# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S34 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) NN :— €(c ao a ]€ 4 7 34 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS quested the Lutheran Church—Canada to respond to the merger invitation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada. In its February 1973 meeting, the Lutheran Church — — Canada is willing to enter into discussions exploring the possi- bility of merger, but that in any such discussions involving the Lutheran Church in America—Canada Section, its first priority would be doctrinal discussions with a view toward establishing altar and pulpit fellowship with the Lutheran Church in America — Canada Section. The commission recommends: 12 a. That the Synod endorse the action of the Lutheran Church—Canada and pray that God will bless its efforts to achieve a greater measure of Lutheran unity in Canada. b. That the Synod ask its Commission on Constitutional Matters to indicate which changes would be necessary in the Bylaws of The Lutheran Church —Missouri Synod in order to enable the Lutheran Church—~Canada to establish fellowship with the Lutheran Church in America —Canada Section should sufficient doctrinal consensus be discovered. Protests In its 1971 convention, The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod responded to letters of concern received from two sister churches, namely, the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Germany and the Evangelical Lutheran Church—Synod of France and Belgium. Both churches had expressed concern about The Lutheran Church ~ Missouri Synod’s fellowship with the American Lutheran Church as well as with alleged doctrinal aberrations in our church body (cf. 1971 Res. 11-10: Res. 3-25: B. Establishment of Fellowship Germany A significant event took place on June 25, 1972, when three Lutheran Free Churches in Germany celebrated their merger and the formation of the new Selbstindige Evangelisch-Lu- therische Kirche (Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church). 14. That the Synod officially declare that it is in altar and pulpit fellowship with the Selbstindige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche, thereby continuing the fellowship it has enjoyed for many years with the member bodies of the new church. Australia pulpit fellowship” (Res. 3-03, 1969 Proceedings. p. 94). Con- versations in 1970 indicated that the Lutheran Church of Aus- tralia was not yet ready to proceed with such discussions. In October 1972 the convention of the Lutheran Church of Australia adopted statements on some of the matters which had been Occupying its attention, namely, the inerrancy of Holy Scripture and the meaning of Genesis 1—3. When a letter from former President Max Lohe indicated that the Lutheran Church of Australia might now be ready to begin discussions looking forward to fellowship, the commission adopted the following resolution and sent it to President-elect Leslie Grope: WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church of Australia has expressed its desire “to enter into discussions with Lutheran Churches at home and abroad to determine with which of these fellowship in Word and Sacrament exists or can be reached” (‘Document of Union,” 13): and WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod feels a close kinship with fellow Lutherans in Australia: and WHEREAS, Our synodical President will be meeting the leaders of the Lutheran Church of Australia in the near future; therefore be it Resolved. That the CTCR act upon the Resolution 3-03 of the Denver convention, expressing the desire of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod to enter into discussions leading to altar and pulpit fellowship with the Lutheran Church of Australia: and be it further Resolved. That the President of Synod convey the fraternal greetings of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations to the Lutheran Church of Australia as he visits there. President Preus personally presented this resolution to the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations of the Lutheran Church of Australia in connection with his visit to Australia in February 1973. So that The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod might have an Opportunity to review the docu- ments most recently adopted by the Lutheran Church of Aus- tralia, the commission has sent them to the pastors of the Synod. Although the Lutheran Church of Australia has not had an opportunity to respond officially to our request to begin doctrinal discussions, President Grope has indicated that the invitation was received with great appreciation. The commission recom. mends: 15. That the Synod express its continued desire to establish altar and pulpit fellowship with the Lutheran Church of Australia and pray that God will richly bless our mutual efforts to that end. C. The American Lutheran Church The 1971 convention of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod asked the synodical representatives on the Commission report to the 1973 convention (cf. Res. 3-21). The CTCR has not been directly involved in discussions with the American Lu- theran Church because the primary responsibility for such discussions has been given to the Commission on Fellowship (whose report appears elsewhere in this WORKBOOK). The CTCR has heard regular reports on the activities of the Com- mission on Fellowship from its three members who are also members of that commission (Drs. Nickel, Schultz, and Bohl- mann). With the recognition that the results of another meeting of the Commission on Fellowship scheduled prior to the 1973 convention may necessitate our supplying the convention with additional information or suggestions, the commission recom- mends: 16. That the Synod a. Extend its deepest sympathy and the comfort of the Gospel to the Knutson family and to the American Lutheran Church at the tragic death of President Kent Knutson. b. Express its appreciation for every evidence of growth in the understanding and practice of fellowship in both The Lu- theran Church—Missouri Synod and the American Lutheran Church. ¢. State its deep regret that 4 years of discussions in the Commission on Fellowship have not produced evidence that “serious differences in the doctrine of the authority of Scripture” (1971 Res. 3-21, Fourth Whereas’) have been resolved, or that our two church bodies hare achieved a common understanding “on what fellowship involves’ (Res. 3-21, Third “Whereas”)). d. Register its deep concern over the 1972 decision of the