# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S95 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) HOE RR CE RS AA ES PEA EER Te RE ROA ER SG SE TT Be ATS RESOLUTIONS 95 Proceedings, p. 106; Milwaukee Resolutions 2-21 and 5- 24, 1971 Proceedings, pp. 117 ff. and 163 ff.; New Orleans Resolution 2-12, 1973 Proceedings, pp. 111 ff.); therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod adopt the opinion of the Commission on Constitutional Matters (App. 5-01B; CW, p. 206): In order to give witness to its faith in the face of contempo- rary issues and in order to settle controversies within its own midst, the Synod has the right to adopt doctrinal resolutions and to ask its members to uphold them. In doing so the Synod cannot and does not establish new doctrines but merely gives joyful assent to what in its conviction is taught in the sacred Scriptures. Indeed, insofar as such resolutions are in accord with the Scriptures they are binding on those who accept Article II of the Synod’s Constitution. And be it further Resolved, That a special committee be appointed by the synodical President after consultation with the Vice- Presidents, consisting of one member each from the Commission on Theology and Church Relations, the Commission on Constitutional Matters, the Council of Presidents, the faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, the faculty of Concordia Theological Seminary, Spring- field, and the Concordia Historical Institute (with a view that the committee consist of theologians, constitution- alists, and church historians), which shall present to the 1977 convention a proposed addition to the Handbook in order to set forth clearly: a. The status of doctrinal statements as distinguished from the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions; b. The procedures for adoption of such statements; c. The procedures for proper expression of dissent and possible revision. Action: Adopted (6). (The convention declined to eliminate the first resolved and also declined to consider Overture 3-94A as a substitute. After the convention had voted to terminate debate after 30 minutes, it adopted Res. 3-04.) To Clarify Declaration Concerning “A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles” RESOLUTION 3-05 Reports 3-01, I, A, 5-01, App. 5-01B (CW, pp. 39, 206—207), Overtures 3-56A—3-75, 3-91A—3-106C, 3-109—3-111, 3-119—3-121 (CW, pp. 79—86, 90— 96, 98— 100) Wuereas, Concern has been expressed in a number of overtures about the adoption of New Orleans Resolution 3-01, 1973 Proceedings, pp. 127-128, “A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles,” and also about the use of the same; and WuHeErEAS, About 50 of the 575 communications of dissent received by the Commission on Theology and Church Relations included specific theological objections, and were helpful in evaluation and in the preparation of the “Report on Dissent”; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod commend to its members for reference and guidance the report titled “Guiding Princi- ples for the Use of A Statement of Scriptural and Confes- sional Principles with Special Reference to the Expres- sion of Dissent” (1975 CW, pp. 468—470), the closing sentences of which read: A Statement is not to be used mechanically or legalistically to discipline members of the Synod, but it is to be honored, upheld, and used fraternally and evangelically throughout the Synod in an effort to assist the Synod in remaining faithful to its confessional position. Used in this way, A Statement may, with the blessing of God’s Holy Spirit, serve the “conservation and promotion of the unity of the true faith” (Constitution, Article III) and aid the Synod in the faithful proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world. And be it further Resolved, That the Synod commend the document titled “Report on Dissent” (1975 CW, pp. 462—467) to its members for reference and guidance; and be it further Resolved, That in the interest of clarification the Synod instruct the CTCR to prepare and submit to the 1977 convention the following recommended revisions in A Statement. 1. Article I, add a footnote explaining the term “Anonymous Christians.” 2. Article II, while rightly ascribing an instructional function to the Law, express more explicitly the accusing function of the Law so that it is clearly stated that the Law always instructs in such a way that it at the same time shows the need for constant repentance in the life of Christians. 3. Article III contain an additional antithesis reject- ing any view of the church’s mission that fails to recog- nize the witness value of deeds of love which flow from faith. 4. Article IV contain a statement on prophecy that recognizes and expresses the broader connotations of the term “prophecy” in the Old Testament; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod adopt. the opinion of the Commission on Constitutional Matters: Since the Synod has the right to adopt doctrinal resolu- tions, it also had the right to adopt Resolution 3-01. In Resolution 3-01 the Synod approved a document known as A Statement. That document therefore comes under the provision of New Orleans Resolution 2-12: “That the Synod reaffirm its position (Res. 2-21 and 5-24, Milwau- kee Proceedings) that such statements, insofar as they are in accord with the Scriptures, are, pursuant to Article II of the Synod’s Constitution, binding upon all its members (cf. also Article VII.” However, the Synod cannot make A Statement binding upon its members in the same sense in which the Scripture is binding. Nor can it ask its members to bind themselves to A Statement in the same manner in which they freely bind themselves to the Lutheran Confessions. Resolution 3-01 does not broaden the confessional base of the Synod. It was not offered as a constitutional amendment. It is to be recognized as a properly adopted resolution. In it the Synod determined that A Statement defines the corporate position of the Synod and sets forth the public teaching of the Synod. The adoption of Resolution 3-01 by the Synod does not bind the individual conscience any more than any other human document can; only Scripture should bind the consci- ence. As Luther stated before the Diet of Worms: “Unless I am convinced by the testimonies of the Holy Scriptures or evident reason (for I believe neither in the Pope nor Councils alone, since it has been established that