# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S152
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

152 CHURCH
(3-163)

To Refrain from Uniting with American
Lutheran Church Because of Doctrinal
Differences

Wuereas, The Bible teaches that Christians are to
be united for the conservation and promotion of the
unity of the true faith (1 Cor.1:10; Eph. 4:3-6) and
united in efforts to avoid those who cause divisions and
offenses (Rom. 16:17); and

Whereas, The practice of pulpit and altar fellowship
with The American Lutheran Church at this time would
cause greater divisions and disharmony within The Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod: and

Wuereas, The doctrinal differences between The
American Lutheran Church and the Missouri Synod
should be settled before a union of the two bodies would
be in complete accord and agreement with the Scrip-
tures; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod, in convention assembled, refrain from union
with The American Lutheran Church until these dif-
ferences in doctrine and practices be settled in agree-
ment with The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod's
Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the Mis-

souri Synod. ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH

Fairmont, Okla.
Duane Louse, President
Mitton R. Eccers, Secretary

(3-164)
To Decline All Fellowship with The ALC

Wuereas, The Holy Scriptures require altar and pul-
pit fellowship to be based on the doctrines contained
in itself; and

Wuereas, There are no documents except on Sola
Gratia, Sola Scriptura, and the doctrine of the church
in existence; and

Whereas, There is a great move to hold to what is
said in the present American Lutheran Church's con-
stitution; and

WuHereEAS, Such union would disrupt greatly the
structure of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod:
therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod, assembled in convention in Denver, Colo., July
11, decline all fellowship with The American Lutheran

Church. MESSIAH LUTHERAN CHURCH

Citrus Heights, Calif.

RICHARD SUTTON, President

Rev. R. C. Mack, Pastor
(3-165)

To Decline Fellowship Because of ALC
Involvement with NCC and WCC

Wuereas, The New York convention of the Synod in
1967 passed Resolution 3-23, which calls for a vote on

RELATIONS

the question of altar and pulpit fellowship with The
American Lutheran Church at the Denver convention
in 1969: and

Wuereas, The American Lutheran Church at their
October 1968 convention voted for fellowship — both
with the Lutheran Church in America and The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod; and

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church in America is a
member of the National Council of the Churches of
Christ; and

Wuereas, The American Lutheran Church at its
convention made overtures in the direction of the Na-
tional Council of Churches and is presently a member
of the World Council of Churches: and

Whereas, Fellowship with The American Lutheran
Church would involve us in a relationship with the
NCC and the WCC; and

Wuereas, Both the NCC and the WCC have been
known to have objectives and to have passed resolutions
which are identical with the Communists, who are
anti-God: and

Wuereas, Both the NCC and WCC have become in-
volved in activities which are more political than
churchly and thus violate the principle of separation
of church and state, to wit:

1. advocating lifting the economic blockade of Cuba,
2. recommending an international taxing system,

3. urging that “in restructuring of the WCC a con-
certed approach to economic and social development be
made a priority consideration,”

4. calling for the nations to diminish expenditures on
armaments and to put the savings in development,

D. opposing nuclear war and weapons as well as the
establishment of an antiballistic missile system,

6. claiming “it is imperative” for the churches ‘“‘to
concern themselves with political parties, trade unions,
and other groups influencing public opinion,”

7. supporting an international development tax,

8. calling upon Christians to “urge their govern-
ments to accept the rulings of the International Court
of Justice without reservation,” and

9. urging support of the United Nations and inclu-
sion of the People’s Republic of China in its membership.
(Above points taken from Christianity Today, Aug. 16,
1968, pp. 5 and 6, all having reference to the WCC)

10. Arthur Fleming, while presiding at the NCC
meeting of the General Board frankly stated that “the
church should become more involved in political action.
We're going to push hard on this one.” (Through to
Victory, November 1968, p.9); therefore be it

Resclved, That we petition the convention of our
Synod convened at Denver, Colo., to decline altar and