# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S109
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

CHURCH RELATIONS 109

Resolved, That we respectfully urge members of the
Synod to refrain from selective pulpit fellowship with Lu-
therans not in fellowship with us.

Action: Adopted. (Resolution 2-18, 1967 convention)
and also

Resolved, That we continue our efforts under God to
strive for a fuller expression of the unity we have; and
be it finally

Resolved, That we request congregations to exercise
patience and to avoid independent action by selective
fellowship.

Action: Adopted (Resolution 3-11, 1867 convention)
and

Whereas, Any declaration of fellowship with an-
other church body that is not binding on all the mem-
bers of the Synod, but grants the possibility to some
members of the Synod not to enter that fellowship, is
either itself deficient and/or permits some members of
the Synod to continue in the sin of sectarianism: and

Wuereas, Any such declaration of fellowship will of
necessity create the practice of selective fellowship both
within and without the Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod refrain from entering into any fellowship where

it cannot do so unequivocally. Rev. Water D. OTTEN

Brookfield, III.
(3-44)

To Require 2 3 Majority
for Adoption of Fellowship Resolution

Wuereas, The resolution to have altar and pulpit fel-
lowship with The American Lutheran Church is one of
the most crucial decisions that our Synod has ever
faced; and

Wuereas, Its passage will have far-reaching effects
on the life and ministry of our Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That the 1969 synodical convention require
a % majority vote for passage of the resolution on altar
and pulpit fellowship with The American Lutheran

Church. IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH

Mercedes, Tex.

R. G. Kien Nice, President
Keity A. Loomans, Principal
Rev. G. L. Nicuots, Vac. Pastor

(3-45)

To Study “Brief Statement”
and Conduct Referendum

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
has been blessed by God to proclaim the Gospel in the
pure way as described in the Brief Statement; and

Wuereas, In love to The American Lutheran Church,
and to the many small Lutheran groups in this country
and throughout the world that look to us for continuing
leadership in clear Bible-trusting statements and lit-
erature as well as practice; and

Wuereas, In love to the truth God gave, the Holy
Bible, in which each part fits in with all other parts in

historical as well as in theological matters, as affirmed
by our Synod in the New York convention; and

WHEREAS, Our congregations already admit as full
communicants those of The ALC who confirmed their
faith while in that denomination, after interviews and
profession of faith and application for membership, hav-
ing satisfied the same requirements as those instructed
by us; and

Wuereas, The invitation by The ALC to the Lu-
theran Church in America for fellowship will involve us
in altar and pulpit guests who came from the LCA to
the ALC, which carries the World Council of Churches,
the Lutheran World Federation, the National Council of
Churches, and the like; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod in convention in Denver in the year of our Lord
1969 request member congregations to study the Brief
Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the Missouri
Synod, and by the time of the next Synod convention
have completed a referendum by congregations on the
matter of fellowship with The ALC: and be it further

Resolved, That we, the members of St. Peter Lu-
theran Congregation of Pearsall, Tex., and Grace Lu-
theran Congregation of Devine, Tex., make our stand
and concern known that we shall not be bound to prac-
tice pulpit and altar fellowship until doctrinal agree-
ment on the basis of God’s Word has been reached, as
in Art. VII of the Constitution: “Relation of Synod to

M aa
Its Members St. Perer LUTHERAN CHURCH

Pearsall, Tex.

MartTIn V. Grar, President
Martin E. Neumann, Secretary
Epwin T. Brown, Pastor

Grace LUTHERAN CHURCH
Devine, Tex.

ERNEST WEISER, President
Wo. HorneosTeEL, Secretary
Epwin T. Brown, Pastor

(3-46)

To Permit Congregations Through
Referendum to Express Their Views
on Fellowship

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
declared in 1967: “The Scriptural and Confessional Basis
for altar and pulpit fellowship between The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod and The American Lutheran
Church exists”; and further declared, “That the Presi-
dent of the Synod in conjunction with the Council of
Presidents make the appropriate recommendations to
the 1969 convention” (Resolution 3-23); and

Wuereas, No provision has been made for a referen-
dum vote among congregations of the LCMS regarding
altar and pulpit fellowship with the ALC; and

WuHereas, Altar and pulpit fellowship with The ALC
would require extensive adjustments in the life and
policies of congregations of our LCMS; therefore be it