# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S127
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

CHURCH RELATIONS 127

Art. V, which denounces those who teach salvation by
works and morality as anti-Christian and asserts that
“the Church of Christ and its congregations can have
no fellowship with them” (emphasis ours); and

Wuereas, Toleration of lodge members and their
acceptance into the Christian congregation as communi-
cant members in good standing constitutes not merely
“disturbing diversities” and a “different approach”
(Toward Fellowship, p.20) but in itself a clear denial
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not merely a matter of
practice but a practice which in itself denies the most
fundamental teaching of our Christian faith, justification
by grace alone through faith; therefore be it

Resolved, That we, St. John Lutheran Congregation
of Pulcifer, and St.John Lutheran Congregation of
Green Valley, Wis., declare our firm and unanimous op-
position to the establishment of pulpit and altar fellow-
ship with The ALC; and be it further

Resolved, That we earnestly petition our Synod to
postpone the formal establishment of such fellowship
with the ALC until doctrinal aberrations (especially
with reference to inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible
and the entire lodge problem) have been resolved in
conformity with a pure understanding of the Gospel

of Jesus Christ.
r St. JoHN LUTHERAN CHURCH

Pulcifer, Wis.

Russe, ZENK Sr., Chairman
M. F. SENGELE, Pastor

St. JoHN LUTHERAN CHURCH
Green Valley, Wis.

ApoLpeH WuTKE, Chairman
M. F. SENGELE, Pastor

(3-88)

To Postpone All Fellowship Matters
and to Devote Time and Resources
to Internal Unity

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
has through the years exerted a beneficial and whole-
some influence upon other Lutheran and other Chris-
tian churches through its faithful adherence to the
inspired Scriptures; and

Wuereas, The reports on the conventions held by the
Districts of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
indicate that there is a great divergence of opinion re-
garding altar and pulpit fellowship with The American
Lutheran Church; and

Wuereas, A liberal element has made The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod a house divided against itself,
and

Wuereas, Many pastors and professors of The Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod subscribe without
reservation to the Brief Statement and many do not;
and

Wuereas, Some pastors and professors currently in
good standing in The Lutheran Church — Missouri

Synod have in public articles and essays called into
question the inerrancy of the Holy Scriptures (Concor-
dia Theological Monthly, Sept. 1965), the immortality
of the soul, the virgin birth of Christ (Dialog, Spring
1963; Una Sancta, Pentecost 1965; American Lutheran,
July 1966), and the resurrection of Christ (Dialog,
Easter 1962); therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod declare that its time and resources under the
prevailing conditions must be devoted primarily to the
restoration of unity of doctrine and practice within The
Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod initiate measures designed to bring about such
unity; and be it finally

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod postpone any and all fellowship and federation
matters until it can say with united voice: “Thus saith

the Lord!”
BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN CHURCH

River Grove, II.

Wa ter WEITH, President
GERALD GARRETT, Secretary
Martin H. BEwLING, Pastor

(3-89)

To Postpone Action and to Work
for True Consensus Before Fellowship

Wuereas, We find no consensus on the inerrancy of
Scriptures, The American Lutheran Church speaking
of the purpose of the Word being inerrant and The
Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod of the inerrancy
of propositional truth; and

Wuereas, We find there is no consensus as to dealing
with the lodge issue or open Communion; and

Whereas, We find no consensus as to the unionistic
involvement with the Lutheran Church of America, the
World Council of Churches, and the National Council
of Churches in America; and

Wuereas, Both bodies harbor men who teach falsely,
the percentage of deviation, however, being far greater
in the ALC than in the LCMS; and

Wuereas, This whole matter of fellowship is causing
a rift in our church body; therefore be it

Resolved,

1. That fellowship be postponed until there is a true
consensus; and

2. That both bodies at once begin to correct what
is amiss; and

3. That there be a continued dialog for the purpose
of seeking a God-pleasing fellowship.

First LUTHERAN CHURCH
San Fernando, Calif.
Haroitp A. Tritcu, President
Rosert Marten, Secretary