# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S83 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 83 Similar: 2-122B Eastern Regional Pastoral Conference, English District, Erich H. Wildgrube Jr., Chairman. 2-122C New York State Pastoral Conference, Atlantic District, Daniel Aho, Secretary. 2-123 To Adopt Statement of Council of Presidents Resolved. That the Colorado District in convention peti- tion the 1973 convention of the Synod to adopt as its own the statement of the Council of Presidents concerning the interpretation of Milwaukee Resolution 3-21. and to append it to that resolution. Statement of the Council of Presidents “To advise’ —In a true sense of the word the Synod is an advisory body to its members. Since there is considerable dif- ference of opinion among us about what is essential for altar and pulpit fellowship with the American Lutheran Church, and since we believe we should listen to the response of the Amer- ican Lutheran Church to the concerns voiced in this resolution, the Synod advises (not demands) its members that, in the in- terest of harmony and peace among us, we do not expand fel- lowship practices until a better understanding of present issucs be achieved. “To defer new implementation’ — This is not intended to discourage or curtail those efforts which have already been made to successfully practice altar and pulpit fellowshin with the American Lutheran Church. This phrase should not be un- derstood as though we are now “in statu confessionis,”” which expression in itself builds another practicing fellowship with ihe intent that, under God, the differences which are in evidence may be resolved. To defer new implementation simply means that instead of expanding our fellowship practices into new and hitherto untried exoressions of Lutheran unity we be content with the fellowship ovportunities which have been shared thus far. Meanwhile. it is our hope and prayer that when the Amer- ican Lutheran Church responds to our concerns we may together find ways and means of reaching a God-pleasing agreement which both church bodies will be able to respect. CoLorapo DISTRICT Ralph A. Phipps, Secretary 2-124 To Implement More Fully ALC Fellowship Wuereas, The LCMS and the ALC have enjoyed the fra- ternal relations of pulpit and altar fellowship: and Wuereas. Such fellowship has been mutually beneficial and strengthening to people in our community: and WuereEAS, We believe such fellowship to be God-pleasing and of much benefit to the church as a whole; therefore be it Resolved, That our Synod give thanks to God for the joys and sorrows we share with the ALC in pulpit and altar fel- lowship: and be it further Resolved, That we move quickly to more fully implement the fellowship which was curtailed at the Milwaukee con- vention: and be it finally Resolved. That we declare that the ALC in its freedom may ordain women to the ministry, while the LCMS does not, and that such differences are not divisive of church fellowship. Our REDEEMER LUTHERAN CHURCH Jacksonville, Fla. Wayne J. Lehrer, Pastor William Drum, President Audrey Shivar, Seeretary To Reaffirm Fellowship with ALC Wuereas. The Missouri Synod in convention at Denver, in 1969. established altar and pulpit fellowship with the ALC; and Wuereas, Through the workings of the Holy Spirit many blessings have resulted from this declaration of unity; and Wuereas, First Lutheran Church, Burns, Oreg., has ex- perienced the blessings of this unity in the form of a con- gregational merger (Hope, ALC, and First, LCMS) and can attest to the joy of Chrstian brothers and sisters serving to- gether in unity: therefore be it Resolved, That we give thanks and praise to God for these blessings: and be it further Resolved. That the Northwest District memorialize The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod to continue every effort to remove obstacles which prevent realization of full pulpit and altar fellowship with the American Lutheran Church; and be it finally Resolved, That the members of the Northwest District pray the Lord of the church for greater Scriptural unity among the Lutherans of America and in their lives and parishes work toward that end. NORTHWEST DISRICT Wayne H. Brandmire, Secretary 2-126A To Suspend Altar and Pulpit Fellowship with ALC Wuereas. Res. 3-21 of the Milwaukee convention, 1971, explicitly states: “That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod advise its pastors. congregations, boards, and com- missions, because of doctrinal concerns still remaining be- tween the two church bodies, to defer new implementation of fellowship with the American Lutheran Church until the American Lutheran Church has had opportunity to respond to our Synod’s concerns”: and WHEREAS, The ALC in convention in 1972 did respond and take a definite stand against the position taken by the Missouri Synod especially in connection of approving and advocating women as pastors and instructors even in the seminaries: and Wuereas. God has said: “The women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate. as even the Law says” (1 Cor. 14: 34 RSV): and again, “I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men: she is to keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor” (1 Tim. 2:12-14 RSV); and Wuereas, Again and again it has been shown that there is no consensus regarding the inerrancy of Scripture, the doctrine of conversion, the ecumenical movement, the Christ- less lodge, Creation, the authorship of many Biblical books, ete.: and WHEREAS Titus 3:10-11 most definitely states: “A man who chooses to be different in his teaching warn once and a second time, and then don't have anything more to do with him beeause you know such a man is set in his wrong way and is a sinner who condemns himself.” (N.T. in the Language of Today) Wuereas. We have warned and discussed the unscriptural position taken by the ALC many times in convention and outside of conventions in committees, etc., but yet the official position of the ALC still insists on rejecting God's clear Word: and Wuereas. We are told in 2 John 9-11: “Anyone who goes too far and doesn't stay with what Christ has taught doesn’t have God. If you stay with what He taught, you have the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and doesn't teach this. don't take him into your home or greet him. If vou greet him, you share the wicked things he does”; and WHEREAS, Rom.16:17-18 tells us to “watch those who cause disagreements and make people fall by going against the teaching you learned. Turn away from them. Such men are not serving Christ, our Lord, but their own bellies and by their fine and flattering talk are deceiving innocent peo- ple” (N.T. in the Language of Today); therefore be it Resolved. To suspend altar and pulpit fellowship with the ALC: and be it further