# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S119
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

|
i

t
i
i
‘
|
‘A
*
i
(
]
‘

=

RESOLUTIONS 119

and The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod to present
a united position on abortion which is in harmony with
Scripture and the Confessions; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod encourage its President, in consultation with the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations, to seek
ways in which a united position can be developed.

Action: None. Referred under omnibus Res. 4-47 to
the Board of Directors.

To Change Tenure of Executive Secretary
and Assistant Executive Secretary of CTCR
RESOLUTION 2-29

Report 2-01, III, D (CW, p.37)

Wuereas, The Synod’s Bylaws provide that the Ex-
ecutive Secretary of the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations shall serve for a term not to exceed
a period of 2 years and also provide that the appoint-
ment may be renewed; and

Wuenreas, The Board of Directors has established a
2-year term for the presently unfilled position of As-
sistant Executive Secretary; and

Wuereas, The term of office of executive secretaries
and assistant executive secretaries of synodical boards
is ordinarily 4 years (cf. Bylaw 2.12a); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod establish renewable 4-year
terms of office for the Executive Secretary and Assistant
Executive Secretary of the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations; and be it further

Resolved, That the Commission on Constitutional
Matters be requested to make the necessary changes in
the synodical Bylaws.

Action: Adopted (16).

To Endorse Plans to Hold Another
International Lutheran Theological Conference
RESOLUTION 2-30

Report 2-01, Hl, A (CW, p.33)

The fourth International Lutheran Theological Con-
ference was held in Madras, India, in February 1973.
This conference brought together the presidents of sister
churches for a discussion of vital issues pertaining to
the mission of the church. A fifth ILTC is tentatively
planned for Brazil in 1974 or 1975. At that time, the
conference plans to devote considerable time to a dis-
cussion of the proper relationship of sister churches to
each other.

Wuereas, Such conferences provide an important op-
portunity for our sister churches to develop a sense of
international confessional Lutheran identity; therefore
be it :

Resolved, That the Synod endorse plans to hold an-
other International Lutheran Theological Conference

and encourage the Board of Directors to provide funds
for this purpose.

Action: None. Referred under omnibus Res. 4-47 to
the Board of Directors.

To Declare Altar and Pulpit Fellowship
with the Independent Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Germany

RESOLUTION 2-31
Report 2-01, II, B (CW, p. 34)

Wuereas, Three Lutheran Free churches in Germany
formed the new Selbstandige Evangelisch-Lutherische
Kirche (Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church) in
1972; and

Wuereas, The Synod has for many years enjoyed al-
tar and pulpit fellowship with these three Lutheran
Free churches; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in gratitude to God offi-
cially declare itself to be in altar and pulpit fellowship
with the Selbstandige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche,
thereby continuing the fellowship it has enjoyed for
many years with the member bodies of the new church.

Action: None. Referred under omnibus Res. 4-47 to
the Board of Directors.

To Retain Synod’s Position
on Selective Fellowship

RESOLUTION 2-32

Report 2-01 (CW, p. 36, “Selective Fellowship”); Report
of CMMC (CW, p. 184, B, 3); Overtures 2-151A through
2-152F, 2-170 (CW, pp. 90—91, 96)

Wuereas, Resolution 3-11 of the 1971 synodical con-
vention requested the President of the Synod, the Com-
mission on Theology and Church Relations, the Com-
mission on Mission and Ministry, and the Commission
on Constitutional Matters “to make a thorough study of
selective fellowship, that is, the possibilities of its mem-
ber congregations practicing fellowship with such con-
gregations as they find are in confessional agreement
with them, and to make recommendations to the 1973
convention regarding such fellowship; and

Wuereas, The President of the Synod asked the
CTCR to assume primary responsibility for the study of
selective fellowship in consultation with the other
commissions named in the resolution; and

Wuereas, The CTCR’s report on this study is in-
complete and is therefore not ready for submission to
the Synod at this time; therefore be it

Resolved, That Synod abide by the resolution
adopted at the Denver convention, namely “that the
Synod urge all its members to honor their fraternal
agreement with all members of the Synod by refraining
from practicing altar and pulpit fellowship with con-