# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S78 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 78 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS Identical or similar: 3-49B to 3-49E Immanuel, Clovis, N. Mex. N. Gardels Hope, High Ridge, Mo. D. Wurster Chapel of Cross, St. Louis, Mo. M. Nauss Trinity, St. Louis, Mo. M. C. Desens 3-50 To Direct Seminary and Seminex Faculties to Meet WHEREAS, The divisiveness springing from the doctrinal differences have deteriorated into political and personality animosities: and WHEREAS, These human frailties cannot be rectified satis- factorily until the doctrinal dispute is dealt with: and WHEREAS, Many people of great sincerity of belief in the position they espouse are being improperly judged before the fact: therefore be it Resolved. That this convention direct the faculties of Con- cordia Seminary and Seminex to meet at regular, specified intervals for open and frank discussions of the issues dividing them. St. Trinity Lutheran Church St. Louis, Mo. Russell L. Lang, President John W. Moeller, Secretary DOCTRINAL RESOLUTIONS 3-51A To Declare New Orleans Resolution 2-12 Null and Void WHEREAS. Resolution 2-12 of the New Orleans convention defines Article II of the Synod’s Constitution as permitting and at times even requiring the formulation and adoption of addi- tional doctrinal statements that are binding on all members of the Synod: and WHEREAS, It is a Lutheran confessional principle that affirms the right of private judgment as instructed by the Word of God and faith, a right that must be maintained for the sake of con- science and Christian liberty under the Gospel; and WHEREAS. It is affirmed in the Lutheran Confessions: "Other writings, however. of ancient or modern teachers. whatever name they bear. must not be regarded as equal to the Holy Scriptures. but all of them together be subjected to them, and should not be received otherwise or further than as witnesses”’ (Introduction to the Formula of Concord. Epitome): and WHEREAS. Article VII of the Synod’s Constitution states: ‘In its relation to its members the Synod is not an ecclesiastical government exercising legislative or coercive powers, and with respect to the individual congregation’s right of self-government it is but an advisory body”; and WHEREAS. Resolution 2-12 changes what the Synod has clearly declared previously in its norms (Art. II): also in effect amends the confessional basis of the Constitution of the Synod without following the procedures required by Article XIV of the Constitution: and also goes beyond the conditions of mem- bership in Synod as stated in Paragraph 1. Article VI: and WHEREAS. Resolution 2-12 in effect changes the Constitution of congregations who have incorporated Article II of the Synod’s Constitution as their statement of confession: therefore be it Resolved. That the Southeastern District petition the 1975 convention of the Synod to declare unconstitutional and there- fore null and void New Orleans Resolution 2-12; and be it further Resolved. That we reaffirm on the basis of the foregoing principles our commitment to the Lutheran Confessions as a true and adequate exposition of the Word of God. Southeastern District Ralph Wiechmann, Secretary Identical or similar: 3-51B Zion, Wausau. Wis. Dale Erickson 3-52 To Rescind New Orleans Resolution 2-12 WHEREAS, New Orleans Resolution 2-12 has been interpre- ted as (cf. the ruling of the Commission on Constitutional Mat- ters) and is being used as additional requirements beyond those stipulated in Article II of the Synod’s Constitution for calling, for ordination, for membership, and for service to the Synod; and WHEREAS, Resolution 2-12 was not adopted according to Article XIV of the Synod's Constitution (the procedure for amending the Constitution): and WHEREAS, Resolution 2-12 and its enforcement have proved divisive in the Synod and are seriously inhibiting the true mis- sion of the church: therefore we the Eastern District Request. That the 1975 convention rescind Resolution 2-12 of the 1973 New Orleans convention. Eastern District Richard L. J. Hoemann, Secretary 3-53 To Repeal N. O. Res. 2-12 WHEREAS. The Synod in convention in New Orleans in Reso- lution 2-12 voted by a majority vote to understand Article II of its Constitution as requiring additional doctrinal statements: and WHEREAS. This resolution was adopted to make it possible for the adoption of Resolution 3-01, that is, Dr. Preus’s A State- ment: and WHEREAS. Many congregations do not understand Article II to require such an addition; and WHEREAS. This has been used as an instrument causing much grief to many people within our Synod: and WHEREAS, The adoption of Resolution 2-12 has in the minds of many led to many abuses in terms of love and justice; there- fore be it Resolved. That the Missouri Synod in convention at Ana- heim repeal the New Orleans convention Resolution 2-12. Zion Lutheran Church Westwood, N. J. Charles L. Maul Jr., President B. Dianne Jordans, Secretary Norman Brinkmann, Pastor 3-54 To Honor and Uphold Synodically Formulated Doctrinal Statements WHEREAS. The historical record of the Lutheran Church gives evidence that from the time of its first confessional state- ment (Augsburg Confession, 1530) it has reserved for itself the right to formulate doctrinal statements that should serve the purpose of interpreting and explaining its confessional position over against prevalent errors or aberrations within the church (Confessions, 506: 9-10, Tappert): and WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has at various times in its history adopted confessional statements expressing the Scriptural and confessional position of the Synod