# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S176
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

176 CHURCH RELATIONS

constitutional statement regarding anti-Christian socie-
ties: and

Wuereas. It follows then that the anti-Christian
society affiliation is often ignored: and

Wuereas, We have learned that open Communion
including non-Lutherans is approved by some: there-
fore be it

Resolved, That we petition the Synod to refuse altar
and pulpit fellowship at this time.

St. Paut’s LUTHERAN CHURCH
Orange. Calif.

Victor Hem, President
Lovts BERTRAND, Secretary
Ruernotp F, Knaus, Pastor

(3-220)

To Refuse Fellowship Until Roadblocks
Are Removed

Wuereas, The overwhelming majority of the con-
gregations of The American Lutheran Church accept
lodge members and have no program or effective means
of getting them out of the lodge: and

Wuereas, The ALC is deeply involved in the ecu-
menical movement. holding membership in the Lu-
theran World Federation and the World Council of
Churches, and is considering membership in the Na-
tional Council of Churches, which ecumenical organiza-
tions we as a Synod have with good reason disapproved
of: and

Wuereas, The ALC already practices de facto pulpit
and altar fellowship with the Lutheran Church in
America (a church body with which we have not yet
reached doctrinal agreement) : and

Wuereas. None of the published doctrinal statements
of fellowship with the ALC have dealt adequately with
the synergistic controversy. which has been a major
point of division in the past: therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod refuse fellowship with
The American Lutheran Church until such time as the
roadblocks to fellowship in both doctrine and practice

be removed. Rev. Joun J. McREE
Vallonia, Ind.
Rev. Ottis L. SAvLs
Seymour, Ind.
(3-221)

To Reject Fellowship

Wuereas, The 1967 convention of the Missouri Synod
stated that the basis existed for altar and pulpit fellow-
ship between The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
and The American Lutheran Church; and

Wuereas, No statement of this nature was made with
reference to the Lutheran Church in America: and

Wuereas, The LCA has declined invitations to dis-
cuss doctrine and practice with a view toward establish-
ing altar and pulpit fellowship: and

Wuereas, The ALC voted in Omaha in 1968 to estab-
lish altar and pulpit fellowship with the LCA as well
as with the LCMS and the Synod of Evangelical Lu-
theran Churches; and

Wuereas, This changes completely the question of
altar and pulpit fellowship between the LCMS and The
ALC; and

Wuereas. There is still a lack of uniformity in the
practice of dealing with the lodge problem: and

Wuereas, We believe that the present lodge practice
of The ALC will weaken our Synod’s practice with
regard to this problem: and

Wuereas. According to The Bible: Book of Faith and
God’s Word and My Faith, published by The ALC, there
are differences in our synods regarding the inspiration
and the authority of Scripture: therefore we

MEMORIALIZE THE SYNOD:

1. to reject altar and pulpit fellowship with The
American Lutheran Church until a God-pleasing solu-
tion can be reached on the problems mentioned above:

2. to begin conferences between officials of The
Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod and The ALC to
reach agreement on a common practice in dealing with
the lodge problem: and

3. to review the situation regarding altar and pulpit
fellowship whenever these problems have been solved.

BELL GARDENS LUTHERAN CONGREGATION
Bell Gardens, Calif.

Epwarp Horton, Secretary

La Mar MILLER, Pastor

(3-222)

To Oppose Fellowship Until Full Doctrinal
Agreement Is Established

Wuereas, I have followed the provisions of New
York Resolution 3-23 of the Synod for studying the
issues involved in fellowship with The American Lu-
theran Church, including a thorough study of existing
documents and publications of The ALC and a series
of meetings on the local level with ALC pastors: and

Whereas, I have discovered that within the ranks
of ALC pastors there are wide differences of belief and
opinion with regard to the Holy Scriptures: and

Wuereas, On the basis of the Scriptures and the
Lutheran Confessions it is clear that the position of our
Missouri Synod is in obvious disagreement with the
position of The ALC regarding the Scriptures, anti-
Christian lodges. and affiliations in the ecumenical
movement (Lutheran World Federation and World
Council of Churches): and

Wuereas. A declaration of fellowship with The ALC
would mean a compromise of our Synod’s position.
which has always been based solidly on the Scriptures
and the Lutheran Confessions, as our Brief Statement
clearly reflects: and

Wuereas, The ALC officially allows for more than
one view or opinion even in major areas of doctrine —