# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S88
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

88 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

WHEREAS, Resolution 3-09 condemns as heresy what is really
theological opinion to be considered and discussed which is not
worthy of the label of heresy; and

WHEREAS, The Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Board of Con-
trol, previous to the 1973 New Orleans convention cleared the
faculty majority of any guilt concerning teaching of false doc-
trine, based upon the results of the “Fact-Finding Committee”:
and

WHEREAS, Resolution 3-09 is in violation of Article VIII, C,
which seeks to preserve the evangelical character of our Synod,
and Article II], which seeks to preserve what it means to be
Lutheran: and

WHEREAS. A result of Resolution 3-09 is further division in the
church, including exile; and

WHEREAS, Popes and councils, majority votes, and boards
can and do err, and the injustices involved are held accountable
for to the Lord of the church; therefore be it

Resolved. That Resolution 3-09 of the 1973 synodical conven-
tion of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod be rescinded,
which condemns the faculty majority of Concordia Seminary,
St. Louis, for teaching “false doctrine not to be tolerated in the
church of God”; and be it further

Resolved. That the Board of Control of Concordia Seminary,
St. Louis, be asked to rehire the faculty majority currently
teaching at Concordia Seminary-in-Exile, to be ready to rehire
any other former faculty majority members who have given
up or lost their positions since the 1973 New Orleans convention,
and to rehire Dr. John H. Tietjen as president of Concordia
Seminary, St. Louis.

Cross Lutheran Church
Milwaukee, Wis.

Elzie Davis, President
Betty Miner, Secretary

3-81A

To Rescind Resolution 3-09 and to Dea
with Issues

WHEREAS, Resolution 3-09 of the 1973 convention of the
Synod was extremely out of character for a Synod which has
shown patience and treasures its evangelical concern when
dealing with people; and

WHEREAS, Resolution 3-09 has resulted in great pain for all
involved and compounded the tragic divisiveness in our church;
and

WHEREAS, The members of the faculty majority have con-
sistently insisted that the position ascribed to them in Resolution
3-09 is not their stance and firmly accept the authority of Scrip-
tures; and

WHEREAS, The members of the ‘faculty majority” have not
been confronted as individuals with specific accusations or with
those who make those accusations, and were in fact prior to the
New Orleans convention cleared by the seminary Board of
Control of all charges of false teaching; be,jt therefore

Resolved. That The Lutheran Church-— Missouri Synod re-
scind Resolution 3-09 of the 1973 convention; and be it further

Resolved. That the brothers on the ‘faculty majority” be
dealt with evangelically and that the theological issues pre-
sented by the “faculty majority” position be studied with the
Spirit’s guidance not only by the theologians but by the entire
church.

California and Nevada District
Theo. A. Iverson, Secretary

Identical or similar:

3-81B to 3-81F

Our Redeemer, Newark, Del.
Florida-Georgia District

Immanuel, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
Grace, Boulder, Colo.

Pastoral Conference, Oklahoma District

Robt. Heckmann
Lloyd Behnken
R. Buckman

N. Hattendorf

F. Schumacher

3-82

To Appoint Committee to Interview
Seminex Professors to Meet Student
Request

WHEREAS, It is estimated that some 150 men will have been
graduated from Seminex before the synodical convention at
Anaheim convenes; and

WHEREAS, The primary reason for the departure of the
students from Concordia Seminary and their refusal to return
was presented in a student resolution dated Jan. 21, 1974, which
states:

We, the undersigned students of Concordia Seminary, therefore

resolve, 1. to declare a moratorium on all classes until such time as

the Seminary Board of Control officially and publicly declares which
members of the faculty, if any, are to be considered as false teachers,
and what scriptural and confessional principles, if any, have been
violated;

and

WHEREAS, The former faculty is no longer under the Board
of Control: therefore be it

Resolved, That a committee be elected from the floor of the
synodical convention whose duty it shall be to interview all
professors of Seminex in order to provide the information
requested by the students who left Concordia Seminary.

St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church
Brookfield, III.

Walter Hannenberg, Secretary
Walter D. Otten, Pastor

3-83

To Exonerate Former Faculty Members

WHEREAS, New Orleans Resolution 3-09 condemned the
teaching ascribed to the former faculty majority of Concordia
Seminary, St. Louis; and

WHEREAS, 27 members of that faculty majority (Conrad,
Constable, Dahline, Danker, Deppe, Ehlen, Fuerbringer, Goet-
ting, Graesser, Hoyer, Kalin, Kang, Krentz, Mayer, Mehl,
Ruppar, Schroeder, Werberig, Yagow, F. Danker, Habel,
Hinchey, Volz, Sachleben, Wegner, Bangert, (Piepkorn) are
or have been communicant members in good standing at
Bethel Ev. Lutheran Church, University City; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Arlis Ehlen, whose contract at Concordia
Seminary was not renewed, was formally notified that he was
cleared of all doctrinal charges by the Missouri District of the
LCMS; and

WHEREAS, Weas individuals and as a congregation have been
exposed to these fellow members in Bible study, in the pulpit,
and in various other forms of Christian fellowship and can none
of us verify any false teachings or doctrine contrary to the Holy
Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions in their teaching and
preaching; therefore be it

Resolved. That these brothers be commended in their
teaching ministry and exonerated from the cloud of condemna-
tion placed upon them.

Bethel Lutheran Church
University City, Mo.

James A. Flowers, President
Virginia E. Burmeister, Secretary

To Recant Resolution 3-09

WHEREAS, The second resolve of New Orleans Resolution
3-09 declares “that the Synod repudiate that attitude toward
Holy Scripture, particularly as regards its authority and clarity,
which reduces to theological opinion or exegetical questions
matters which are in fact clearly taught in Scripture (e. g.... the
historicity of every detail in the life of Jesus as recorded by the
evangelists; .. . ete.)’’; and