. Seeger’s appearing on the program; and Wuereas, In spite of Dr. Harms’ advice, the Synod’s Board for Young People’s Work has resolved to sup- port the Walther League in scheduling Mr. Seeger on the program; and Wuereas, The Synod’s Handbook (Section .7.73 b) makes the Board for Young People’s Work the respon- sible department in the supervision of such matters; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, in convention assembled at Detroit, Mich., June 16 to 26, 1965, instruct the Board for Young People’s Work to take immediate action to have Mr. Seeger removed from the international Walther League con- vention program. THe Boarp or Directors Iowa District West D. E. Wetss, Secretary [8-16 Un] To Dismiss Rev. Alfred P. Klausler from Duties as Editor of “Arena” Magazine and Associate Director of the Walther League Wuereas, A Christian magazine should be unbiased in politics, Rev. Klausler has repeatedly used Arena to foist his personal political beliefs upon the youth of our Synod (Arena, Nov. 1963, p. 13; Aug. 1964, p.3; and other articles); and Wuereas, Most of the quotes in the magazine favor the entrance of our Synod in the ecumenical move- ment (Arena, May 1964, pp. 20, 21; June 1964, p. 3); and Wuereas, Rev. Klausler has allowed false doctrine to enter Arena (Jan—Feb. 1965, article “A Lutheran Looks at the Jews,” quote: “There is an unbiblical pre- sumption in believing that Jews are ‘lost’ because they are not Christian”); therefore be it Resolved, That Rev. Alfred P. Klausler be removed from his position as editor of Arena magazine and as associate director of the Walther League and that he be admonished, in accordance with synodical rules, for permitting these articles to be published and for failing to perform his duties properly. First LUTHERAN CHURCH San Fernando, Calif. Raupy IL. Dick, President Guenn M. Roske, Sr. Elder Maurice G. FaraGHER, Secretary [8-17 Un} To Instruct Board for Young People’s Work to Exercise Closer Supervision of Programs . . . Conventions, etc. Dear Brethren: Wuereas, The only hope for the world today and in the future, as it has been in the past, lies in a changeless Christ for a changing world; and Wuereas, It is especially important in these troublous times that all programs prepared for the youth of our church be Bible-based and Christ-centered; and Wuereas, The international Walther League has per- mitted an article to be published in its youth magazine, Arena, that espouses doctrine contrary to the clear teachings of Scripture — see January—February issue of Arena in the article “A Lutheran Looks at the Jews”; and Wuereas, The Walther League has permitted articles to be printed in Arena that use vulgar and offensive lan- guage, not becoming a child of God; and Wuereas, The international Walther League per- mitted to be published in the October 1964 issue of the Workers Quarterly a parody on the Lord’s Prayer that is cheap and vulgar, thus desecrating the prayer our Savior taught us; and Wuereas, The international Walther League in 1965 convention to be held at Squaw Valley, Calif., has in- volved the youth of our church —a majority of whom are still minors —in a basic civil rights theme instead of a basic Christ-centered theme; and Wuereas, In its international convention to be held as Squaw Valley, Calif., the international Walther League has employed for its program someone whose character and integrity have been under question, e. g., Pete Seeger as the “Prodder and Musical Commentator” of the convention; therefore be it Resolved, That we request the Synod to instruct the board for its youth work in the Synod to exercise closer supervision of programs, publications, emphasis, con- ventions, etc., to the end that the Cross of Christ be always held up to our youth as the only hope for salva- tion, and that all programs, publications, emphases and creed ees pee stents nme apm he MI, Mev