# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S70
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

70 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

regarding the nature of God’s revelation, leading some to ad-
vance the opinion that the term “inerrancy” ought no longer
be used: and

WHEREAS, Dr. Behnken stated that he was grateful for the
staunch support of the Vice-Presidents, the District Presidents,
and other synodical leaders, saying: “Together we made it
crystal clear that Article II, paragraph 1 of Synod’s constitutions:
‘Synod, and every member of Synod, accepts without reserva-
tion the Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament as the
written Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and
practice,’ dare never be weakened or slighted, and that the
bylaw pledging professors at Synodq’s institutions to the Scrip-
tures ‘as the inspired and inerrant Word of God’ must be hon-
estly and consistently upheld” (This I Recall. p. 195: CPH, 1964):
and

WHEREAS, The former First Vice-President of our Synod.
Dr. Roland Wiederaenders, reported to the Council of Presi-
dents and faculties on Dec. 2, 1963: “Despite repeated efforts,
we have not dealt honestly with our pastors and people. . . .
Over and over again we said that nothing was changing, when
all the while we were aware of changes taking place... . With
increasing measure, the synodical trumpet has been giving an
uncertain sound”; and

WHEREAS, It has become increasingly clear that two theol-
ogies with marked differences have developed in our church;
and

WHEREAS, An aroused laity and a large portion of the clergy
of the synod became concerned, even alarmed, over the effect
the new theology (neoorthodoxy) and historical-critical methods
of interpretation were having on some of the students and
graduates of our institutions of higher education; therefore be it

Resolved. That we categorically reject all claims and infer-
ences that the current crisis in the Synod was precipitated by
the present leadership of the Synod; and be it further

Resolved. That we honestly and forthrightly recognize that
the current crisis in the Synod has been precipitated by those
who have been intent on bringing about a change in the doc-
trinal stance of the Synod and the resultant urgent need to
restrain and correct the doctrinal deviations resulting from
the pursuit of change: and be it further

Resolved. That every member of the Synod recognize that
by subscribing to membership in the Synod a commitment is
made to the word in Art. II, par. 1, quoted earlier in the second
whereas; and be it further

Resolved, That every pastor be held to remain true to his
ordinatioh vow, to wit: ‘Believe the canonical books of the Old
and the New Testament to be the inspired Word of God and the
only rule of faith and practice,” and that every ordained profes-
sor be unreservedly committed to that vow and the Bylaw
pledging such to recognize the Scriptures as the “inspired and
inerrant Word of God’’; may it also be clear that any professor
or clergyman failing to teach in keeping with that vow thereby
invalidates his or her rights inherent in a call and forfeits all
rights to tenure if such a person is on the staff of an institution
of higher education in the Synod; and be it finally

Resolved. That professors in our schools of higher education
who are not ordained also be asked to vow that they recognize
the Scriptures as the “inspired and inerrant Word of God” and
be held to teach in keeping with that pledge, and upon failure
to do so, it shall be determined that such a person has broken
faith with the Synod and has forfeited all rights to tenure.

Redeemer Lutheran Church

Warsaw, Ind.

Roger Bowes, President
Identical or similar:

3-23B

St. John, Chester, Ill. W. A. Ranta

3-244

To Arrange Strategic Meetings of
Reconciliation

WHEREAS, Division has already taken place at certain insti-

tutions and in certain boards and departments of our beloved
Synod; and

WHEREAS, This division is threatening to spread to other
institutions and throughout the entire church; and

WHEREAS, It is our Lord's will for us to live in unity and love
as well as to speak truth in purity; therefore we, the Eastern
District, petition

1) that all officers, boards, committees, and commissions of
the Synod minimize their “business as usual” functions and
maximize all energies to the business of reconciliation;

2) that such energies be aimed directly at those points of
division which are already evident (e. g., Concordia Seminary,
St. Louis, and its Board of Control; the Board for Missions and
its staff), reconsidering the polarized positions taken in the past
year with the view of bringing into an acceptable harmony our
Synod’s theological position and our evangelical treatment of the
Christian brother:

3) that the Board of Directors of the Synod arrange strategic
meetings of reconciliation— each between two principal persons
in conflict—and that these meetings be closed and private and
that the persons so appointed be commissioned to the task of
resolving the issues, and that the outcome of these meetings be
published first for the respective boards, then for the Board of
Directors, the Council of Presidents, and finally for the whole
church; and

4) that the Synod at Anaheim (1975) reopen the case of
Rev. Herman Otten, New Haven, Mo.

Eastern District
Richard L. J. Hoemann, Secretary

Identical or similar:

3-24B and 3-24C

Prince of Peace, Belton, Tex.
Mt. Zion, Boulder, Colo.

Larry Heimsoth
Fredric Rhode

3-25
To Stop Justifying Attitudes and Actions

WHEREAS, The controversy in the Missouri Synod is causing
fear, distrust, and division in the congregations of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, Dissent within the Synod is greatly weakening its
mission effort; and

WHEREAS, The training of our pastors, teachers, and church
workers is seriously hampered; therefore be it

Resolved. That the Missouri Synod in convention ask our
Christian brothers involved in the controversy to stop justifying
their attitudes and actions, which are divisive, but instead study
and properly apply the Law and Gospel as taught in the Bible
and explained by Martin Luther and C. F. W. Walther. This
will be God-pleasing, and only this can lead to a unified and
strengthened Missouri Synod.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
Utica, Nebr.
Daniel A. Luebbe, Secretary

3-26

To Continue Efforts Toward
Reconciliation

WHEREAS, The Scriptures call upon us to be of one mind and
to live in peace with one another (2 Cor. 13:11); and

WHEREAS, One of the Synod’s stated objectives is ‘the con-
servation and promotion of the unity of the true faith and a
united defense against schism and sectarianism”; and

WHEREAS, The mission of the church through the Synod can
be pursued with joy and effectiveness when members of the
Synod share a sense of unity and purpose; and

WHEREAS, Some of the efforts toward reconciliation have
been fruitful; and

WHEREAS, Doctrinal unity constitutes a postive witness for
Christ and the Gospel; therefore be it