# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S137
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

CHURCH RELATIONS 137

2. Extend an invitation to the Lutheran Church in
America to begin discussions which hopefully will lead
to altar and pulpit fellowship between our church
bodies;

3. Initiate conferences between officials of The Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod and The American
Lutheran Church to reach agreement on a common
practice in dealing with the lodge problem: and

4, Review the situation regarding altar and pulpit
fellowship at the 1971 convention of Synod.

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH
Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Norman McEzreatu, Chairman
WILLIAM WINKLER, Secretary
Oscar A, GERKEN, Pastor

(3-115)

To Defer Action on Fellowship Question

but to Broaden Discussions

Wuereas, The 1967 convention of the Missouri Synod
stated that a basis existed for altar and pulpit fellow-
ship between The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
and The American Lutheran Church: and

Whereas, This declaration was made as a result of
extensive doctrinal discussions between the representa-
tives of the Missouri Synod and The ALC: and

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church in America has de-
clined invitations to discuss doctrine and practice with
a view toward establishing altar and pulpit fellowship:
and

Wuereas, The American Lutheran Church voted at
their synodical convention in Omaha, Nebr., in October
1968 to establish altar and pulpit fellowship with the
LCA as well as the LCMS and the Synod of Evangelical
Lutheran Churches: and

Wuereas, The ALC is affiliated with the Lutheran
World Federation and the World Council of Churches,
organizations that have no unanimity on the central
doctrine of Christianity, the doctrine of justification of
all sinners through saving faith in Jesus Christ: and

Whereas, Such tri-Lutheran fellowship and these
biworld affiliations place new light on the one hand and
an existing barrier on the other hand upon the question
of altar and pulpit fellowship between The ALC and
the LCMS: and

Wuereas, The lack of uniformity in practice in
handling the lodge problem still remains: and

Wuereas, We believe that the lack of uniformity in
handling the lodge problem will have a tendency to
weaken or will lead to a compromise of our Synod's
Scriptural practice with regard to this erypto-Lutheran
and church-infiltrated problem: therefore be it

Resolved, that we memorialize the Synod to —

1. Defer action on the question of altar and pulpit
fellowship with the American Lutheran Church:

2. Continue doctrinal discussions with The ALC,

hoping and praying to our triune God not only for fu-
ture fellowship but also for a complete merger: and

3. Extend further invitations to the Lutheran
Church in America to discuss doctrine and practice,
which could lead to the unification of our Lutheran
bodies in America.

We submit this memorial to the glory of God and

His church. .
St. JOHN’s LUTHERAN CHURCH

Honey Creek, Iowa
WILLIAM PoccE Jr., Chairman

(3-116)

An identical overture was received from Trinity
Lutheran Church, Persia, Iowa. G. L. Busch, Chairman.

(3-117)

To Defer Fellowship Pending
Doctrinal Agreement

Wuereas, Doctrinal differences exist among the
LCMS, The ALC, and the LCA on the following and
other points of doctrine: (1) inspiration and inerrancy
of the Bible: (2) creation and related teachings: (3)
Christology: (4) conversion: (5) justification (with
varying attitudes of the three bodies toward member-
ship in the lodge): (6) the doctrine of the church:
(7) the essence and object of the Lord's Supper; (8)
variance in the doctrine of Sunday: and (9) variance
in teachings on the Resurrection: and

Wuereas, The ALC in its 1968 convention resolved
to invite into full fellowship the LCA, which cannot be
accepted because of great doctrinal differences between
LCA and LCMS: and

Wuereas, The present inter-Lutheran discussions
and essays stress doctrinal points of agreement within
the bodies but omit almost completely discussions or
consideration of those doctrines on which there is dis-
cord; and

Whereas, Publications by The ALC reveal doctrinal
explanations which are not in accord with Scripture:

Example 1. A book highly recommended by its edi-
tor for use in Bible classes, entitled Read and Live,
written in 1953 by Dr. John R. Brokhoff, plainly states
that “The Bible has a human side” and that on its
human side the Bible “has its errors and contradictions.”

Example 2. The writer of Confirmation Book One,
His Kingdom Come, states on page 2: “Genesis is a the-
ological story: not scientific.”

Example 3. In confirmation instruction covering cre-
ation, Confirmation Book Two, His Will Be Done, “Evo-
lution and Prehistoric Man,” the evolutionistic theory
is used in addition to the Bible account. These chapters
are left open to individual interpretation: however, the
writer favors the theory of evolution: and

Whereas, The clarification as defined above on some
of the points listed in the outline suffice: therefore be it

Resolved, That Peace Lutheran Church (LCMS),