# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S118 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 118 CHURCH RELATIONS allot six (6) months for congregations to ballot on this vital issue, beginning from the date of the convention’s action; and be it finally Resolved, That the Synod and all the Synod's Dis- tricts encourage a thorough study of the issues and the participation of every congregation in the Synod. Mount Catvary Ev. LUTHERAN CHURCH San Antonio, Tex. JOHN F,. SMOLLEN, President ARTHUR J. HINKEL, Secretary The same overture was received from the following: (3-56) San Antonio, Tex., Pastoral Conference, Donald L. Taylor, President; Hugo Hannusch, Secretary. (3-57) St. Paul Lutheran Church, San Antonio, Tex., V. P. Biediger, President; E. L. Koehler, Secretary. (3-58) Trinity Lutheran Church, Uvalde, Tex., Henry W. Scheide, President; John H. Langner, Secretary. (3-59) Grace Lutheran Church, Del Rio, Tex., Stanley C. Hanson, President; Arno Weigang, Secretary. (3-60) Redeemer Lutheran Church, San Antonio, Tex., Eric E. Wagner, Pastor; Lee Unger Sr., President; M. Preston Benton, Secretary. (3-61) Grace Lutheran Church, Seguin, Tex., Albert Huber, President; Roland Willmann, Secretary. (3-62) Mount Olive Lutheran Church, San Antonio, Tex.. Ray Schneider, Chairman; Ellis Grant, Secretary, with addition of two whereases: “WHEREAS, Altar and pulpit fellowship is fully tested and tried and becomes truly meaningful on the level of the congregation; and “WHEREAS, The question of altar and pulpit fellow- ship with The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod on the part of The American Lutheran Church will be submitted as a referendum to its congregations for ap- proval or rejection.” (3-63) To Require Approval of 90 Percent of Congregations for Fellowship Wrereas, Fellowship with The American Lutheran Church is a matter of vital and long-range import to every congregation of the Synod; and Wuereas, It is impossible for delegates of an electoral circuit to represent in their vote all congregations of the circuit on controversial issues; therefore be it Resolved, That fellowship with The American Lu- theran Church should be referred to the congregations in a referendum requiring specific approval of 90 per- cent of the congregations of the Synod. Our Savion LUTHERAN CHURCH Pinole, Calif. Haroitp Davipson, Secretary (3-64) To Refer Any Action Taken on Fellowship to Congregations for Their Approval or Disapproval Whereas, Our Lord desires unity among the mem- bers of His body, the church (John 17:21-23); and WHEREAS, He also demands that we have a true unity in the visible church before we fellowship as brothers (John 8:31; Acts 2:42; 2 Cor.13:8; Luke 11:23; 2 Tim. 3:1-5, esp. v.5): and Whereas, t’ellowship with The American Lutheran Church is an important step that involves every member of our church body; therefore be it Resolved, That any action taken at the synodical convention at Denver concerning altar and pulpit fel- lowship be referred to the individual local congrega- tions of the Synod for their approval or disapproval. FaitH LUTHERAN CONGREGATION East Wenatchee, Wash. Ropert R. BruNNER, President WiLuiAM H. HILDEBRAND, Secretary WALLACE E. Morris, Pastor (3-65) To Submit Fellowship Action to Congregations for Ratification Wuereas, There is such a difference of conviction in regard to the matter of pulpit and altar fellowship with The American Lutheran Church: and WuereEas, The booklet Toward Fellowship (p.8) stated: “The resolution does not call either for a vote at District conventions or for a referendum among the members of the Synod”; and Whereas, If this procedure is maintained, it has the effect of completely binding our hands as individual congregations in this momentous decision; and WHEREAS, Here we are advised not to vote prior to the 1969 Denver convention: and Whereas, After said convention it will be too late; and WHEREAS, Synodical procedure does not permit us to instruct our delegates to synodical convention how they are to vote; and WHEREAS, We wish to proceed with a united spirit of Christian love: therefore be it Resolved, That we memorialize the 1869 Denver con- vention that any action on the matter of pulpit and altar