# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S99 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) CHURCH RELATIONS 99 Synod immediately withdraw from and disassociate it- self completely from the Lutheran Council in the United States of America. IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH Oceanside, Calif. MITCHELL J. PRIFOGLE, Pastor WituiaM E. Guipotti1, Chairman DonaLp FLoyp, Secretary (3-16) To Study Advisability of Continuing Membership in LCUSA Wuereas, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod was led to believe that joining the Lutheran Council in the U.S. A. would make the operation of many of its departments more efficient, while we cannot see that they have become more efficient; and Whereas, Our Synod was led to believe that joining the council would bring about a substantial saving in manpower and cost by overlapping departments, which again we cannot see has been accomplished; and Wuereas, Our information regarding the council and its operations are insufficient to make an intelligent judgment; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod make a study of the advisability of continuing its membership in the Lutheran Council in the U.S.A. and report to the next convention of our Synod. OGALLALA CIRCUIT PASTORAL CONFERENCE SOUTHERN NEBRASKA DISTRICT Avert Kouts, Counselor (3-17) To Decline to Participate in Annual and Special Appeals for Funds by LCUSA Wuereas, The Synod is already budgeting $808,000.00 for interchurch cooperative work; and Whereas, The Lutheran Council in the U.S.A. too must live within its budget; and Wuereas, LCUSA is planning an annual appeal for funds; and Whereas, “Eagerness to share God’s gifts meaning- fully with friend and foe alike” already characterizes the activity of Christ’s followers in our church; and WHEREAS, The stewardship departments are con- stantly encouraging Christians toward “a_ sacrificial sharing” that “is both visible and proportionately sub- stantial” lest ‘the integrity of their witness is vitiated” —and just another financial appeal will not solve this problem; and Wuereas, Steps toward “emergency relief and com- munity development” so “essential to any constructive alternative to violent revolution” have been and are being taken; therefore be it Resolved: 1. That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod continue to emphasize through its synodical and District stewardship departments an “eagerness to share God’s gifts meaningfully with friend and foe alike” as a char- acteristic of followers of Christ; 2. That the Synod through synodical and District stewardship departments continue to emphasize that the members of “Missouri” also “participate in an afflu- ent society to such an extent that unless their sacrificial sharing is both visible and proportionately substantial, the integrity of their witness is vitiated,” and so en- courage members to support all of the Synod’s out- and in-reach programs more adequately; 3. That the Synod through synodical and District stewardship departments remind all members that the “factor of the physical and mental well-being is so closely related to world reconciliation and peace that emergency relief and community development are es- sential to any constructive alternative to violent revolu- tion”; that such emergency relief and community devel- opment be adequately supported by the Synod’s mem- bers through existing channels; 4, That the Synod decline to participate in the an- nual and seemingly endless special appeals for funds by the Lutheran Council in the U.S. A,; 5. That the synodical and District stewardship de- partments take note of the contents of this memorial and incorporate the basic principles enunciated into their stewardship programs. Rev. GerHarpt J. C. GERIKE Des Moines, Iowa ALC FELLOWSHIP (3-18) To Commend Synodical Officers for Fellowship Endeavors Wuereas, It is the avowed object of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod (Handbook, Art.II, a) “to unite in a corporate body the members of the Evangeli- cal Lutheran Church who acknowledge and remain true to the Book of Concord of the year of our Lord 1580 as a true exhibition of sound Christian doctrine”; and Wuereas, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod in convention assembled in New York, 1967, declared that sufficient unity exists for altar and pulpit fellowship; therefore be it Resolved, That we commend Dr. Oliver R. Harms and his colleagues in the Praesidium for their forthright, courageous, and dedicated leadership in endeavoring to take the necessary steps toward full realization of altar and pulpit fellowship with the American Lutheran Church and that we assure them of the support of our congregation and its continued prayers for success in such endeavor. Our Savior’s LUTHERAN CHURCH Madison Heights, Mich. ELMER C. DreEIM, Chairman PauL H. Scuwan Jr., Secretary Wa.pemar R. KIssLING, Pastor