# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1967_S92 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 92 THEOLOGICAL MATTERS To Reaffirm Position on Scriptures RESOLUTION 2-16 Overtures 2-10 to 2-16 (CW, pp. 62—65) Wuereas, God in His grace has given to us His Holy Word; and Wuereas, By His grace we freely subscribe to Article II of the Constitution of The Lutheran Church — Mis- souri Synod: Synod, and every member of Synod, accepts without reservation: . 1. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as the written Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and of practice; 2. All the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lu- theran Church as a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of God, to wit: the three Ecumeni- cal Creeds (the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed), the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, the Large Catechism of Luther, the Small Cate- chism of Luther, and the Formula of Concord. therefore be it Resolved, That we pray in this day of theological un- rest and confusion that God by His mercy keep us faith- ful to His inspired and inerrant Word “as the only rule and norm of faith and practice” and to the Lutheran Confessions as a true and faithful exposition of that Word. Action: Adopted as amended. (The words “and inerrant” were inserted by amendment, Another amendment, to quote the exact words of Article Hy, 1 and 2 of the Constitution after “keep us faithful to,” failed to carry.) (Nore: After the convention it was reported that Over- ture 2-16 had been withdrawn since it had been forwarded by mistake. This does not, however, invalidate Resolution 2-16 given above, since the resolution still constitutes the convention’s answer to Overtures 2-10 to 2-15.) To Refer Questions Concerning Proposed Rite for Holy Baptism RESOLUTION 2-17 Overture 2-86 (CW, p. 81) Wuergas, The Commission on Worship, Liturgics, and Hymnology approved a “Proposed Rite for Holy Bap- tism” and requested pastors of The Lutheran .Church — Missouri Synod and the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches to use this rite in an experimental way and to make comment to the Commission on Wor- ship, Liturgics, and Hymnology; and Wuereas, The “Proposed Rite for Holy Baptism” in- cluded as optional the words “Go, unclean spirit, and give place to the Holy Spirit” as derived from the words “Fahr aus, Du unreiner Geist, and gib Raum dem Heili- gen Geist” (or: “Exi, spiritus immunde, et locum praebe spiritui sancto”) from the Taufbiichlein of Dr. Martin Luther’s Kleiner Katechismus *; and Wuereas, The “Proposed Rite for Holy Baptism” in- cluded as optional such adiaphora as: making the sign of the cross at the time when the pastor prays: “Hallow this water by Thy Word to be a washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit,” placing a white baptis- mal robe upon the person baptized, and placing a lighted candle into the right hand of the person baptized; and Wuereas, The inclusion of the above-mentioned op- tional parts has been questioned; and Wuereas, The final text of the Rite for Holy Baptism, as part of a completed agenda, will be presented to the Synod for approval; therefore be it Resolved, That the decision whether to include in the revised “Rite of Holy Baptism” the words “Go, unclean spirit, and give way to the Holy Spirit”; making the sign of the cross when the pastor prays “Hallow this water by Thy Word to be a washing of regeneration and re- newal in the Holy Spirit”; placing a white baptismal robe upon the person baptized; and placing a lighted candle into the right hand of the person baptized, be referred to the Commission on Worship. * Die Bekenntnisschriften der evangelisch-lutherischen Kirche (Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1952), p. 538. Action: Adopted. To Refrain from Selective Pulpit Fellowship RESOLUTION 2-18 Overtures 2-05 and 2-06 (CW, p. 60) A. Wuersas, On the one hand, the congregations and members of the Synod join in renouncing unionism and syncretism of every description, such as: a. Serving congregations of mixed confession, as such, by ministers of the church; b. Taking part in the services and sacramental rites of heterodox congregations or of congregations of mixed confession. (Constitution of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, Article VI, 2, a, b) therefore be it Resolved, That we refrain from selective pulpit fel- lowship with “heterodox congregations or . . . congrega- tions of mixed confession”; and B. Wuereas, On the other hand, all congregations and members of the Synod have voluntarily united for “the conservation and promotion of the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4:3-6; 1Cor. 1:10) and a united defense against schism and sectarianism (Rom. 16:17)” (op. cit., Article IT], 1); and Wuereas, Efforts are accordingly now being made within Lutheranism to enter into fellowship on the basis of Scripture and the Confessions, and this fellowship ought not be endangered by anticipating it; and Wuereas, The practice of selective pulpit fellowship would create problems and disharmony in the Synod; therefore be it Resolved, That we respectfully urge members of the Synod to refrain from selective pulpit fellowship with Lutherans not in fellowship with us. Action: Adopted. (During the discussion a motion to lay this resolution on the table failed to carry.)