# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S44 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 44 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS of the LCA and President Preus to engage the services of the Division of Theological Studies of LCUSA for a discussion of relevant theological issues. For this purpose the Division of Theological Studies has convened a “Consultation on the Function of Doctrine and Theology in the Light of the Unity of the Church.” Representatives of the ALC have also partici- pated in these conferences. The study of “The Function of Doctrine and Theology in Light of the Unity of the Church,” begun in the fall of 1972, was continued in 1973 and 1974. Topics discussed include the rela- tionship between the Gospel and Holy Scriptures. the Gospel and the church. the Gospel and doctrine. a comparison of traditional and contemporary methods of Biblical interpreta- tion. and confessional subscription. The purpose of the meetings was to engage in a study of relevant theological issues and to report to the President of the Synod areas of agreement as well as areas of disagreement. Because of a conflict in schedules. the final scheduled meeting of the group was not held. Those who have participated in the meetings are of the opinion that a further and deeper study of certain issues should be considered. Those who participated in the discussions as representatives of our Synod were Drs. Ralph Bohlmann and Robert Preus and Pastors Roland Hopmann and Albert Marcis. The Lutheran Church in America held its seventh bienniel convention July 3~10, 1974. in Baltimore. President J. A. O. Preus's assistant. Rev. Robert Sauer. brought official greetings from The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. Later in this con- vention the delegates adopted “A Statement of Concern.” which addressed the doctrinal controversy in The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. While expressing the hope that “the love and forgiveness inherent in the Gospel may lead all parties involved to a peaceful resolution of this conflict,” this statement also regretted “all official efforts to legislate adherence to addi- tional documents that serve to fence God's Word and fracture God's people.” Immediately after the LCA convention President J. A. O. Preus announced in a letter to the president of the Lutheran Church in America that he was taking steps to bring about a meeting with representatives of the LCA in order to discuss “A Statement of Concern.” In this letter Dr. Preus expressed appreciation for the assurance of love and concern for the LCMS from the LCA. but he also said that ‘the judgment the LCA has made about us is the most serious that can be made against a church body. especially one holding to the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. We need to know which ‘official efforts’ the LCA has in mind. We need to know where we have ‘legislated’ adherence to doctrinal documents. We want you to tell us which positions of our church body ‘fence God’s Word and fracture God's people’ as demonstrated from the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.” President Marshall responded to Dr. Preus’s letter by stating that “there is much in your letter of July 11 which will require serious consideration” and that “I am quite ready to work with you to find a way in which our two churches can understand each other on the points you have raised.’ However. he added that he would not want “to indicate what those methods for reaching understanding might be.” Since there has been no further discussion regarding this matter. and in response to the Board of Directors referral of 1973 Resolution 2-13 to the CTCR, the commission recommends: 23a. That the Synod express its appreciation for the discus- sions that hare been held with the LCA through the means of LCUSA's Division of Theological Studies. b. That the Synod extend its gratitude to the Lutheran Chu rch in America for its prayers for a peaceful resolution of our doctrinal controversy. c. That the Synod encourage the LCA. in order to remove serious misunderstandings. to meet with representatives of the LCMS to discuss “A Statement of Concern.” d. That the President and the CTCR report to the Synod the progress of attempts tu discuss this matter. H. Consultation on Lutheran Unity The American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church in America established a Consultation on Lutheran Unity and invited the Missouri Synod to participate. even though our Synod had not adopted the document on which the Consultation based its reason for existence: ““A Statement of the Participating Bodies in the Lutheran Council in the USA Regarding Lutheran Unity.” The Synod empowered the President “to appoint four representatives to the discussions.” (1971 Resolution 3-19) A progress report was given to the 1973 convention. The Consultation. consisting of four representatives from each of the three church bodies. has continued to meet. Representing the Missouri Synod again during the past biennium were Dr. Roland Wiederaenders. Dr. Ralph Bohlmann, Rev. Wilbert Griesse, and Dr. Herbert Mueller. The Consultation has been exploring in depth the possibility of ultimately achieving some type of structural unity among Lutheran church bodies in the United States. Included in the larger question is the method of achieving such unity as well as the form which such structural unity should ultimately take. It should be remembered that the Missouri Synod is not at the same point as the other two church bodies in the consideration of structural unity, simply because the other two church bodies are in fellowship with each other while we are in fellowship with only one of them. Further, the Missouri representatives are not locked in to the concept of a single Lutheran church body in the future as the one and only goal of structural unity. A tentative chart called “Process Toward Lutheran Unity” has been developed for further refinement. It speaks of the process in three different phases. with objectives. steps to achieve objectives, and evidence of achievement in each phase on the church body level, on the jurisdictional (district) level. and on the congregational level. The general objectives for the three phases at the present time read as follows: General Objective. Phase 1: To achieve sufficient mutual understanding and theological consensus that joint activity may be increased and expanded into areas not possible without such achievement. General Objective. Phase 2: To achieve sufficient coordinated joint and consolidated activity so that the participating church bodies may determine the desirability of structural unity. General Objective. Phase 3: To achieve a unity of church body structure (a single national church. regional churches with a common national entity. or other options) so that the mis- sion of Christ's church may be fulfilled more effectively. Each general objective will be subdivided into various components on the church body, jurisdictional, and congrega- tional levels. For each of these, as mentioned above, there will be suggested steps to achieve the accepted and stated objectives as well as evidence of achievement of the same. The Consultation has been an exercise in discipline to guard against sentimentality and wishful thinking. There seems to be quite general agreement in the Consultation that if any structural unity is to be achieved it should be genuine, it should have a proper theological base. and it should be achieved through a clearly developed process, so that church bodies know exactly where they are going, when, why. and how. There seems to be no taste within the Consultation for any structural unity lightly arrived at or effected without full awareness on the part of the church bodies involyed as to what is happening. A watchword throughout has been “integrity.” To be sure, the ALC and especially the LCA believe that a sufficient theological agree- ment already exists. Missouri representatives have placed primary emphasis in the importance of theological discussion leading to doctrinal agreement with the LCA and the subsequent establishment of fellowship as a precondition of structural unity. The Consultation continues to work with the basic premises that whatever it accomplishes must be pleasing to God and can be brought about only through the gracious power of His Holy Spirit. Since the Consultation has not yet finished its work, the Missouri Synod representatives at this time can offer only a progress report and are in no position as yet to offer recom- mendations to the convention except that the Synod continue to participate in the discussions as heretofore. The commission therefore recommends: 24a. That the Synod commend its representatives and en- dorse the approach they have taken in these discussions. b. That the Synod continue to participate in the Consultation on Lutheran Unity as heretofore.