# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S154
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

154 CHURCH
(3-169)

To Require Uniform Position and Practice
on Lodge Membership in Establishing
Fellowship

Wuereas, Section XIV, Art. 14.07 in the Bylaws of
The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, “The Synod’s
Position Concerning Lodges,” is clearly given and pro-
cedures to be followed where the lodge evil exists are
carefully delineated; and

Wuereas, Resolution 3-23, passed by the 1967 con-
vention of the Synod, states: “Resolved, That the Synod
urge all its representatives and officials to work ear-
nestly and sincerely toward a unified evangelical posi-
tion and practice in areas of church life where disturbing
diversities still exist, particularly in reference to un-
christian and anti-Christian societies, through continued
mutual study with the officials and representatives of
The American Lutheran Church on the basis of the
Word of God”; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod be assured “The Synod’s
Position Concerning Lodges” is practiced by all of the
congregations in each of the 37 Districts of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod before altar and pulpit fel-
lowship with The American Lutheran Church be estab-
lished; and be it further

Resolved, That a uniform position concerning lodges
be established and that both The American Lutheran
Church and The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
agree that such position shall be put into practice if and
when altar and pulpit fellowship is established.

ZION Ev. LUTHERAN CHURCH
Atlantic, Iowa

HENRY LARSEN, Chairman

H. Hersert HANSEN, Secretary

(3-170)

To Give Further Study and Discussion
to “Scripture” and “Lodges”

With gratitude we recognize the usefulness of our
contacts with The ALC as we explore the matter of fel-
lowship. Yet we have serious misgivings.

A. We confine our observations in the first part of
this memorial from a dialog sponsored by the Lutheran
Laymen’s League at Concordia Teacher's College, River
Forest, IIl., Jan. 12, 1969.

An ALC professor from the seminary in Dubuque,
Iowa, commented on the inspiration of Scripture. We
recall these points (similar to many other ALC expres-
sions on this subject):

1. He was very strong in opposition to “blind fanati-
cism,” comparing it to tightening a bolt on a piece of
equipment beyond the breaking point. We believe
Scripture has no breaking point.

2. He said you might drink the milk in a bottle
but not the glass. The meaning is: Scripture has milk,
but you can dispense or do as you please with the glass.

RELATIONS

We believe that Scripture is all milk—no glass —if
that is the only analogy.

3. He said the inspiration of Scripture is like the in-
spiration that a man may have in the delivery of a ser-
mon, i.e., there can be inaccuracies which can be culled
out but need not do great harm to the main message.
We believe that Scripture-inspiration and personal-
witness inspiration are not identical.

4. When pressed on the witness of Christ to Mosaic
authorship he chose to emphasize His humanity. This
is intolerable.

We believe that examples such as this illustrate the
filter effect on this doctrine. We prefer the full blaze
of the total sun of Scripture as it bursts with light on
any subject it chooses to touch. The basic block on
which the future strength and growth of our Synod
depends is threatened by such hairline reservations. We
fail to see full fellowship at this time.

We recommend that we talk and study some more.

B. We have on occasion had ALC laymen wearing
the Masonic emblem on their coat lapels present as
guests in our church. This is a bald impediment to
fellowship. We are not in agreement.

We suggest:

1. That The ALC produce tracts for their member-
ship that will handle that matter in depth. Oath-bound
organizations that offer worship and burial without
Christ are legitimate objects of synodical scrutiny.

2. That the filmstrip presentations of our Commission
on Fraternal Organizations be made available for dis-

tribution in The ALC. BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN CHURCH

Evanston, III.

J.C. SHippMan, Chairman
Dents PETERS, Secretary
F. A. Hertwic, Pastor

(3-171)

To Decline Fellowship Because of Differing
Views on Scripture

Whereas, The Missouri Synod declared at its 1967
convention, “. . . that the Scriptural and confessional
basis for altar and pulpit fellowship between The Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod and The American
Lutheran Church exists...” (Resolution 3-23); and

Wuereas, Said convention further declared, “That
the President of the Synod in conjunction with the
Council of Presidents make the appropriate recommen-
dations to the 1969 convention” (Resolution 3-23); and

Wuereas, A recent publication, The Bible: Book of
Faith, a resource book prepared for the Board of Parish
Education and the Board of Publication of The Ameri-
can Lutheran Church (given official approval at the
second general convention of The American Lutheran
Church, 1964) holds the following views on the Book
of Genesis and the authorship of Bible books:

Genesis 1—11, significant as these chapters are in
themselves, are merely the introduction to the central