# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S185
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

CHURCH RELATIONS 185

ship that is not in agreement with Scripture. Therefore
I pray that all delegates at Denver will seriously rec-
ognize, respect, and defend the theology and Scrip-
tural practices of all our local congregations by with-
holding a declaration of altar and pulpit fellowship with
The American Lutheran Church until we are guaran-
teed that all pastors of The ALC give confidence to our
lecal congregations that they will all uphold all doc-
trines necessary for the justification and sanctification
of sinful mankind. Furthermore,

2, I also propose that a circuit counselor could not
fulfll the evangelical responsibilities placed upon his
office unless the following conditions also change. In
the survey mentioned above, some pastors of The ALC
pointed to discrepancies in doctrine and practice by
some of the pastors and congregations in our Synod.
I pray that the delegates at Denver will also recognize
as true that some pastors and congregations in our
Synod condone the idolatry of the religious lodges and
do not accept our doctrine of Scripture over against
the mutually recognized evangelical position of our
Synod’s Constitution covering these doctrines: and that
the delegates, with God’s help and power, will firmly
admonish all such pastors and congregations to observe
our position in this matter as a fruit of saving faith,
without delay. This latter proposal has priority rating
in Christendom because anyone, pastor or congregation,
who claims that it is an act of love to grant anybody
“fellowship with the saints” who has not proved him-
self to be such has fallen from grace (see Galatians).
He who pledges himself to two religions, one of “grace,”
the other the “Law,” is the legalist and not evangelist.
To be afraid of people for fear of loss of public prestige
is not trusting the power of the pure Gospel — the
Power of the Keys. To love people is to withhold from
them the proclamation of God’s grace until they are
led to terror over their sins and firmly believe that for
Christ's sake alone their sins are forgiven. This is “the
pure understanding of the Gospel.” To such may the
Holy Supper be properly administered. He is a legalist
who will knowingly give this means of grace to a work-
righteous person. (See Luther's Large Catechism and
the Formula of Concord.)

LutHer P. J. STEINER, Circuit Counselor
Southern California District

(3-235)

To Take No Action on Fellowship
Until Certain Questions Are Resolved

Wuereas, The general convention of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod, met in New York in 1967,
adopted a resolution, 3-23. which immediately became
a controversial matter throughout the Synod due to its
ambiguities and uncertain interpretations; and

Wuereas. The claims made by the resolution (that
there is “consensus” and that a “basis exists” for fellow-
ship) and interpreted so in synodical press releases
have not been discovered in the dialogs carried out as

prescribed by the resolution, 3-23, and so are very
much suspect; and

Wuereas, In such dialogs it has become apparent that
many other controverted points (e.g., What is Scrip-
ture? What is not Scripture? When is Scripture Scrip-
ture, and when is it not?) need to be discussed before
a resolution should state what 3-23 has been said to
state; and

Wuereas, It would be most unfortunate, indeed
tragic, for a church to take such an important step as
fellowship on the strength of a resolution whose wording
is ambiguous and has caused confusion and consterna-
tion throughout the Synod: therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod in convention in Denver ask for a concise and
clear interpretation of what New York Resolution 3-23
actually does mean: and be it further

Resolved. That the theological issues now in contro-
versy but not treated by the joint commissioners be
studied by them with a report to be made by them
to both church bodies: and be it further

Resolved, That no action in regard to fellowship be
taken by this convention until the basis for that action
be clearly determined: and be it finally

Resolved. That for the welfare of God’s church the
guidance of His Spirit be invoked for the proper wording
of any and every resolution so that the church may
speak forthrightly, courageously, and clearly in accord

with His inspired Word.
P Sr. Patt LUTHERAN CHURCH

Round Lake, Il.

Frep ScHLeG, Chairman
DELMAR MAASSEL, Secretary
Martin C. Lopaus, Pastor

(3-236)

To Repudiate Res. 3-23 and
to Decline Fellowship

1. Wuereas, Resolution 3-23 adopted at our synodical
convention in 1967 states that there is a “consensus”
between The American Lutheran Church and The Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod; and

2. Wuereas, The Synod on the basis of this alleged
“consensus” resolved that the “Synod take the necessary
steps toward full realization of altar and pulpit fellow-
ship’; but

3. WHEREAS, Essays and books written by leaders of
The ALC contain statements contrary to Scripture; and

4, WHEREAS, These essays and statements are also
contrary to the Brief Statement (which has been re-
peatedly confirmed as the official position of the LCMS),
to which most of our pastors and many of our professors
still subscribe as a true and faithful exposition of the
Word of God: and

5. Wuereas, A church body is to be judged not only
by its official confession but also by the theological
statements and practices it tolerates: and