# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S164 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 164 CHURCH RELATIONS I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20: 26-27). And to Timothy it was written: “Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.” (2 Tim. 1:13-14) These words of God from Holy Scriptures in the last chapter of Romans are a plea to us also, so that the end may be true of us too: “I would have you wise as to what is good and guileless as to what is evil; then the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (Rom. 16: 19b-20) Rev. JAMES R. SHEPPARD Coon Rapids, Minn. (3-188) To Declare that Certain Teachings in ALC Prevent Fellowship Wuereas, The 47th regular convention of the Mis- souri Synod at its New York convention in 1967 passed a resolution that mutual studies and meetings be held with The American Lutheran Church during the next 2 years in preparation for establishing altar and pulpit fellowship between the two bodies: and Wuereas, The American Lutheran Church, although confessing doctrinal unity with us, acts contrary to their doctrinal stand, through various publications and state- ments being made by various responsible representa- tives of said church body. In The Bible, Book of Faith (given the official stamp of approval at the second gen- eral convention of The American Lutheran Church, 1964) the following teachings are espoused: “The infallibility of the Scriptures is the infallibility of Jesus Christ and not the infallibility of the written text.” (P. 148) The Pauline authorship of 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and the Petrine authorship of 2 Peter is impugned. (Pp. 126—127) Isaiah did not write Is. 40—66. (Pp. 43, 62, 76) Daniel did not write the Book of Daniel. (Pp. 46, 77, 78) The Mosaic authorship of the first five books of the Bible is denied. (Pp. 67—79) The historical factualness of Genesis 1—11 is made doubtful (pp. 54, 153); and Wuereas, These current and official teachings in The ALC contradict plain Scripture, 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; John 10:35; 1 Cor. 2:13; John 17:17; 1 Thess. 2:13; John 12:37-41; Matt. 24:15; Luke 24:27-44; John 5:47; John 7:19; Luke 11:51; John 21:24; Gal. 1:20; 2 Peter 1:15-18; therefore be it Resolved, That certain current and official teachings held in The ALC prevent a God-pleasing declaration of pulpit and altar fellowship; and be it further Resolved, That there be no establishment of pulpit and altar fellowship with The ALC as long as the above mentioned errors continue in The American Lutheran Church. Rev. Davip P. WALLSCHLAEGER Milwaukee, Wis. (3-189) To Acknowledge that Fellowship with The ALC Is Impossible Wuereas, The current ecumenical movement is based on expediency rather than on Biblical principle; and Wuereas, Many of the religious (church) leaders are magnifying ecclesiastical union above the impor- tance of sound doctrine; and Wuereas, Much of the current leadership of the merger efforts is composed of men who do not accept many of the historical Christian beliefs or the Holy Scriptures as the Word of God in all its parts and words the infallible truth, containing no errors or contradic- tions, also in those parts which treat of historical, geo- graphical, and other secular matters; and WuereEas, True Christian unity must be based on Biblical doctrine, and the desire of Christ “that they all might be one” is fulfilled in the spiritual unity of all true believers in Christ and not in visible, outward union; therefore be it Resolved, That we, the members of St. Paul’s Lu- theran Church, Varna, IIl., petition and memorialize our beloved Synod and District, together with its officers and leaders, to turn the tide that is sweeping us down the stream to unchristian unionism (Rom. 16:17, etc.) with church bodies and synods that do not hold to and practice the historic Christian faith and doctrines of Scripture as expounded in our Confessions; and be it further Resolved, That we petition and memorialize our be- loved Synod and District, together with its officers and leaders, to recognize and acknowledge the fact that The American Lutheran Church no longer holds to or prac- tices the historic Christian faith, for example: (1) The American Lutheran Church permits its theologians to teach that the Bible contains errors and myths; (2) the President of The American Lutheran Church claims the Bible is not inerrant in all matters; (3) The Amer- ican Lutheran Church is a member of the World Coun- cil of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation; (4) The American Lutheran Church allows its members to remain members of the Freemasons, ete.; (5) The American Lutheran Church permits synergism, the doctrine that man is in some way responsible for his conversion. This makes it impossible for us to have or in any way practice altar and pulpit fellowship with The American Lutheran Church, as many of our lead- ers are urging us; to remain true to Scripture and our Confessions; and to acknowledge that fellowship with the visible church can be had only when there is true unity in all the doctrines and practices (Rom. 16:17); and be it finally Resolved, That we urge our leaders to be diligent and faithful in expending their efforts and the resources -—— time, talent, and treasure —- of our Synod (our