# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S172
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

172 CHURCH RELATIONS

Wuereas, The theory that man and the world have
gradually evolved from some primary substance is con-
trary to Holy Scripture (the theory of evolution remains
just that—a theory); and

Wuereas, The ALC no longer insists on the natural
historical interpretation of the Genesis creation account,
and it allows the view that theistic evolution is not con-
trary to Holy Scripture; and

Wuereas, The Bible teaches the idea of propositional
truth, revelation, and absolute truth, which man can
know and express in doctrinal statements: and

WHEREAS, Various statements coming from respon-
sible ALC sources say that pure doctrine is not attain-
able and that no theological declaration can be consid-
ered true and final; and

Wuereas, ALC clergymen and writers are permitted
to deny basic truths of Holy Scripture: and

Wuereas, Joint worship with those who deny basic
truths of God’s Word is contrary to Holy Scripture: and

Wuereas, The ALC now permits its pastors, officials,
and congregations to participate and officiate at joint
worship services, which are contrary to Holy Scrip-
ture; and

Wuereas, The ALC is a member of the unscriptural
World Council of Churches; and

Wuereas, The ALC is a member of the unscriptural
Lutheran World Federation: and

Wuereas, The 1968 general convention of The ALC
“Resolved, That the American Lutheran Church de-
clares altar and pulpit fellowship with the Lutheran
Church in America” (this decision must be approved
by the Districts of the ALC): and

Wuereas, The 1968 general convention of the ELCC
(formerly Canadian Districts of The ALC: now a sister
synod of The ALC) approved altar and pulpit fellowship
with the Lutheran Church in America — Canada Sec-
tion; and

Wuereas, The LCA is theologically and in their prac-
tice extremely liberal: and

Wuereas, The LCA is a member of the National
Council of Churches, and it has been reported that The
ALC Church Council is recommending that The ALC
join the NCC in 1970; and

Wuereas, The ALC still has not condemned the anti-
Scriptural notion that man can cooperate to some extent
in his own conversion; and

Wuereas, The ALC permits those within her fellow-
ship to remain members of Christ-denying organiza-
tions that teach that Jesus is not God and that a man
must work his own way to heaven; and

Wuereas, According to a survey printed in Religion
and Society in Tension (Rand McNally, 1965), The ALC
laity is theologically different from The LCMS laity; and

Wuereas, Loyal Lutherans in the ALC have been
protesting against the theological modernism tolerated
within their church; and

Wuereas, Loyal informed Lutheran professors are
urging The LCMS not to declare altar and pulpit fel-
lowship with The ALC until various doctrinal issues are
resolved; and

Wuereas, The theological situation in Lutheranism in
Canada is basically the same as that which prevails in
the U.S. A.; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Evangelical Lutheran Church of
St.Paul, Ottawa, Canada, requests the 1969 Denver
convention of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
to decline entry into altar and pulpit fellowship with
The American Lutheran Church.

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF ST. PAUL
Ottawa, Ont.

Wa.pEemMar Bruer, Chairman

Dovuctas A. Rucu, Secretary

(3-206)

To Decline Offer of Fellowship

Wuereas, The American Lutheran Church at its last
convention voted to establish altar and pulpit fellowship
with the Lutheran Church in America, a move that
clearly indicates a willingness to establish fellowship
with those with whom it is not in full doctrinal accord
and reveals a laxity toward doctrine that makes its
statements regarding doctrinal agreement with The Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod suspect; and

Wuereas, The ALC’s official statement ‘Doctrinal
Concerns” challenges the possibility of attaining correct
doctrine and calls the assumption of having correct
doctrine “a symptom of pride”; and

Wuereas, The ALC is a member of the World Coun-
cil of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation and
is contemplating membership in the National Council
of Churches — all of which are violating our traditional
Scriptural principle of seeking church fellowship
through agreement in doctrine and practice; and

Wuereas, The wide divergence between The ALC
and The LCMS in dealing with the matter of affiliation
with lodges that preach “another Gospel” is becoming
more apparent: therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod in convention assembled in Denver decline the
offer of altar and pulpit fellowship with The American
Lutheran Church; and be it further

Resolved, That through our representatives The
LCMS register its deep regret over the action taken
by The ALC in seeking to establish fellowship with the
Lutheran Church in America at a time when altar and
pulpit fellowship with The LCMS was being seriously
considered; and be it finally

Resolved, That The LCMS continue to support every
effort toward Lutheran union that is based on an un-
qualified acceptance of the Holy Scriptures as the iner-
rant, verbally inspired Word of God and of the Con-