# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S134
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

134 CHURCH RELATIONS

tinuation of local and regional meetings where lay mem-
bers of our respective church bodies may benefit by a

common exchange.
8 Curist LUTHERAN CHURCH

Brea, Calif.
Darwin MANUEL, Chairman
Ray Goparp, Secretary

(3-104)

To Defer Fellowship Until Agreement
Is Reached

Wuereas, Pulpit and altar fellowship should be estab-
lished on a God-pleasing basis of agreement in doc-
trine and practice; and

Wuereas, There are valid concerns (doctrine of the
Word, unionism, lodgery) that a God-pleasing agree-
ment in doctrine and practice has not yet been achieved
with The American Lutheran Church; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod continue to work toward and achieve, under
God, an agreement in doctrine and practice with The
American Lutheran Church; and be it further

Resolved, That pulpit and altar fellowship with The
American Lutheran Church be deferred until such time
as agreement is reached in doctrine and practice.

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH
Austin, Tex.
TeLForD Zocu, President

(3-105)
To Defer Action and Continue Study

Wuereas, It was the intent of Resolution 3-23 en-
acted by the synodical convention of July 1967 that the
representatives and officials of The Lutheran Church
— Missouri Synod and The American Lutheran Church
should strive for a “unified evangelical position and
practice in areas of church life where disturbing di-
versities still exist, particularly in reference to un-
christian and anti-Christian societies’; and

Wuereas, After almost 2 years of study and dis-
cussion in District conventions and in meetings between
pastors and congregations of the church bodies involved,
it is apparent that such disturbing diversities still do
exist, especially in the area of lodge principles and
practices and ecumenical practices (e. g., affiliation with
the LWF and WCC); and

Wuereas, There has not been sufficient time for
either pastors or laymen to discuss all the areas of
Christian doctrine to determine whether there is a con-
sensus; and

Wuereas, Confusion has been created in the minds
of pastors and laymen because of the fact that The
American Lutheran Church at its Omaha convention
offered to enter fellowship not only with The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod but also with the Lutheran
Church of America; therefore be it

Resolved, That we respectfully petition the delegates

of the convention of The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod assembled at Denver, Colo., July 11—19, 1969, to
defer any action to establish pulpit and altar fellowship
with The American Lutheran Church at this time, but
that Synod instruct its theological faculties, pastors,
teachers, and congregations to continue their serious
study of the proposed pulpit and altar fellowship with
The American Lutheran Church in order to resolve the
diversities that presently divide us, working diligently
toward the ultimate goal of fellowship.

IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
Mayville, Wis.

Gorpon LoEHRKE, President
ALLAN BOGENSCHNEIDER, Secretary
Rev. Orto. T. Scurerer, Pastor

(3-106)

To Defer Declaration of Fellowship

Whereas, In accord with Resolution 3-23 of the New
York convention of The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod in 1967, congregations were to carry on systematic
discussions in local areas with pastors of The American
Lutheran Church and to strive for “a unified evangelical
position and practice in areas of church life where dis-
turbing diversities still exist, particularly in reference
to unchristian and anti-Christian societies”; and

Whereas, It has become apparent after some study
and discussion with the clergy and laity of The Ameri-
can Lutheran Church that disturbing diversities do still
exist in the areas of Biblical interpretation, lodge princi-
ples and practices, and ecumenical practices (e. g., affili-
ation with the LWF and WCC) and that such diversities
can only prove to be detrimental to the proposed pulpit
and altar fellowship; and

WHEREAS, Sufficient time has not been allotted to the
congregations of both synods to study fully the proposed
pulpit and altar fellowship and to resolve the diversities
that really divide the church bodies and prevent us
from practicing true Christian fellowship; therefore
be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod, meeting in convention at Denver, Colo., in 1969,
defer declaration of pulpit and altar fellowship with
The American Lutheran Church at this time; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Synod instruct all of its congre-
gations to continue their serious study of the proposed
pulpit and altar fellowship with The American Lu-
theran Church and to meet regularly with The Ameri-
can Lutheran Church in order to resolve the diversities
that divide the two church bodies, working diligently
toward the final goal of altar and pulpit fellowship.

Hore LUTHERAN CHURCH

Fond du Lac, Wis.

Davin S. Hopper, President
VERNE F. KENT, Secretary

Rev. Witvarp F.. Hanser, Pastor