# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S156
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

156 CHURCH RELATIONS

through continued study not only on the synodical level
but primarily on the local levels as well.

St. MatrHew Ev. LuTHERAN CHURCH
Hazen, N. Dak.

Concorpia Ev. LUTHERAN CHURCH
Beulah, N. Dak.

VeRNON H. Mickow, Pastor

(3-174)

To Declare Lack of Consensus on Inspiration
and Therefore to Decline Fellowship

Wuereas, Church history teaches that union without
unity is a delusion and a snare: and

Wuereas, Altar and pulpit fellowship between Lu-
theran bodies must rest on a clear consensus on the
Holy Scriptures; and

Wuereas, The President of The American Lutheran
Church has publicly denied the doctrine of verbal in-
spiration, stating that it is held in The American Lu-
theran Church that inerrancy does not apply to the text
of the Bible; and

WueREAS, The identical position is currently set forth
by American Lutheran Church instructors and publi-
cations (e.g., The Bible: Book of Faith and Theological
Perspectives); and

Wuereas, A theological position on paper is meaning-
less if it is denied and disclaimed in practice; and

Wuereas, An indication of the current position of
The American Lutheran Church with regard to the
Scriptures can also be seen in its 1968 resolution offer-
ing altar and pulpit fellowship to the Lutheran Church
in America, which consistently has refused even to dis-
cuss the doctrine of inspiration with The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod; and

Wuereas, We have learned from the theological con-
tent of Edge (published jointly until last October by the
youth boards of The American Lutheran Church, the
Lutheran Church in America, and The Lutheran Church
— Missouri Synod) and a theological treatise issued by
LCUSA (‘Who Is This Man?”) that fellowship without
unity does not eliminate erroneous and offensive teach-
ings; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod reaffirm its traditional acceptance of the doctrine
of verbal inspiration; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod declare that there is no consensus between its
position relative to the inspiration of the Holy Scrip-
tures and that of The American Lutheran Church: and
be it finally

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod decline to enter into altar and pulpit fellowship
with The American Lutheran Church unless and until

such a consensus is achieved by the grace of God and
the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN CHURCH

River Grove, IIl.

Water WEITH, President

GERALD GARRETT, Secretary

Martin H. BEHLING, Pastor
(3-175)

Not to Declare Fellowship with The ALC

Wuereas, The Holy Spirit is the Builder of unity in
the church; and

WHEREAS, It is obvious that there are areas of serious
disagreement in the doctrine of the Word; and

Wuereas, Any declaration of pulpit and altar fellow-
ship with The ALC at this convention would necessarily
precipitate selective fellowship; therefore be it

Resolved, That this convention will not declare fel-
lowship with The ALC at this time.

Rev, W. FRANZMEIER
Hibbing, Minn.
Rev. THEODORE SCHROEDER
Marble, Minn.
Rev. JOHN KALLIO
Virginia, Minn.
Rev. Paut BITTNER
Virginia, Minn.

(3-176)

Not to Declare Altar and Pulpit Fellowship

WHEREAS, It is declared that there is now doctrinal
unity between The American Lutheran Church and
The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, which is neces-
sary in order to establish altar and pulpit fellowship;
and

Wuereas, It is clear from current public teachings
of The American Lutheran Church that doctrines con-
trary to Holy Scripture are being taught, e.g., the in-
struction manual: “The Bible: Book of Faith”; and

WuereEAsS, The American Lutheran Church has estab-
lished fellowship with the Lutheran Church in America
and is also affiliated with the World Council of Churches
and the Lutheran World Federation, which organiza-
tions are liberal and totally unionistic; therefore be it

Resolved, That Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Kerr-
ville, Tex., plead with the President of the Synod not
to declare altar and pulpit fellowship with The American

Lutheran Church. Hoty Cross LuTHERAN CHURCH

Kerrville, Tex.
Brooks KaLMBAcH, President
Do.tpH WENZEL, Secretary
A. B. Wacner, Pastor
(3-177)
Not to Declare Fellowship

Wuereas, Articles XXII and XXIII of the Augsburg
Confession demonstrate that “Practices in the church
that militate against the Gospel impair the true unity of