# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S90
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

90 THEOLOGICAL MATTERS

tions is widely interpreted as the “laying aside” of the
Brief Statement; and

Whereas, This has had wide and serious repercus-
sions with regard to fellowship and the inerrancy of the
Holy Scriptures; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod speak with a loud and clear voice reaffirming that
it stands on the Brief Statement as surely as it did in
1932; and be it further

Resolved, That District Presidents take action to in-
sure that pastors, teachers, and professors within their
respective jurisdictions teach nothing contrary to the
same doctrinal statement. Rev. C. L. RHOADES

Chicago, II].
(2-50)

To Require Adherence to “Brief Statement”’

Wuereas, The Synod in 1932 adopted the Brief State-
ment, thus stating for all who are interested in the mat-
ter what its doctrinal position is with respect to all
doctrines treated in that document: and

WuHeRrEAS, The Synod since then has affirmed its po-
sition of 1932, so that many persons within the Synod
believe (and have a right to believe) that the Synod
holds to the doctrinal position as set forth in the Brief
Statement; and

WHEREAS, Statements with respect to doctrines have
been made, both by the spoken and by the printed word,
by pastors and professors of the Synod, which are not
in harmony with statements in the Brief Statement; and

Wuereas, There are instances where such teachings
by individuals have never been retracted, yea, where
such persons have emphatically stated that they still
hold to their declarations which are contrary to the
Synod's position in the Brief Statement; and

Wuereas, This has resulted in much confusion and
unrest and disunity in our midst, together with fear and
anxiety; and

Wuereas, False teachings do ever more damage the
longer these are tolerated, being comparable to spiritual
weeds or to a spiritual poison: and

WHEREAS, Toleration of one false doctrine or one
false teacher serves to encourage others who have em-
braced false doctrines to become bold and likewise to
endeavor publicly to teach and preach falsely; therefore
be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod again go on record as declaring that its doctrinal
position as expressed in the Brief Statement of 1932 is
still its position today by which it desires to be known
and to be judged and in keeping with which it intends
to operate; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod instruct all officers and
boards of the Synod who have any duties with respect
to the preservation and/or the restoration of the true
doctrine in our church body ever to be mindful of the
content of the Brief Statement and to permit nobody

under their authority to teach falsely but to be prompt
and diligent in administering due admonition, and to
pursue in such admonition of an erring brother for the
purpose of keeping our church free from heresies and
of gaining the brother, if that be possible, yet also to
heed the restrictions which Scripture sets with respect
to the continuation of such admonition; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod consider establishing a rule
providing for the suspension of a pastor or teacher
against whom a bona fide accusation of false doctrine
has been brought, a subsequent investigation to deter-
mine whether the accused is innocent or guilty, the sus-
pension to be lifted in the case of one found innocent
of the charge against him but to be continued if he be
found guilty. MEssiaH LUTHERAN CHURCH
Detroit, Mich.

HARLEY GREENBURG, Chairman
PAUL A. ROBERTS, Secretary

(2-51)

The same overture was submitted over the names
of the following Michigan pastors: Norbert E. Borchardt,
Walter J. Geffert, Paul J. Gold, Adolf H. A. Loeber,
Henry W. G. Moehring, Frank J. Pies, Jacob M. Rauf,
Carl Trosien.

(2-52)

To Reaffirm “Brief Statement,” Especially
Certain Sections at This Time

Whereas, The Christian church is today facing a
major confessional crisis, clearly set forth in a recent
publication by a major publishing firm, The Gathering
Storm in the Churches; and

Wuereas, Our Lord in His Word commands us to be
His witnesses (Acts 1:8), and the example of the apostle
Paul calls upon us to declare the whole counsel of God
(Acts 20:27): and

Wuereas, A forthright declaration of that which we
believe and that which we reject is both Lutheran and
necessary at this time; therefore be it

Resolved, That on the basis of Holy Scripture The
Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod gladly reaffirms the
teachings of A Brief Statement as the publica doctrina
of the Synod, especially at this time these pertinent sec-
tions of paragraphs 1, 5, and 29:

We teach that the Holy Scriptures differ from all other
books in the world in that they are the Word of God....
Since the Holy Scriptures are the Word of God, it goes
without saying that they contain no errors or contradic-
tions, but that they are in all their parts and words the
infallible truth, also in those parts which treat of histori-
cal, gecgraphical, and other secular matters, John 10:35.

We teach that God has created heaven and earth. and
that in the manner and in the space of time recorded in
the Holy Scriptures, especially Gen. 1 and 2, namely, by
His almighty creative word, and in six days.

The orthodox character of a church is established not
by its mere name nor by its outward acceptance of, and
subscription to, an orthodox creed, but by the doctrine
which is actually taught in its pulpits, in its theological
seminaries, and its publications. On the other hand, a
church does not forfeit its orthodox character through the