# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S192 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 192 SYNODICAL ADMINISTRATION Whereas, These differences are openly acknowledged and recognized by clergy and lay leaders alike in both “camps”; and Whereas, This controversy represents what appears to be irreconcilable differences in theology and appears farther from God-pleasing solution every day: and Wuereas, These differences make the fulfillment of the first object of Synod impossible, humanly speaking, without one or the other side giving up what they believe to be clear teachings of Scripture and the Confessions, and thus makes the whole idea of a Synod as a “walking together” a mock- ery; and WHEREAS, The resulting controversy, including unchari- table attacks upon many individuals, has caused serious offense both within and without the church: and Whereas, This controversy has therefore blunted our wit- ness to a dying world and has kept us from fulfilling in greater measure our glorious work of making disciples of all nations; and Wuereas, Many on either side who are disturbed hesitate to sever their relations with our church for fear of being schismatic; and WHEREAS, A peaceful division of the Synod, which would seem to be the logical solution of this tragic situation is made almost impossible by the requirements of the Constitu- tion of Synod itself and has been rejected by the Synod in convention assembled at Denver in Resolution 5-06 as an option for the Synod: therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod in convention assembled provide for the dissolution of the Synod itself; and be it further Resolved, That the New Orleans convention of the LCMS establish a legal committee made up of the current Board of Directors of the Synod and its legal counsel with the power to oversee the property and assets of the Synod and to make all legal decisions necessary for the division of said property and assets, as well as the implementation of the division of Synod itself: and be it further Resolved, That this legal committee conduct a referendum of the congregations of their confessional stands, so that they might declare themselves publicly on the theology espoused by the President of our Synod in A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles. whether it considers this as truly Scriptural and Lutheran or un-Scriptural and un- Lutheran; and be it further Resolved, That the balloting be accomplished within 6 months of the final day of this convention; and be it further Resolved, That the legal committee call two constituting conventions for the purpose of establishing two new Synods within one year of the final day of this convention and at- tended respectively by one lay delegate and one pastoral delegate from each eight congregations depending on their vote in the referendum: and be it further Resolved, That the Properties and assets of the Synod be divided according to the results of this vote: and be it further Resolved, That all boards, faculties, and officers of the institutions, Districts, and missions of Synod retain their offices under the direction of the legal committee until the constituting conventions of the new synods are completed; and be it further Resolved, That a legal structure be established which would continue uninterrupted the Concordia Pension and Resolved. That the name The Lutheran Church — Mis- souri Synod be retained by that group representing the majority of the church body: and be it finally Resolved, That the President of Synod declare the Synod dissolved with the establishment of the above named legal committee and with the end of this convention. Hoty Trinity LUTHERAN CHURCH Walnut, III. Donald Steele, Chairman Ronald Wolf, Secretary 4-16 To Determine Rights of Withdrawing Congregations WHEREAS, The serious differences in our church body may cause divisions within our fellowship, and Wuereas, The Lord wants our Christian dealings and love in relation to our fellow believers to transcend any political or theological divisions and differences; therefore be it Resolved, That a very fair evaluation be made as to the rights of withdrawing Congregations from The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, particularly in regard to reclaim- ing Concordia Retirement and Concordia Welfare Plan pay- Mt. Hore Lutueran CHURCH Boulder, Colo. Harold Reiss, Pastor Michael A. Boomhower To Recognize Mission Churches Overseas as National Churches Resolved, That the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod regard our mission churches abroad as_ national churches with no lessening of synodical responsibility to provide financial assistance. REASONS: 1. Our overseas missions have shown that the Holy Spirit has blessed them in their task of sharing the Gospel in their respective nations, 2. They face problems and challenges indigenous to their areas of mission and ministry, 3. The movement in the Synod urging that our overseas missions become Districts of an international Synod would be interpreted as a type of colonialism detested by peoples of developing nations. Boarp or Directors ATLantic Disrricr Arlin A, Maas, Secretary 4-18 To Encourage Non-U. S, A. Districts to Form National Churches Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod in convention instruct its Districts outside the 50 states of the United States of America to form their own church bodies as quickly as possible, REASONS: 1. Past experience indicates that the more quickly churches indigenize, the more effective they become. 2. The longer churches outside the boundaries of the 50 states of the U.S.A. remain Districts of the LCMS, the more dependent they will become and the less likely to pursue their own independent path. 3. In some cases participation of Districts outside the 50 states of the U.S.A. in the life and work of the LCMS is severely handicapped by language barriers (e.g., the Brazil District and the Argentine District). 4. Problems faced by the LCMS in the 50 states of the U.S.A. ought not to burden the Districts of the Synod out- side the boundaries of the U.S.A. 5. A profound respect for the culture and history of Dis- tricts of the LCMS outside the boundaries of the U.S.A,