# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S59 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) OT ee resem 0 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 59 Wuereas, The Lutheran church has resisted these at- tempts by setting forth its Biblical position over against new errors, not only by appealing to the Holy Scripture and its Confessions, but by producing “other good. useful, pure books” and materials for its clergy and laity: therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod thank those responsible for the “useful” document known as the Confessional Principles, and be it finally Resolved, That doctrinal supervisors throughout Synod use this material in addition to the formally accepted norms in determining and dealing with departures from Scriptural doctrine. Our REDEEMER LUTHERAN CHURCH Houston, Tex. Bill Dreyer, Secretary 2-36 To Endorse “A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles” Wuereas, A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles issued by President J. A. O. Preus is thoroughly grounded in the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confes- sions: and Wuereas, A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles is simply a restatement of the position long held by the LCMS, and Wuereas, A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles has been endorsed by Synod’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations: and Wuereas, A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles speaks particularly to the doctrinal issues trou- bling the church today: and Wuereas, Although President J. A. O. Preus did not offer A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles as a new standard of orthodoxy. the church has the privilege and responsibility to recognize and support true Scriptural doc- trine; therefore be it Resolved. That the LCMS endorse A Statement of Scrip- tural and Confessional Principles as a correct and truly Lutheran exposition of the Holy Scriptures, and be it further Resolved, That the LCMS declare that A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles is to be regarded as a “formal and comprehensive statement of belief” in the sense of Resolution 5-24 of the Milwaukee convention (Pro- ceedings 1971. pp. 163—165) and that the Synod further de- clare that A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Prin- ciples shall hold the status defined in the resolution. Ontario DISTRICT Harold R. Patzer, Secretary Albin J. Stanfel, President 2-378 To Repudiate Council of Presidents Wuergas. At this writing some 200.000 Christians have identified with the Crossroads letter which has as its aim to support the doctrinal position of Synod and the consti- tutional authority of the President of Synod in supervising doctrine in Synod: and Wuereas, Such action does not polarize the Synod, but seeks only to unite all under the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, and is therefore to be praised and commended by all: and Wuereas. The Council of Presidents by a vote of 22 to 12 has criticized the action and goals of those who signed and supported the Crossroads letter, and urged none to support such a cause: and WuereEas, The Council of Presidents possesses No more au- thority than the humblest pastor or Christian layman to make such a recommendation: and Wuereas. The Council of Presidents has not once sup- ported the President of the Missouri Synod in_his efforts to maintain purity of doctrine in the Missouri Synod; and Wuereas. The Council of Presidents by its action is In effect tyrannizing consciences and pressuring Christians, thus stigmatizing itself as unworthy of the trust placed in the individual District presidents; therefore be it Resolved, That the Missouri Synod in convention assem- bled repudiate the action of the Council of Presidents against the Crossroads letter: and be it further Resolved. That the Synod advise those men of the Coun- cil of Presidents who voted against the Crossroads efforts to resign their charges: and be it finally Resolved. That the Council of Presidents be instructed by the Synod to discontinue all efforts and activities as a body except those explicitly outlined for them in the synodical Handbook — except at the request of the President of Synod. IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH Olivette. Mo. Kenneth Eckert. Secretary Walter J. Hoffmann, Pastor Identical: 2-37B Mount Hope Lutheran Church, Casper, Wyo. Frank Stewart, President; J. B. Brown, Pastor. 2-38A To Declare Boards of Control Accountable to Synodical President in Doctrinal Matters WuerEas. The constitution of the Synod clearly makes the President of the Synod responsible for supervision re- garding the doctrine in the Synod (Article XI B); and Wuereas. Good principles of administration indicate the importance of clear and continuous lines of supervision ; therefore be it Resolved. That the Synod declare its understanding that in matters of doctrine the Boards of Control of Synod’s col- leges and seminaries are accountable to the President of the Synod in the intervals between conventions; and be it further Resolved. That in all cases where a given Board of Con- trol fails to act in matters involving doctrine, the Synod instruct the President of the Synod to control the matter. TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH Scarsdale, N. Y. Merlin C. Meyer, Pastor Alfred Barsuhn, President Similar: 2-38B Emmaus Evangelical Lutheran Church, Brooklyn, N. Y,, Joseph C. Weber, Secretary. 2-39 To Extend Supervision to Valparaiso University Theological Faculty Wuereas. The religion faculty of Valparaiso University is engaged in the teaching of theology and religion to thousands of young people who are members of The Lutheran Church __ Missouri Synod; and Wuereas. This religion faculty and other clergy on the staff of Valparaiso University are responsible to no official synodical board or commission, and Wuereas. Individual parish pastors and District presidents cannot advise students or exercise effective control over such a situation; therefore be it Resolved, That in the teaching of religion, the faculty of Valparaiso University be held immediately responsible to the President of the LCMS or to any person (s) he may designate for this function; and be it further Resolved, That any Missouri Synod clergyman or teacher on the faculty of Valparaiso University found to be teaching contrary to the position of the Synod be suspended from the