# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S129
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

CHURCH RELATIONS 129

Wuereas, The Synod has officially declared that pro-
forma subscriptions to the Lutheran Confessions are not
valid unless they are actually taught and practiced on
the local level by preachers and teachers in the church;
therefore be it

Resolved, That we petition delegates to the 1969 con-
vention of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod to
postpone declaration of fellowship; and be it further

Resolved, That we continue discussions on all levels
of the church and under the Holy Spirit’s guidance and
influence seek God-pleasing unanimity.

REDEEMER LUTHERAN CHURCH
Warsaw, Ind.
JoHN Mowrey, Secretary

(3-93)

To Postpone Fellowship,
Seek Proper Solutions,
and Try New Approaches

Whereas, The doctrinal consensus between The
American Lutheran Church and The Lutheran Church
— Missouri Synod, declared to be in existence at the
New York convention of the Missouri Synod, has,
through further study, been found to be wanting in the
following areas:

1. The interpretation and inerrancy of Scripture. The
American Lutheran Church has made it clear that when
it speaks of inerrancy, this applies to the purpose of the
Word for faith and life, not necessarily the factuality or
objective truth of the contents of Scripture. (ALC-
LCMS-SELC Special Committee, Lakeshore Club, Chi-
cago, Aug. 27, 1968)

2. Membership in unchristian or anti-Christian so-
cieties. The American Lutheran Church generally allows
its members to belong to such organizations. No reason-
able approach to solving this difference with The Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod has been suggested or
considered.

3. Unionistic and ecumenical practices. The American
Lutheran Church with its involvement in the Lutheran
World Federation, the World Council of Churches, and
National Council of Churches is practicing fellowship on
grounds contrary to Article VII of the Augsburg Con-
fession and Missouri Synod practice.

4. Proposed fellowship with LCA. The American Lu-
theran Church is about to sanction full fellowship with
the Lutheran Church in America, and in general prac-
tice is already exercising such fellowship. The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod has no basis for such prac-
tice at this time.

Wuereas, Both The American Lutheran Church and
The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod have had nu-
mercus instances where teaching and practice were not
in conformity with the official stand of the church; and

Whereas, In many such instances discipline has not
been exercised, or exercised ineffectively, leaving the
church in confusion; and

Wuergas, Further fellowship without such discipline
would only further confuse the church and perhaps
cause many disillusionments, controversy, and _ splits;
therefore be it

Resolved

1. That fellowship with The American Lutheran
Church be postponed until a God-pleasing Scriptural
solution is found to the above problems; and

2. That discipline be exercised in our own church
wherever necessary to bring about uniformity in teach-
ing and practice in conformity with Scripture and our
confessional stand and that we evangelically and humbly
request that the ALC do the same; and

3. That further fellowship negotiations consider a
first step of more limited fellowship than that proposed
in Resolution 3-23, perhaps eliminating the calling of
pastors across synodical lines or preparing for the min-
istry in the seminaries of either synod.
Our Savior’s First LUTHERAN CHURCH
Granada Hills, Calif.
MartTIN STRIETER, President
Wayne Perrce, Recording Secretary
Marvin Sunpr, Pastor

(3-94)

To Postpone Fellowship Pending Consensus
Regarding Lodge Membership

Wuereas, The holy Christian church is the commu-
nion of saints or believers in Christ; and

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
has held the policy of denying membership to known
members of lodges; and

Wuereas, The American Lutheran Church, despite
its antilodge declaration in Article V of the Minneapolis
Theses, generally accepts known members of lodges into
membership; and

Wuereas, This practice of The American Lutheran
Church has been lightly dismissed as “evangelical pro-
cedure” and a “difference in handling the matter,” while
a closer analysis would reveal that it involves a lack of
sufficient instruction, a failure to distinguish between
natural and revealed religion, and a contradiction of the
Gospel of salvation through Christ alone; and

Wuereas, Fellowship with The American Lutheran
Church would put congregations and pastors of The
Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod in the position,
when lodge members of American Lutheran Church
congregations are transferred to them, of being asked to
act contrary to the bylaws of Synod, contrary to the
constitution of the congregation, and contrary to their
own conscience; and

Whereas, Students of The Lutheran Church — Mis-
souri Synod enrolled in educational institutions of The
American Lutheran Church would learn either no prac-
tice or the wrong practice regarding the lodge; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That altar and pulpit fellowship with The