# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S169 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 169 WueireAs, In the past the LCMS has rightly insisted upon dia- logue re doctrine before fellowship with other Lutheran bodies and just recently the ELCA through its President, the Rev. Dr. George Anderson, has expressed the desire for such dialogue with the LCMS; therefore be it : Resolved, That we seek opportunities on various levels (local, Tegional. and synodical) for dialogue to discover points of agree- ment as well as differences as they exist and to confess similarities where we can; and be it further Resolved, That we initiate steps to establish a new formal forum for dialogue and, where possible, cooperation between our respec- tive Synods, perhaps similar to the function LCUSA performed in the past. St. Luke, Dix Hills, NY; Emanuel, Patchogue, NY 3-47 To Express Regret re ELCA Actions WHEREAS, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in 1997 formally declared altar and pulpit fellowship with the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., the Reformed Church in America, and the United Church of Christ, thereby claiming to have reached a fundamental doctrinal consensus with churches of the Reformed tradition; and WHEREAS, The ELCA in 1997 formally accepted the Joint Dec- laration on the Doctrine of Justification, thereby claiming to have reached a consensus on the basic truths of the doctrine of justifica- tion with the Roman Catholic Church; and WHEREAS, These decisions have significant implications for American Lutheranism and world Lutheranism; and Wuereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) wishes to take seriously its confessional identity and its ecumenical responsibilities by avoiding both unionism and isolationism; there- fore be it Resolved, That the LCMS express its deep regret that the ELCA has taken these actions; and be it further Resolved, That all members of the LCMS commit themselves to engage in serious and extensive theological discussions with members of the ELCA; and be it further Resolved, That the LCMS commit itself to engage in serious and extensive theological discussions with the ELCA and the Lutheran World Federation; and be it further Resolved, That the LCMS invite its partner churches throughout the world to participate in these discussions; and be it finally Resolved, That these discussions address theological issues, in- cluding justification, the sacramental presence, the nature of Lutheran identity, and the appropriate relationships with churches of other theological traditions in the confusing and changing eccle- Siastical landscape of today. Faculty Concordia Seminary St. Louis, MO 3-48 To Declare That Absolute Truth Exists WHEREAS, Many do not believe there is absolute truth: 1. Rev. Don Matzat writes in “Apologetics in a Postmodern Age”: “For many, there is no such thing as absolute truth. Rather, there are competing truths. The Christian Gospel is simply one truth among many ‘truths.’” 2. Lael F. Arrington writes in World Proofing Your Kids: “A recent Barna poll asked the following question: ‘Do you agree or disagree with this statement: There is no such thing as absolute truth. People can define truth in different ways and still be correct.’ The answer: 28 percent of the public strongly agree that there is no such thing as absolute truth. Another 38 percent somewhat agreed, meaning 66 percent of Americans do not believe in absolutes. Among those who identified themselves as Evangelicals, 53 per- cent agree that there is no such thing as absolute truth!” (George Barna, What Americans Believe, pp. 83-85) 3. A 1994 survey commissioned by Josh McDowell and other national leaders of youth ministry showed that 57 percent of church youth are likely to approve the view that there are no such things as absolute truth. 4. The pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, New Haven, noted in his “Baal or God”: “The Christian Church today faces the greatest crisis it has ever confronted. For centuries the Church has had to defend various doctrines when they were denied. But today the very foundation of the historic faith is under attack. It is no longer a matter of one or another doctrine. Direct revelation and the very concept of truth and doctrine are being rejected within the estab- lished churches of our day. The very thought that God revealed Himself or any truths to man in certain propositions recorded in Holy Scripture is rejected. This all-out attack against historic Chris- tianity is not limited to any one denomination or to any particular country.” 5. Professor Kurt Marquart observed in his “The Crisis in Chris- tendom”: “No longer is it this or that aspect of revelation which is questioned, but all revelation, and the very idea of revelation. Not this or that particular truth is rejected, but all truth and the very pos- sibility of truth. Herein lies the intensive, vertical radicalism of the current crisis”; and WHEREAS, Christ says: “If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed, And you will know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32); therefore be it Resolved, That the 1998 convention of the LCMS declare that absolute truth exists, the doctrines taught in Holy Scripture are ab- solute truth, and any teaching which is contrary to the Bible is not the truth. Trinity, New Haven, MO; Washington Circuit, Missouri District; Trinity, Denver, CO 3-49 To Provide Biblical Balance in Constitution’s Position on Church Fellowship WHEREAS, The Lord our God clearly encourages us to cherish and extend to others His gift of Christian fellowship (John 17:20-21; Rom. 12:5; Heb. 10:24; Gal. 6:10; 1 John 1:3, 7) even as He provides us with warnings against the dangers of improper fel- lowship (Amos 3:3, Rom. 16:17-18; 2 Cor. 6:14); and WHEREAS, The position of our Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, as it is currently set forth in Art. VI 2 of the Constitution, addresses the dangers of improper church fellowship, but does not address the imperatives of Holy Scripture to cherish and pursue true Christian fellowship; and WHEREAS, There has been and continues to be considerable con- cern expressed within the Synod over the issue of church fellow- ship, which might well be moved toward resolution by the grace of God with a biblically balanced policy statement in our Constitu- tion’s Art. VI, “Conditions of Membership”; therefore be it Resolved, That Art. VI of the synodical Constitution be amended to read as follows: PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING Article VI Conditions of Membership 1. Acceptance of the confessional basis of Article IL. ‘pen; Conunitment to maintain and extend God's gift of true Christian unity and fellowship through: a. Sen in 7 een o i i nea ene : Outreach in love to separated Christian brethren at open theological conferences, ecumenical programs of prayer for Christian unity, cooperative work for social min- istry, and the like.