# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S122
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

122 CHURCH RELATIONS

Synod be deemed necessary for implementation of such
fellowship; and

That the President of the Synod, in conjunction with
the Presidents of the Districts of the Synod, allow six
(6) months for congregations to ballot on these vital

issues.
St. Pauu’s First LurHeran CHURCH

North Hollywood, Calif.
J. Davin WALTHER, Secretary

(3-77)

To Waive Bylaw 1.21
and Call for Referendum

Whereas, On the one hand, our Lord Jesus Christ
states that we “are all one body in Christ”; and

Wuereas, On the other hand we are also assured in
Scripture that the royal priesthood of all believers of
His church on earth is made up of ‘many members”; and

Whereas, A voting delegate to the Denver convention
represents many congregations made up of ‘many mem-
bers”; and

Whereas, The one body in its entirety is somewhat
divided on major issues, and it is therefore not possible
for a single delegate to represent and to vote the con-
victions of many congregations with diverse views;
therefore be it

Resolved, That Art. 1.21 be disregarded in the matter
of altar and pulpit fellowship with The ALC; and be
it further

Resolved, That the convention in session call for
referendum on the proposed altar and pulpit fellowship
with The ALC, involving the entire membership of the
Synod; and be it finally

Resolved, That such a referendum vote take place on
a common date to be determined by the convention in

session at Denver.
MEssIAH LUTHERAN CHURCH

Middletown, Ohio

DONALD W. FouisTaent, President
J. FREYE, Secretary

Victor A. Kurz, Pastor

(3-78)

To Hold Special Referendum
on Fellowship

WuerEAS, Individual congregations are not repre-
sented by individual delegates at regular conventions
of the Synod; and

Whereas, Individual congregations would be directly
affected by the adoption of altar and pulpit fellowship;
and

WHEREAS, Each congregation was directed (Res. 3-23,
1967 convention of Synod) to make widest study pos-
sible of fellowship differences and similarities and to
arrive at a God-pleasing, doctrinal consensus; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the Synod hold a special referendum

for individual congregations on this vital matter of altar
and pulpit fellowship; and be it further

Resolved, That if such referendum is unconstitutional
or is declared unconstitutional because it is not specifi-
cally covered in the Constitution of the Synod or its
Bylaws, corrective action be taken to alter the Consti-
tution or Bylaws to permit such a referendum of in-
dividual congregations in Synod.

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH
Rock Springs, Wyo.
GERALD L. RouvE, Chairman

(3-79)

The same overture is on file from Mount Hope
Lutheran Church, Casper, Wyo., Edward Preuss, Presi-
dent.

(3-80)

To Refrain and to Submit
for Referendum

Wuereas, Much emphasis is laid on doctrine and
practice, when our Lord Himself teaches: “Not every-
one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of My
Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21); and

Whereas, The “Joint Statement,” with which Synod
has expressed agreement time and again, clearly states
in Par. 5: “We are obligated to reject everything that
conflicts with this grace of God in either doctrine or
life”; and

WHEREAS, The selfsame statement further declares in
Par.7: “Likewise, practices in the church that militate
against the Gospel impair the true unity of the church”;
and

Wuereas, The matter of declaring pulpit and altar
fellowship must finally be solved at the local level by
the congregations of which Synod is composed; be it
therefore

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod at its Denver, Colo., convention, July 11—19,
1969, refrain from action which undoubtedly would
prove precipitous, and decline to declare pulpit and altar
fellowship with The American Lutheran Church, the
Lutheran Church in America, or any other church body
until unity in doctrine and practice is achieved; and
be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod refer the question of pulpit and altar fellowship
to all congregations of the Synod, thus submitting this
matter to a congregational referendum, in order to
ascertain a true Synodwide desire. May God graciously

. !
bless our beloved Synod! Hope LurHeran CHuRcH

Victoria, B. C.

H. E. Bruce, President
O. C. ScHazFer, Secretary
L. M. Caruson, Pastor