# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S153
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

CHURCH RELATIONS 153

pulpit fellowship with The American Lutheran Church
at this time and not until such associations are with-

drawn by them. Goop SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH

Lake Villa, Ill.
Wirorp N. PALMER, Secretary
KENNETH F. HASKELL, Pastor

(3-166)

To Refrain from Fellowship with The ALC
Because of Its Membership in the WCC

Wuereas. The WCC is dominated by theological lib-
erals including Unitarians and other deniers of Biblical
fundamentals including the Trinity: and

Wuereas, The activity of the WCC indicates its ob-
jective to be the establishment of a world church with
the least common denominator of Biblical theology, to
satisfy its liberal members: and

WueErEAs, Political radicals such as the Communist-
controlled Russian Orthodox Church and other Soviet-
oriented satellite churches have been accepted into the
membership of the WCC: and

Whereas, Liberal American clergy leaders of the
WCC have forsaken the church’s responsibility to pro-
claim the redemptive Gospel and have instead made
pronouncements and decisions in the socio-political field,
which is completely outside of their province and con-
sequently an embarrassment to the U.S. Government:
and

Wuereas, The ALC is an official member of the lib-
eral and socio-political-oriented and -dominated WCC,
with which The LCMS would by its affiliation with The
ALC be inextricably involved and thus became a par-
taker of its sin; therefore be it

Resolved, That The LCMS refrain from altar and
pulpit fellowship with The ALC.
Trinity LUTHERAN CHURCH
Scarsdale, N. Y.
ALFRED BARSUHN, President
Witt1am M. SMITH, Secretary
A. W. BrustatT, Pastor

(3-167)

To Decline to Establish Fellowship
with The ALC in View of Its LCA
Involvement

Wuereas, The American Lutheran Church at its last
convention voted to establish pulpit and altar fellowship
with the Lutheran Church in America: and

Wuereas. This move clearly indicates that The
American Lutheran Church is willing to establish fel-
lowship with those with whom it is not in full doctrinal
agreement; and

Wuereas, Such a lax attitude toward doctrine makes
the statements of The American Lutheran Church re-

garding doctrinal agreement with The Lutheran Church
— Missouri Synod suspect; therefore be it

Resolved,

1. That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod de-
cline to establish pulpit and altar fellowship with The
American Lutheran Church: and

2. That we through our representatives register our
deep regret over the action taken by The American Lu-
theran Church in seeking to establish fellowship with
the Lutheran Church in America at a time when pulpit
and altar fellowship with The Lutheran Church — Mis-
souri Synod was being seriously considered: and

3. That we continue to support every effort toward
Lutheran union that is based on an unqualified accep-
tance of the Holy Scriptures as the inerrant, verbally
inspired Word of God and of the Confessions of the
Lutheran Church as a correct exposition of the doctrine

tq 7
of the Word. Exmaus First LUTHERAN CHURCH

Alhambra, Calif.
FREDERICK C. E. Gesuarnt, President
R. E. Wosrock, Pastor

(3-168)

Not at This Time to Declare Fellowship
Because of ALC Lodge Practice

Wuereas. The Handbook of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod states: “The Synod is firmly opposed
to lodges or societies of an unchristian or anti-Christian
character”: and

WueErEas, Subscription to the religious requirements
of the typical lodge involves the individual Christian in
a contradiction and denial of the Gospel: and

Wuereas. A lodge policy consistent with the Gospel
firmly opposes membership in unchristian or anti-Chris-
tian lodges, since membership involves the individual
in persistent denial before men of the distinctive and
exclusive character of the Christian faith; and

Wuereas, According to the Handbook, “It is and shall
be the practice of the congregations of the Synod not
to administer Holy Communion to members of such
lodges nor to admit such persons to communicant mem-
bership, since Holy Communion expresses an exclusive
spiritual relationship of the communicant to his Lord
and to his brethren”: and

Wuereas. The American Lutheran Church does ac-
cept into communicant membership and commune mem-
bers of “lodges or societies of an unchristian or anti-
Christian character”: therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod does not at this time declare pulpit and altar
fellowship with The American Lutheran Church.

CoMMISSION ON FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS
Texas DISTRICT
Rev, ANDREW SIMcAK JR., Chairman