# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S84
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

84 THEOLOGICAL MATTERS

tacit consent. All manifestations of the spirit: What
difference does it make? or of the attitude: We agree to
disagree, must be rejected.” (Emphasis ours)

7. We are not aware of any synodical action that
has changed the position on fellowship or unionism that
is enunciated in the quotations from the Detroit Pro-
ceedings, Fritz’s Pastoral Theology, Koehler’s Christian
Doctrine, Franzmann’s and Fuerbringer’s 1964 CTM
article, President Behnken’s “Fellowship Among Lu-
therans,” and the “Theses on Fellowship”; and

Wuereas, The issue is not centered on control of
students but rather a mixing of faculty where we are
in partnership and cosponsorship and only have repre-
sentation on a three-Lutheran-body “Training Com-
mittee” which is to “govern” and its executive is re-
sponsible for matters which cannot be transferred by
the board, and so this situation cannot be compared to
allowing students to work on postgraduate programs at
non-Lutheran schools; and

Wuereas, The Synod’s Handbook under duties of the
Board for Missions (p. 161, 8.09) states that “the board,
in carrying out its functions, shall determine and direct,
within the intent and resolutions of the Synod .. .” and
the Synod has never in its intentions, constitutions, or
resolutions indicated that such joint teaching is allowed;
and

Wuereas, The Synod’s Handbook further states
(1.21): “Only a delegate convention of the Synod shall
authorize affiliation or association of the Synod with
other church bodies, synods, or federations . . .” and
obviously this means partial fellowship steps which con-
stitute church fellowship; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention declare that
New York Resolution 1-02 (“That the Board for Mis-
sions and its staff be directed to pursue fully all oppor-
tunities for cooperative endeavors that will magnify
God’s name, glorify His kingdom, conserve His man-
power, and wisely use His resources without denial of
God’s Word”) offers no authority or license for going
beyond the policy of the Synod in its Handbook or its
doctrinal position on fellowship and unionism; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Synod recognize this joint train-
ing program to be against our synodical practice and
express disagreement with this Inter-Lutheran Pre-
Field Missionary Training and that such activity be dis-
continued forthwith. Rev. Watvo J. WERNING

Milwaukee, Wis.

(2-35)
To Regard Woman Suffrage
as a Local Option

Wuereas, The matter of woman suffrage in a local
congregation can be regarded as a practice or custom
within the organized church of today and as such is not
in the context of passages found in the New Testament;
and

WHuereas, The Synod has never officially stated that
the Word of God expressly forbids woman suffrage in
the church; and

WHEREAS, The Handbook of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod is silent on the matter of woman suf-
frage in the church and does not restrict voting mem-
bership in the congregation to male communicants; and

Whereas, The allowance of woman suffrage in the
congregation would not involve exercising authority
over men with respect to the public administration of
the Office of the Keys; and

Wuereas, The Synod is to be only advisory to con-
gregations in regard to local matters not involving doc-
trinal statements; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod, meeting in its regular
convention in Denver in 1969, allow the adoption of
woman suffrage to be an optional matter within the

local congregation. Our Savior LUTHERAN CHURCH

Fishkill, N. Y.
Rosert G. MvEL.eErR, Pastor

(2-36)

To Permit Congregational Freedom
in Developing Human Customs,
Including Suffrage

Wuereas, The practice of male vs. male-and-female
suffrage and the practice of voting at various ages are
purely matters of human custom and not matters deter-
mined by the Scriptures or by the Book of Concord;
and

Whereas, The human custom of restricting suffrage
to men who are 21 years of age or older is largely of
Germanic, European origin; and

Wuereas, Many Lutheran congregations, especially
those whose members are neither of Germanic nor of
European descent, do not wish white, Germanic cus-
toms to dictate their local practice; and

Wuereas, The Synod has stated repeatedly that we
are opposed to all forms of racial and cultural discrim-
ination and oppression; and

Wuenreas, In the face of accusations made by many
sincere Afro-Americans, we must continually demon-
strate by words and actions that we as a Synod are not
a white-racist organization clinging to a white-racist
culture; therefore be it

Resolved,

1. That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, in
convention assembled, reaffirm in clear language the
right of each congregation within the Synod to deter-
mine its own human customs, including that of suffrage;
and

2. That the Synod direct the constitution committees
of its various Districts to cease and desist from blocking.
harassing, or discriminating against those congregations