# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S63 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) THEOLOGICAL MATTERS 63 The commission recommends: 15. a. That the members of the Synod on every level be encouraged to continue their interest and participa- tion in all ecumenical dialog that permits a clear and unambiguous witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as set forth in Holy Scripture and explicated by the Lu- theran Confessions, b. That the Synod encourage pastoral conferences to study and discuss the materials already published as well as any that may be produced in the process of future interchurch conversations in which we are par- ticipants. The Mission Affirmations of the Detroit convention spell out the responsibilities of our church body as a confessional movement within Christendom. Such re- sponsibilities are coupled with massive opportunities for service. The demands of this situation make it increas- ingly desirable for Christians to learn to work and serve together in the task of bringing healing and salvation to mankind. Recognizing this fact, the New York conven- tion (Resolution 1-02, 1967 Proceedings, p. 81) encour- aged the Board for Missions to pursue fully all oppor- tunities for God-pleasing cooperative efforts with other Christians. Such efforts are particularly desirable in the case of church bodies that seem to be moving to- ward a confessional basis in harmony with the Scrip- tures and the Lutheran Confessions. At the present time, however, no agency or officer of the Synod has been assigned the specific responsibility of initiating and pro- moting contacts with such church bodies with a view to establishing the conditions of church fellowship. The commission therefore recommends: 16. That this activity be made the responsibility of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations working under the direction of the President of the Synod. III. MISCELLANEOUS When the commission was established in 1962, its structure and functions were largely dictated by the current needs of the church. The commission believes the time has come to review several questions. Should the commission’s role be limited to advising the Presi- dent of the Synod in matters pertaining to theology and church relations? Is the present method of selecting members still necessary or desirable? Should the pres- ent size and structure of the commission be continued? Is the commission’s primary responsibility to answer questions referred to it, or should it also take the ini- tiative and deal with other subjects that require atten- tion in church and world? Is there a way of utilizing more effectively the talents and experience of our theo- logians, especially those serving on our seminary fac- ulties? Should the commission’s work continue to be “document centered,” or should other ways of serving the members of the Synod be explored? What can be done to increase the commission’s efficiency? These and similar questions need careful consideration. The com- mission therefore recommends: 17. That a committee be appointed by the President of the Synod to review the adequacy of the present structure and functions of the commission. This com- mittee, which should include representation from the commission and the two seminary faculties, shall make appropriate recommendations to the 1971 synodical con- vention, COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS Tueo. F. NicKEL, Chairman Raupuo A. BOHLMANN, Secretary APPENDIX A Report of Exchange Study Committee The Exchange Study Committee, begun in 1954 and incorporated into the structure of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations in 1962, has continued its work of arranging academic exchange programs be- tween The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod and sister churches in various parts of the world. The pro- gram involves exchange of students, pastors, and pro- fessors for theological study and teaching and is in- tended to foster better understanding between church bodies and their schools of theology as well as con- tribute to common theological growth. The selection of candidates for the grants from the funds made available by the Synod is based on service to the church and general qualifications of character and scholarship. The Exchange Study Committee is composed of the president and a faculty member from each of the two seminaries and an additional member from the Com- mission on Theology and Church Relations. During the past 2 years the committee met eight times. As a com- mittee of the Commission on Theology and Church Re- lations it maintains close liaison with the efforts of our church to strengthen the bonds of church fellowship as well as to seek and strengthen Lutheranism wherever possible. The committee operates with a set of criteria adopted by the Commission on Theology and Church Relations which was received by the Synod at the New York convention in 1967. All applicants are carefully screened in order to assure the best use of synodical funds. One of the goals of the committee is to involve students and faculty from a variety of national backgrounds. During the past 2 years we have had representation in the pro- gram from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, and India, as well as representatives from our own Synod who taught at overseas seminaries. Under considera- tion at the present time are applications from Australia, Brazil, Finland, Germany, and New Guinea. Everyone who has participated in the program has been most grateful for the opportunity of exchange study. As an example we quote from a statement writ- ten by Prof. Juan Berndt, Argentina, who is currently working on his S. T. M. degree: After serving for 20 years in the parish ministry, the mission field, and the educational work, it is always very profitable to go back again to the classroom as a simple student. I would heartily desire and encourage it to every pastor and professor. Unfortunately it is mostly some- thing impossible to do, especially for the men working under the southern cross.