# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S121
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

CHURCH RELATIONS 121

instruct our delegates to synodical conventions how they
are to vote; and

Wuereas, We wish to proceed with a united spirit of
Christian love; and

Wuere_as, If the President of the Synod in conjunc-
tion with the Council of Presidents recommends altar
and pulpit fellowship with the American Lutheran
Church, therefore be it

Resolved, That if the recommendation is adopted by
the synodical convention in Denver, such recommenda-
tion be submitted to a referendum of the congregations
of the Synod after the Denver convention.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT

Victor L. BEHNKEN, President

EuGeNne O. SMITH, Secretary
(3-73)

To Give All Congregations Privilege
of Referendum on Fellowship
if Favorable Action Is Taken

Resolved, That if favorable action is taken at the
1969 convention at Denver on fellowship with The
American Lutheran Church, all congregations in the
Synod be given the privilege of a referendum on this

measure.
Missour! DIsTRICT

ArtuHurR H. STREGE, Secretary

(3-74)

To Require a Two-Thirds Congregational
Referendum Vote for Fellowship

Wuereas, The convention of The Lutheran Church
— Missouri Synod meeting in New York in 1967 issued
a directive concerning altar and pulpit fellowship with
The American Lutheran Church, which will be con-
sidered at the Denver convention, D. v.; and

Wuereas, No provision was made to permit the indi-
vidual congregation to express itself, in the event that
such action is approved, by means of a congregational
referendum; and

WHEREAS, Such action would be far more important
than a change of the name of the Synod (when a con-
gregational referendum was authorized); and

Wuereas, We in the Missouri Synod have in the past
enjoyed unhampered, democratic, and Christian freedom
of expression; and

Wuereas, Any indication to hinder such freedom of
expression would be detrimental to a united spirit of
cooperation if such altar and pulpit fellowship should
become a reality; therefore be it

Resolved, That in the event altar and pulpit fellow-
ship is acted on favorably with The American Lutheran
Church at the Denver convention, each congregation in
our Synod be given the right to express itself by means
of a congregational referendum; and be it further

Resolved, That a two-thirds majority vote of the

congregations of the Synod be required to make such

fellowship official.
erowsnip omeia St. Martin’s LUTHERAN CHURCH

Winona, Minn.
Roy G. Burmeister, President
WittiaM P. THEURER, Secretary
A. DEYE, Pastor

(3-75)

To Submit an Affirmative Fellowship
Decision Short of a Two-Thirds Majority
Vote to a Congregational Referendum

Wuereas, Altar and pulpit fellowship between The
American Lutheran Church, the Synod of Evangelical
Lutheran Churches, and The Lutheran Church — Mis-
souri Synod requires very wide and strong support to
function successfully; and

Wuereas, The simple majority required to declare
such altar and pulpit fellowship may be considered in-
adequate; therefore be it

Resolved, That an affirmative decision on the ques-
tion of altar and pulpit fellowship between The Ameri-
can Lutheran Church and The Lutheran Church — Mis-
souri Synod short of a two-thirds majority of the dele-
gates voting be submitted to a Synodwide referendum
of all member congregations.

Minnesota SoutH District
GERHARD C. MICHAEL, Secretary
(3-76)

To Rescind Res. 3-23 and to Require

General Referendum when Deciding

Fellowship with Other Church Bodies
and Federations

Wuereas, The proposals for fellowship with other
church bodies and church federations are becoming in-
creasingly numerous; and

Wuereas, Scriptural fellowship requires unity of doc-
trine and practice: 1 John 2:19, 1 Cor. 1:10, Rom. 16:17;
and

Wuereas, It is the responsibility of the local congre-
gation as well as the administrative officers of the Synod
to guard against alliances that could violate the Scrip-
tural fellowship principles; therefore be it

Resolved,

That Resolution 3-23 of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod New York convention, 1967, which
placed the decision of altar and pulpit fellowship with
The American Lutheran Church in the hands of the
LCMS general convention at Denver in 1969, be re-
scinded;

That this decision as well as all future decisions of
fellowship with other church bodies and federations be
referred to the judgment of all the congregations
through the Synod for a general referendum and that
a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the congregations of the