# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S70 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) { ’ . : ! 7 ; ( | 72 MEMORIAL ADDRESS Jegal rights, take no drastic action that might further polarize or even fragmentize the Christian church and thus add to the scandal already prominent because of the division in Christendom”? Can’t you hear them saying, “Brothers and sisters, talk to one another, discuss the true meaning of God’s Word and the Lutheran Con- fessions. It doesn’t matter how long this takes. We agree with the laypersons and parish pastors speaking to the recent theological convocation in the statement of the desire that nothing be done at this convention that would undo what was done at the convocation”? Holding fast to the profession of our faith and honor- ing the consciences of all our fellow Christians in the Synod, let us listen to them and following Jesus’ loving “Come to Me,” say: “Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, and that Thou bidst me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.” “O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.” “O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.” “O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, grant us Thy peace. Amen.” ’ Dr. Otiver R. Harms Address of the President of The American Lutheran Church Dear FRIENDS IN CurIsrT: The people of The American Lutheran Church greet you in the name of our crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. The American Lutheran Church is glad for fellowship with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and the Lutheran Church in America. We are glad for the many ways our Lord has linked us together in the life and mission of His church. We are glad for the unity of faith that has led thousands of our mobile members to find their church home in the LCMS just as thousands of Missouri Synod people have found their church homes with us. We have anguished with you in these recent years. Concern for you has been widened at every ALC gathering I have attended these past two years. We have longed for the reconciling word that would enable The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to move its great strength more fully into the central mission tasks of the church. You have been in the prayers of millions of ALC people again and again. We in the ALC believe that God has prepared His Lutheran churches for this day. We believe the tasks He has set before us demand our individual, unfettered faith, strength, and enthusiasm. The days ahead call for the best efforts we Lutherans can put together. We believe it imperative that we march together in accept- ing God’s challenge for this day. Let me briefly spotlight a few of the central tasks God has set before us. These are fronts on which the ALC believes God wants us to be active in the years ahead. We intend to be there. We hope and pray we will be marching with all Lutherans in America as we go to our posts. We intend to be devoted to evangelical outreach. Our current United Mission Appeal declares the ALC’s intent to be constant, concerned Gospel proclaimers. We believe this is the generation in which Lutheran congregations in the U.S. must prove themselves as carriers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people. Our congregations cannot stay strong, in most instances, as ethnic preser - vers, German and Scandinavian background ghettos. God has not given us His Christ to keep culture pockets Or. David Preus, President of the ALC intact. Neither can we be God’s outreaching witnesses if we are preoccupied with inspecting ourselves for faults. The Lutheran emphasis on God’s grace needs to be heard, and it needs to be seen as applied in our own lives. This is the day for outspoken, aggressive, congregational ori- ented, catechetically sound Lutheran Christian evangel- ism. Our ALC Church Council just two weeks ago de- clared that our primary ALC emphasis for the days ahead will be “evangelical outreach.” That is where we are headed. We ask you to join us. We intend to be devoted to “doing justice.” God’s Word calls us to be diligent in helping create a just human society where half the people do not have to go to bed hungry tonight and where half the people do not have to live under tyranny. God calls us in the churches to keep battling the demon of racism no matter how weary of the battle the rest of the society becomes. God calls us to hear the cry of all oppressed people and help free all from hunger, poverty, and tyranny as well as from sin, death, and the power of the devil. Lutherans have been justifiably accused of sitting quietly by while injustice occurs unchallenged. We hear God’s Word that calls us to “do justice.” We intend to plug away at it. That is where we are headed. We ask you to join us.