# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S14 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) —— ee” —rr——i—S EVANGELISM 13 WHEREAS. This linking of evangelism and sound doctrine is continued throughout the New Testament (for example, Acts 20:18-35, 2 Tim. 3:14 —4:5); and WHEREAS. Evangelistic witnessing, preaching, and follow-up involves not only those doctrines which all Christians hold in common (the deity of Christ, the substitutionary atonement, the Trinity, and the like) but also those articles of faith which are most often disputed between denominations and church bodies (for example, baptism, the work of the Holy Spirit, conversion, election, the means of grace, the historicity of the resurrection, etc.); and WHEREAS. During the last few years a number of our pastors. congregations, and individual members have been involved in joint evangelistic rallies, services, and programs which involve either joint worship with those with whom we are not in fellow- ship or the uncritical use of sectarian and doctrinally ques- tionable literature for evangelistic, follow-up, oF training pur- poses in a way that is not only unconstitutional (Art. VI 2b. ¢) but also unscriptural (Rom. 16:17: 1 Cor. 1:10): and WHEREAS. This failure to observe proper Scriptural princi- ples in evangelism is somewhat understandable because of the urgency of Christ’s evangelistic commands and the necessity of getting the Gospel out to a lost world under the judgment of God and also because of the scarcity of good materials from a sound Lutheran point of view: and WHEREAS. We must recognize, since we teach that all those who use the Word and sacraments include Christians among whom the Holy Spirit is at work, that non-Lutherans are able to produce material that is sound in whole or in part; and WHEREAS. Unionistic mission and evangelistic endeavors and the uncritical use of sectarian and unsound literature for evange- listic purposes involve an indifference to doctrine that cannot but finally subvert the mission outreach of the Gospel and intro- duce a “Melanchthonian spirit’ which urges compromise and “agreement on essentials” that could bring an end to orthodox Lutheranism itself: therefore be it Resolved. That the Synod urge its evangelism staff, pastors, congregations, and members to refrain from using materials that reflect Baptistic, Reformed, charismatic, or other false emphases and teachings unless their errors be clearly pointed out: and be it further Resolved. That pastors, congregations, and individuals guilty of unionism and the use of unsound materials in an uncritical way be admonished by their doctrinal supervisors: and be it further Resolred. That all those involved in evangelistic work in any form, for the sake of the Gospel and the continued existence of confessional Lutheranism, observe the Synod’s fellowship prin- ciples and avoid every form of unionistie activity in violation of this position as stated in the Brief Statement (28, 29): and be it finally Resolved. That the Synod ask the Board for Evangelism to redouble its efforts to produce, adapt, and develop materials for evangelism, follow-up, and evangelism training that are attrac- tive, functional, and fully in accord with sound Lutheran doc- trine. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Rock Falls, Hl. Curtis A. Peterson, Pastor John Harden, Secretary 1-11 To Retain Balance of Bible Study and Evangelism WHEREAS. Some in our Synod are so concerned that the Word of God be kept pure in our teaching and practice that often the importance of continual evangelism is overlooked: and WHEREAS. Some in our Synod are so concerned that evan- gelism be the main and sole program of the church that often the importanee of retaining the pure Word of God is overlooked: an WHEREAS. A good program of Bible study minus the oppor- tunity to testify of the truths learned is as unfortunate as a zeal for evangelism minus the concern for pure teaching: therefore be it Resolved. That the Synod assembled in convention urge the church to retain the pure unadulterated Word of God in its teaching and practice and couple that with zealous and continual programs of evangelism. St. James Lutheran Church University City. Mo. John Essen. President Carl Meinecke, Secretary Tom Baker. Pastor 1-12 To Call for Doctrinal Precision in Personal Evangelism WHEREAS, The proclamation of the Gospel by personal witness, 1.€. personal evangelism, is basic to the ongoing mission life of the church: and WHEREAS, A person’s cultural background may unduly influence his theological understanding: and WHEREAS, Materials on personal evangelism are available from numerous sources with considerable variation in theologi- cal commitment, precision, and understanding: therefore be it Resolved, On the one hand that we as a church body and as individuals analyze all materials, so that we avoid moralism and legalism, and on the other hand that we carefully use these materials in accordance with Scripture and the distinctively Lutheran Law/Gospel dialectical relationship: and be it finally Resolved, That all of us renew our study of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, so that we proclaim God’s Word in its own fullness and truth in Jesus Christ. Faculty Concordia Teachers College River Forest, Tl. Merle L. Radke, Secretary 1-13 To Designate January 1976 as Month of Mission to Ourselves Wuereas. In the past few years the total number of members in our church body has decreased; and WueEREAS. A large portion of this decrease can be attributed to attrition of membership, or “back-door losses”: therefore be it Resolved. That the Synod declare the month of January 1976 a time of “mission to ourselves’ —a time to find and reac- tivate those former members of our parishes who have left our congregations’ rolls in past years, and be it further Resolved. That the Boards for Missions, Evangelism, and Stewardship, working in conjunction with whatever input sources as may be helpful, devise a program for the calling back of missing and misplaced former members of The Lutheran Church-— Missouri Synod, including such things as a mechanism for a Synodwide sharing of names and addresses of those who have moved away without a transfer for appropriate establish- ment of contact by parishes in their new area of residence, and the like —all as part of this special month; and be it finally Resolved. That the keeping of accurate records and the accounting for all of our people be fully encouraged by the continuation of methods implemented in this self-mission effort. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Naugatuck, Conn. Wallace Pflug. President Emma Barbiero. Secretary Gregory J. Wismar, Pastor