# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S89 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 89 word of St. Paul in 1 Cor. 14:37-38, regarding nonrecognition of those who hold a false position: “If any one thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord. If any one does not recognize this, he is not recognized”; and Wuereas, Subsequent to our 1969 convention declaration of altar and pulpit fellowship with the American Lutheran Church that church not only ordained women, thus straining our relations with them, but also took an incorrect doctrinal position opposite to ours, and after urging from us restudied their position, but still refused to change theirs into har- mony with the clear words of the apostle Paul; therefore e it Resolved. That we reaffirm again in this convention our position of 1969 and 1971, that Scripture forbids women to hold the pastoral office: and be it further Resolved, That lest we prove unfaithful to our Lord Jesus and His clear Word, and thus arouse His anger, we, at this convention, break fellowship with the American Lutheran Church, which is adamant in its false position; and be it further Resolved, That we require all our congregations who have entered into fellowship with ALC parishes to now discontinue that fellowship: and be it finally Resolved, That any Synod pastors, congregations, or mem- bers that refuse to do this and to recognize the correct Scriptural doctrine as affirmed by our Synod on this subject, be dismissed from membership in Synod. St. Perer’s LUTHERAN CHURCH Spanish Lake, Mo. Norman A. Schneider, Pastor Kenneth Kreitner, Secretary 2-142 To Ask Public Apology of ALC Wuersas, The principle of fellowship and Christian love between church bodies in fellowship indicates the exercise of respect and Christian love toward the officers of a fellow church body; and Wuereas, The Lutheran Standard, official publication of the ALC, carried as a news item quotations from a strong attack on President J. A. O. Preus (Lutheran Standard, July 18, 1972 —a report of a speech by Dr. William Lazareth, dean of Gettysburg, Pa., Seminary, in which Dr. Lazareth is quoted as “Terming Dr. Preus’ statement a biblicistic and confessional perversion of the truth entrusted to evangelical Lutherans and professed by 95% of them throughout the world”; therefore be it Resolved, That the LCMS in convention assembled ex- press to the ALC its deep concern over this publication of a slanderous attack on the theological position of the Presi- dent of the LCMS; and be it further Resolved, That the LCMS call upon the officials of the ALC to make a proper public apology to President J. A. O. Preus for the widespread publicity given to the Lazareth quotation pertaining to the theology of President Preus. First Ev. LUTHERAN CHURCH Clearwater, Fla. Donald R. Drung, President Duane L. Hubbard, Secretary David V. Dissen, Pastor 2-143 To Object to “Lutheran Standard” Articles Wuereas, The Lutheran Standard (official publication of the ALC) has published articles which demean the historic theological position of the LCMS (e.g. Lutheran Standard. Jan. 16, 1973, p.12); and Whereas, This position and the leaders who uphold it in the LCMS are pictured as “resorting to legalistic regula- tions to keep people in line”; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod object to the publication of such articles and request the Lutheran Standard to discontinue this practice on the grounds that such articles are unethical, unbrotherly, and injurious to the fellowship which exists between the LCMS and the ALC. Our Savior LUTHERAN CHURCH Janesville, Wis. Ralph Bobzien, President Elmer Benash, Secretary Theodore Gundlach, Pastor LCA 2-144A To Declare Fellowship with LCA Wuereas, The ALC, the LCA, and the LCMS subscribe to the Unaltered Augsburg Confession and the Confessions say ... “it is sufficient that the Gospel be preached in con- formity with a pure understanding of it and that the sacra- ments be administered in accordance with the divine Word” (Article VII, Augsburg Confession); and Wuereas, It is a grievous matter to deny a unity which the Holy Spirit has created among the LCMS, the ALC, and the LCA; therefore be it Resolved, That this convention memorialize The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod convention in New Orleans in 1973 that we declare pulpit and altar fellowship with the Lutheran Church in America and implement such fellow- ship with the American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church in America to the greatest extent possible and to the greatest benefit of the whole church of Jesus Christ. FLoRIpA-GeEorGIA DISTRICT Theodore W. Eisold, Secretary Similar: 2-144B New York State Pastoral Conference, Atlantic District, Daniel Aho, Secretary. 2-145A To Establish Pulpit and Altar Fellowship with Lutheran Church in America Wuereas, The Lord of our church exhorts us as Chris- tians to live in unity with one another (John 17); and Whereas, Our church has shown its willingness to estab- lish pulpit and altar fellowship with the American Lutheran Church because doctrinal agreement exists; and Wuereas, Doctrinal agreement exists between the LCMS and the Lutheran Church in America on the basis of our acceptance of the historic Lutheran Confessions and Holy Scripture; and Whereas, The LCA has made it explicitly clear that they would be willing to join in pulpit and altar fellowship on the basis of Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions; and Wuereas, In many parts of our church de facto altar fel- lowship exists because of our system of transferring mem- bers and receiving other Lutherans at our altars; and Wuereas, Agreement on the basis of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions is sufficient basis of agreement as out- lined in those Confessions themselves; and Wuereas, The California and Nevada District in conven- tion in 1970 has already memorialized the LCMS to take this action; and Wuenreas, No positive action was taken by the Milwaukee convention of LCMS; and Whereas, The California and Nevada District has re- affirmed its stand by adopting this memorial to Synod; be it therefore Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod in convention in New Orleans proceed with establishing pulpit and altar fellowship with the Lutheran Church in America. CALIFORNIA AND NEvabDA DISTRICT Theo. A. Iverson, Secretary