# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S156
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

156 RESOLUTIONS

To Accept Report of Department
of Archives and History, Concordia
Historical Institute
RESOLUTION 11-14

Report 11-03 (CW, pp. 432—436)

Wuereas, Concordia Historical Institute, the De-
partment of Archives and History of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod, serves the historical and
archival needs of the Synod; and

Wuereas, They have made significant progress in
gathering, translating, and transcribing materials of
historical interest and have been active in disseminat-
ing materials of historical interest to historians and
other interested groups; and

WuereEaS, The events, people, and contributions of
Lutheranism in the past are important to any under-
standing of the nature of our Synod and for an appre-
ciation of this body; and

Wuereas, Much of the financial resources needed
for this work comes from individual membership in the
Concordia Historical Institute and from contributions
made by various groups and associations; therefore
be it

Resolved, That we encourage congregations, pastors,
teachers, and all others to help this important work by
becoming members of the Institute and to utilize its
resources; and be it further

Resolved, That we express gratitude to the Aid As-
sociation for Lutherans and the Lutheran Laymen’s
League for their significant contributions in support
of this work; and be it further

Resolved, That we ask the Concordia Historical
Institute to continue to call to the attention of the
Synod significant anniversaries such as are listed in
its report; and be it finally

Resolved, That we accept the report and express
our gratitude to the director, the Board of Governors,
and the staff for their dedicated service.

Action: Adopted (9).

To Study Position on Lodges
RESOLUTION 11-15

Overtures 11-07 to 11-09 (CW, pp. 439—440); 11-18U,
11-20U (URO, pp. 80—81)

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
recognizes and continues to give testimony against the
anti-Christian religious tenets promulgated by some
lodges; and

Whereas, Faithfulness to our resurrected and living
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ constrains the Synod and
its congregations and pastors to continue unrelentingly
such testimony publicly and privately; and

Wuereas, There is a growing concern among the
pastors and congregations of the Synod over the matter
of lodge membership as evidenced by the increased

correspondence of the Commission on Fraternal Or-
ganizations and the number of overtures submitted;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the President of the Synod appoint
a committee to study, in consultation with the Com-
mission on Fraternal Organizations, the whole matter
of the pastoral approach to the lodge and make recom-
mendations, including Handbook changes if needed, to
the next convention of the Synod.

Action: Adopted (13).

(The committee changed “lodge question” to “lodge” in
the resolved. An amendment to insert “and lodge member”
after “lodge” in the resolved failed.)

To Present Common Witness with Other
Denominations to Lodges
RESOLUTION 11-16

Overture 11-05 (CW, pp. 438—439)

Wuereas, The Synod’s Commission on Fraternal Or-
ganizations is already in consultation with other Chris-
tian denominations regarding a common witness against
unchristian lodges; therefore be it

Resolved, That the convention take no action on
this overture.

Action: Adopted (13).

To Give Common Witness to Lodges
Through LCUSA
RESOLUTION 11-17

Overture 11-06 (CW, p. 439)

Wuereas, It would be desirable that the Lutheran
churches in LCUSA express a common witness against
unchristian or anti-Christian organizations; therefore
be it

Resolved, That we ask our commissioners to LCUSA
to request the council to initiate and promote an edu-
cational program in the Lutheran bodies belonging to
the council, presenting the Lutheran witness against
such organizations.

Action: Adopted (13).

To Acknowledge Letter from Evangelical
Lutheran Church of England
RESOLUTION 11-18

Overture unreported and unpublished; reported at re-
quest of the President

Wuereas, We have received the following resolution
from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England:
Gratitude to The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
Whereas, Our Lord has commanded us as brethren to

dwell in love and to love one another even as He has
loved us;

Wuereas, Such love is a gift of God to His church, as a
witness for all the world to see;

Wuereas, This love has been vividly shown in our

brethren’s concern and support of our work in the
E.L.C.E.;