# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S76 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) ore man 5S Om = i truth through theological dialogs, through combining our specialized approaches to chaplaincy work, ministry among the military, American Indian minority affairs, overseas volunteer activities, work with youth agencies, planning regional cooperation in missions, welfare enti- ties, and campus ministry and other activities. More can be done when we work together. We have only started in our cooperative adventure on this conti- nent, and there are many needs and opportunities ahead. ADDRESS OF THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF LCUSA T7 We should let nothing stop us from pursuing the tasks that are required of us as obedient disciples of Him whom we praise through your convention theme when we say that Jesus Christ is Lord. It gives me joy to come before you as a colleague, a friend, a fellow Lutheran, and a partner with you in this greatest of all callings. Thank you. Dr. GeorcE Harkins Statement by Rev. Emil Jaech (Representing several District Presidents after adoption of Res. 5-02A. Printed in the PROCEED- INGs by convention resolution.) PRESIDENT PREUS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST: I am moved to underscore those familiar words — brothers and sisters in Christ. In these tense, emotion- packed, perhaps anger-filled moments some may feel either like throwing in the towel and leaving or like saying, “Good riddance!” But our Lord, who bought both you and me at so great a price, has by His Spirit called all of us by the Gospel out of darkness into light. He has called us to be brothers and sisters together in His one family. In His name, my brothers and sisters, we eight District Presidents wish to give this response: The passage today of Resolution 5-02 has made it‘ appropriate and necessary for the eight District Presi- dents who are the objects of that resolution to respond to the convention and to the entire Synod. We have stated repeatedly, individually, and corpo- rately our reasons for ordaining, or consenting to the ordination of, graduates of Concordia Seminary-in-Exile who have received proper calls from congregations or calling agencies in our Districts. We will not repeat those reasons now. But we take this opportunity to inform you and the church of our common and unamimous response, of our continuing struggle for freedom of conscience under the Gospel, and of our plans for the future. With regret we say that we cannot agree with your action. We are disappointed that we have been unable to convince you of the appropriateness of our stand. We had hoped and prayed that you would make a different judgment. Your decision puts not only the eight of us but all the officers of the Synod and its Districts and all the congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in serious jeopardy. You have not recognized the rights of congregations nor the legitimate claims of conscience. This is a serious breach of the Holy Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and the synodical Constitution. We believe that your actions stem from sincere motives but that your judgment in this instance is wrong. Your action will only cause further division in the Synod at a time when healing is most necessary. At the same time we are heartened by the approval given to our actions by a substantial minority of the convention delegates. We ask all of you to join us now in the task of restoring throughout the Synod the evangeli- cal style of leadership and life together that has charac- terized most of her history. We eight agree that the final judgment concerning our continuing service to the church as District Presi- dents rests with the congregations of our Districts which elected us to office. We intend to take our case to them. If they agree with your judgment, we will accept that decision. But they must ultimately decide this issue. Action by a synodical convention providing for the re- moval of District Presidents is unprecedented and un- heard of among us and represents a threat to the rights guaranteed to all of our congregations by Article VII of the synodical Constitution. Even the smallest congregation in the Synod is pos- sessed of an authority higher than that of the most impressive church. assembly, for all authority is derived from the Word of God. Where the Gospel is proclaimed and the sacraments administered, there is the Word of God. There is the presence of the risen Christ promised to even the most humble community gathered around Bible, the water of Baptism, the Word of forgiveness, the bread and wine of divine reconciliation. No official, no resolution, no bylaw can interfere with the assertion of that promise, of that presence, of that authority. That is what is at stake in the position we are taking today. No one has demonstrated that we have acted contrary to the Holy Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod in the matter of ordaining and receiving Seminex graduates into our Districts. No threat of removal from office has persuaded us to change our position. We intend to continue our present practice, which we believe is in full accord with the Scriptural and confessional standards to which we voluntarily bound ourselves by our ordination vows and by the promises made when we accepted the Presidencies of our Districts. We intend to continue as Presidents of our Districts unless and until our Districts vote to re- place us. Long ago it was determined that our election was a divine call. Whether we have violated that call isa decision that may be made only by those who extended the call. We have not advocated anarchy in the Synod nor defended purely personal rights, as some have wrongly charged. We have advocated Christian freedom in all matters not commanded or forbidden by the Word of God.