# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S128 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 128 SEMINARY ISSUES 3-424 To Accept “A Statement” as Correct Declaration Wuereas, The Constitution of the LCMS requires that the synodical President supervise the doctrine of the Synod; and Wuereas, In keeping with this requirement (Article XI, B 1) Dr. J. A. O. Preus has provided the Synod A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles; and WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Rela- tions affirmed that the Statement contains nothing contrary to the Scriptures or the Lutheran Confessions; and Wuenreas, A study edition of the Statement has demon- strated that it is in accord with the Scriptures and the Lu- theran Confessions, synodical statements, and synodical res- olutions; and WHEREAS, Many members of the LCMS have signed the Statement as an expression of their theological stance; while others have flatly rejected it with such terms as “un-Lu- theran” and “less than Scriptural”; and Wuereas, It has thus become evident that there are dif- ferent theologies held and taught within the LCMS; there- fore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, in convention, declare that the Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles is a correct declaration of its theo- logical stance on the issues covered; and be it further Resolved, That all congregations and pastors, parochial school teachers, professors at the Synod’s colleges and semi- naries, members of boards and commissions, District presi- dents, and officers of Synod who cannot in good conscience accept and teach according to the position of the Statement and thus of Synod, be asked in love to withdraw from the Synod and affiliate with some other church organization whose theological position they can in good conscience sup- port. Zion LUTHERAN CHURCH Pine City, Minn. Carl Peterson, President David M. Meyer, Pastor Similar: 3-42B Zion Lutheran Church, Mora, Minn.,, Elmer Althoff, Chairman; Marilyn Jensen, Secretary. 3-42C Trinity Lutheran Church, Warren, Ohio, Charles D. Lent- ner, Pastor; Hilton A. Farley, Chairman. 3-43A To Adopt and Use “A Statement” Wuereas, A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles, published by the President of Synod in con- sultation with the synodical Vice-Presidents speaks clearly to the issues which trouble the LCMS today; and Wuereas, The Statement in both its theses and antitheses is in agreement with the Scriptures and the Lutheran Con- fessions; and Whereas, The CTCR without dissenting vote recognized the Statement to be both Scriptural and Lutheran: and Wuereas, The faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, has refused to comply to the request of the Board of Con- trol and the President and presidium of Synod to state their position toward the theses and antitheses of the Statement and give reasons why they believe or disbelieve these theses and antitheses; and Wuereas, The faculty in its “Response” has called the Statement divisive, thus indicating that the differences be- tween the content of the Statement and the teaching at the seminary are doctrinal and divisive differences and affect fellowship within our church; and WuereEas, The Report of the Synodical President's Fact Finding Committee has shown that false doctrines are indeed taught at Concordia Seminary, St.Louis, and that these doctrines are contrary to Scripture and the Lutheran Con- fessions and are condemned in the Statement; and Whereas, The false doctrines taught at the seminary and denoted in the Report impinge upon the authority of Scrip- ture and the Gospel itself and are divisive of fellowship in our Synod and such fellowship is in fact not being practiced in some cases because of these divisive doctrines; and WHEREAS, It is not legalistic but evangelical, springing from a deep concern for the pure proclamation of the Gospel, to insist that a Synod and its teachers commit themselves to statements which are in agreement with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, especially in times of theological con- troversy and crisis; and Wuereas, Precisely such a practice was carried out by the Lutheran church in the past as it called for signatures to the Saxon Visitation Articles of 1592 and to the Thirteen Theses of Dr. Walther in 1881; and Wuereas, Such an action is not elevating such statements of faith to the level of the Confessions or making them a new standard of orthodoxy; be it therefore Resolved, That the LCMS in convention assembled re- affirm its loyalty to the Scriptures and the Lutheran Con- fessions; and be it further Resolved, That Synod adopt the Statement as a whole and each thesis and antithesis as its position in respect to the issues facing our Synod arising from the seminary investi- gation; and be it further Resolved, That every faculty member at both seminaries of our Synod at the beginning of every academic year until the next convention of Synod be instructed to subscribe to the Statement, affirming his adherence to its every thesis and antithesis; and be it finally Resolved, That God forbid, should any faculty member of the two seminaries fail to affirm such commitment to the doctrine of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions as ex- pressly stated in the Statement, the Board of Control be instructed to call immediately for the resignation of that faculty member. MEssIAH Ev, LUTHERAN CHURCH Sterling, Il. Harold Nelson, Secretary Eldor Mueller, Pastor Identical or Similar: 3-43B Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Wauwatosa, Wis., Harold Mueller, Secretary. 3-43C Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Rock Falls, Ill., Curtis A. Peterson, Pastor; Kim Groharing, Chairman. 3-43D Mount Hope Lutheran Church, Casper, Wyo., F. D. Stewart, President; J. B. Brown, Pastor. 3-43E Trinity Lutheran Church, Taylorville, Ill., Don Gingrey, President; Wm. G. Marten, Pastor. 3-43F St. John’s Lutheran Church, Roselle, Ill., James Johnson, Secretary. 3-44 To Declare “A Statement” Scriptural Resolved, That we petition The Lutheran Church — Mis- souri Synod to declare that A Statement on Scriptural and Confessional Principles is in accord with Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions as they have always been inter- preted; and be it Resolved, That the LCMS require all who administer and teach, including all in official positions in Synod or its