# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S112 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 112 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 3-165 To Provide for Continuing Theological Education of Professors and Lay Persons WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod has by the grace of God been given the opportunity to reaffirm its stance of steadfast adherence to Scripture and the Confessions; and WHEREAS. Maximum benefits from this undeserved blessing can be creatively derived only by a concerted effort of offering to all professionally trained personnel (pastors and teachers) as well as to all interested and perceptive laypersons the central ingredients of that theological concord which was once the hallmark of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod: therefore be it Resolved. That the faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., petition The Lutheran Church~ Missouri Synod to direct the CTCR to serve as the coordinating agency in conjunction with the faculties of Concordia Theological Seminary, Spring- field, and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, to develop a unified program of continuing education (a) for the professionally trained church personnel of the Synod and (b) for all interested laypersons; and be it further Resolved. That for this program the CTCR be urged to make use of properly qualified individuals not only from the theo- logical faculties of the two seminaries but from the departments of religion (theology) at the Synod’s other educational institu- tions as well as from among the ranks of persons in the parish and teaching ministries who have done disciplined academic work in theology on the graduate level; and be it further Resolved. That the CTCR be directed to use the regular pastor and teacher conferences in implementing such a unified program of continuing education for professionally trained personnel: and be it further Resolved. That special assemblies and conferences be ar- ranged on a regional or District basis as occasions for concen- trated theological training in the instance of laypersons inter- ested in such matters: and be it finally Resolved. That such layperson training conferences be directed particularly to the need of developing competent lay leadership for the specific tasks confronting the congregations of the Synod. Faculty Concordia Seminary St. Louis, Mo. Ralph Bohlmann, Acting President 3-166 To Request CTCR to Initiate Study in Various Areas of Concern WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Rela- tions (CTCR) has been created to produce study statements on various issues; and WHEREAS. A number of issues need updating, clarification, and study: therefore be it Resolved. That the Synod in convention request the CTCR to make a study of the areas of infant baptism, millennialism, and creationism with special reference to the existent authors and books on the subject that take an opposing position to the official stance of The Lutheran Church -— Missouri Synod. St. James Lutheran Church University City, Mo. John Essen, President Carl Meinecke, Secretary Tom Baker, Pastor 3-167 To Publicize Synod’s Scriptural Positions WHEREAS. Great harm is being wrought on many people because of anti-Scriptural practices: therefore be it Resolved. That the Synod’s Scriptural position regarding such issues as abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, etc., be stated clearly and publicly. Trinity Lutheran Church Easthampton, Mass. Charles F. Rockey Jr., President Francis R. LaBelle, Secretary Louis G. Elgert, Pastor 3-168 To Designate “Concordia Journal” as Synod’s Official Theological Journal WHEREAS, Dr. Walther’s experience with Der Lutheraner soon made it obvious to him that a dynamic church body needed, in addition, to have an official theological journal devoted to the discussion of doctrinal matters in depth; and WHEREAS. The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod profited from Dr. Walther's insight to the extent that it lived at its theolog- ical best during those many decades when it had both an official magazine and an official theological journal; and WHEREAS, The recent demise of the Concordia Theological Monthly has created a serious vacuum in the matter of providing a competent doctrinal norm for evaluating in depth some of the many developments taking place within Lutheranism and throughout Christendom: and WHEREAS, The Concordia Journal. as presently edited and published by the faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, is specifically committed to the competence required to serve as the professional supplement to the Lutheran Witness Reporter in terms of doctrinal evaluation and guidance on behalf of The Lutheran Church -— Missouri Synod; and WHEREAS, The faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, as part of its responsibility of serving as teachers of the church, has by tradition served as the instrument for editing and pub- lishing the Synod's official theological journal: therefore be it Resolved. That we the faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, petition The Lutheran Church-— Missouri Synod in convention assembled to designate the Concordia Journal as its official theological journal; and be it further Resolved. That we petition the Synod to provide the neces- sary financial and personne! resources to carry on this work at the level and with the quality of the old Lehre und Wehre and of the first issues of the Concordia Journal: and be it further Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod indi- cate its conviction that all pastors, teachers, and congregational lay leaders ought to subscribe to this journal as a means of mutual edification and of returning to that doctrinal consensus which in the past has given The Lutheran Church-— Missouri Synod its distinctive character; and be it finally Resolved. That the concern for such general subscription and use of the Concordia Journal. as an instrument for doctrinal cohesion, be made part of the responsibilities adhering to the office of the Circuit Counselor and be so listed in the synodical Handbook under the appropriate paragraphs. Faculty Concordia Seminary St. Louis, Mo. Ralph Bohlmann, Acting President 3-169 To Subsidize ‘‘Concordia Journal” WHEREAS, A theological journal is important as an agent of in-service training and for the continuing education of the clergy of the Synod; and WHEREAS, This need has been supplied in the past by Lehre und Wehre and the Concordia Theological Monthly: and WHEREAS, There is demonstrated need in the Synod today for a theological journal of unswerving commitment to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions; and WHEREAS, The Concordia Journal has been well received and supplies that need; therefore be it