# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S68 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 68 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS for His renewed gift of the Spirit of unity and peace: and be it further Resolved. That the members of the Northwest District of the LCMS recognize the variety of members, gifts, abilities. perspec- tives, and functions as a gift of the Spirit to be thankfully re- ceived and faithfully used in mission and ministry: and be it further Resolved. That the members of the Northwest District of the LCMS recommit themselves to the task of joyfully proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and energetically engaging in His mission of ministry to the world: and be it finally Resolved. That the Northwest District of the LCMS call upon the entire Synod to do likewise. Northwest District Emil G. Jaech, President D. C. Schroeder. Secretary 3-17 To Guard Against Emotionalism WHEREAS. The controversy in the Synod is alleged by some to be a matter of “power politics”: and WHEREAS. Some allege that certain persons are being persecuted by those in positions of power in the Synod; and WHEREAS. Such allegations inevitably play on the emotions and sympathy of those in the Synod who hear or read them: and WHEREAS. Such allegations divert attention from the divisive issues (arising from the false historical-critical approach to the Scriptures with its resultant conclusions) to a focus on personali- ties and procedures: and WHEREAS. The First Commandment and Meaning (Luther’s Small Catechism) obligate us to “fear, love. and trust in God above all things,” including intellect, human reason, and love of persons (Matt. 10:37): and WHEREAS. God is worshiped and God's name is hallowed among us “when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity and we as the children of God also lead a holy life accord- ing to it” (Small Catechism, First Petition): therefore be it Resolved. That all within the Synod, especially delegates to this convention, keep themselves above and be not swayed by appeals to emotionalism and sympathy: and be it further Resolved. That all within the Synod dedicate themselves rather “to fear, love. and trust in God above all things’: and be it further Resolved. That all within the Synod dedicate themselves to the preservation of all truths of God as He has revealed them in His holy, inerrant, and authoritative Word: and be it further Resolved. That all within the Synod dedicate themselves to the Lutheran Confessions as contained in The Book of Concord and also dedicate themselves to honor and uphold all doctrinal convention resolutions under the Scriptures and Confessions as true and proper expositions and applications of God's Word and the Confessions to contemporary problems: and be it finally Resolved. That all deliberations and decisions be directed to the unity and singleness of faith and confession with which the Synod was blessed from its inception until some 20 years ago. St. John’s Lutheran Church Ellisville, Mo. Kenneth Smith, President Eugene Rusert, Chairman Paul V. Schnelle, Pastor 3-18 To Urge Synod to Use Divine Word Evangelically in Dealing with Theological Matters WHEREAS. The Lutheran Confessions state that “the pro- phetic and apostolic writings of the Old and New Testaments are the only rule and norm according to which all doctrines and teachers alike must be appraised and judged...” (Formula of Concord, Epitome, p. 464 par. 1 [Tappert edition]; ef., p. 465 par. 7, and Formula of Concord. Solid Declaration. p. 503 par. 2): and WHEREAS. The Synod has the continuing opportunity and responsibility to study its teachings and its teachers according to the norm and rule of the divine Word, a precious possession which has been given to the church by Almighty God: and WHEREAS. The divine Word provides the Synod with general and specific guidance for the consideration of all doctrinal and theological matters in the life of the church, namely in Eph. 4:1-7, 11-16, 25-27, 29-32: 2 Tim. 4:1-2: Matt. 18:15-18: and WHEREAS. The doctrinal and theological matters that grip the Synod's attention demand thoughtful and careful analysis in an atmosphere of love for God and for the brother if the purposes of God and His church are to be served: therefore be it Resolved. That the Synod affirm its intention— God helping it—to continue the discussion and study of the various doctrinal and theological matters that grip the Synod’s attention accord- ing to the principles of fellowship, unity, and mutual love that pertain to the body of Christ: and be it further Resolved. That the Synod encourage its congregations and Districts, its pastors. teachers. and professors, to take and make opportunity for mutual discussion and study of various theo- logical matters so that the various viewpoints and positions are thoroughly understood, not in an atmosphere of clamor, rancor, bitterness, and slander, but in an atmosphere that is informed by the overwhelming purpose of God for His church as the body of Christ: and be it further Resolved. That the Synod commit itself—God helping it—to a course of unfailing patience motivated by the love of God in Christ for the edifying of the whole body of Christ, as the Synod Strives joyously, purposefully. and lovingly to correct and eliminate all offense in these matters. both the offense of false teaching and the offense of false accusation: and be it finally Resolved. That the Synod beseech Almighty God to strengthen it with the power of the Holy Spirit so that the Synod can deal evangelically with various doctrinal and theo- logical matters. Faculty Concordia Teachers College Seward. Nebr. W. Th. Janzow, President James Nelesen, Secretary 3-19A To Encourage Greater Manifestation of Unity of the Spirit WHEREAS, St. Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians (4:3, 5): “Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives, by the peace that binds you together”: and “There is one Lord, one faith, and one Baptism. . .”: and WHEREAS. St. Paul writes in the letter to the Romans (1:16): “I have complete confidence in the Gospel: it is the power of God to save all who believe .. .": and WHEREAS, Our Confessions state that ‘it is sufficient for the true unity of the Christian church that the Gospel be preached in conformity with a pure understanding of it and that the sacraments be administered in accordance with the divine Word” (AC VII 2): and WHEREAS, It is the hope and prayer of all members of the Synod that a reconciliation take place between members of dif. fering opinions and that brothers and sisters show love to one another as Christ showed love to His church on earth: therefore be it Resolved. That the members and pastors of the Synod be encouraged to keep the lines of communication open between one another with the peace of forgiveness which binds us together: and be it further Resolved. That the pastors of the congregations of the Synod be encouraged to express the unity of the Spirit which is ours to share as they preach the Gospel in conformity with a pure understanding thereof and administer the sacraments according to the divine Word of our Lord: and be it further