# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S114 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 114 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS Identical or similar: 3-178B Pastoral Conference. Oklahoma District F. Schumacher 3-179 To Allow Confessing Movements WHEREAS. Confessing movements have long been a part of the Christian church and especially The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod: and WHEREAS. The current confessing movements. such as Doc- trinal Concerns Program and Evangelical Lutherans in Mission, exist within the Missouri Synod, not outside it; and WHEREAS. The members of the confessing movements con- sider themselves first and foremost as members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and secondly as members of their movements: and WHEREAS, The reasons for the existence of these movements are not schismatic or separatistic, in that they merely function to allow hke-minded people of the Synod to retain their identity and voice for the betterment of the church: and WHEREAS. One District has already established a potentially schismatic precedent by prohibiting members of Evangelical Lutherans in Mission from holding office or serving in that District: be it therefore Resolved. That this convention encourage all Districts of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod not to outlaw membership in Evangelical Lutherans in Mission or any confessing move- ment; and be it further Resolved. That the Synod be instructed not to take a position of discriminating against or prohibiting membership in such movements. Christ the King Lutheran Church Saint Peters. Mo. Richard Brueggemann, President Margaret Bagley, Secretary Ronald E. Bronemann, Pastor 3-180A To Allow Association with ELIM WHEREAS. The stated goals and purpose of Evangelical Lutherans in Mission are in accord with the Christian expression of faith, witness, fellowship, and mission and in accord with the mission of The Lutheran Church ~ Missouri Synod: and WHEREAS, ELIM continues to foster the strengthening of the Lutheran Church's witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ: therefore be it Resolved. That ELIM be regarded not as “divisive” but as a nonsynodical body of individual members of the Synod who are striving prayerfully in these times of crisis to live and re- spond in the truth: and be it further Resolved. That the pastors and laymen who choose to asso- ciate with ELIM be permitted to continue in all other synodical posts, activities, and relationships without prejudice. . Our Redeemer Lutheran Church Scotia, N. Y. Anita E. Hill, Secretary Thad Raushi, President Otto R. Spurgat, Pastor Identical or similar: 3-180B Trinity, Schenectady, N. Y. Arthur Hawlicheck 3-181 To Ask ELIM to Evaluate Itself WHEREAS. The organization calling itself Evangelical Lu- therans in Mission (ELIM) declared itself to be in opposition to the Constitution and Bylaws of The Lutheran Church~— Mis- souri Synod in its publications and by its actions: be it therefore Resolved. That those holding membership in ELIM be en- couraged to evaluate their position in the light of Rom. 16:17: 1 Cor. 1:10-13: 3:3-4. St. Luke’s Lutheran Church Federal Way. Wash. Edward L. Blusing, Chairman John L. Welsh Jr., Secretary 3-182A To Ask Congregations to Separate from ELIM WHEREAS. The Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod is carry- ing on a ministry according to the calling of Christ our Lord: and WHEREAS. By membership in the LCMS congregations pledge their support for that ministry: and WHEREAS. Elim is diverting funds from Missouri Synod congregations for working against Synod: and WHEREAS. Good stewardship of the gifts our Lord has given us demands an end to supporting divisive work: therefore be it Resolved. That congregations of The Lutheran Church — Mis- souri Synod separate themselves from the work of Elim and support the work of the Synod with their individual efforts. their prayers, and their finances. Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer Cushing, Okla. Palmer G. Kise, President Michael D. Holsten, Pastor Identical or similar: 3-182B to 3-182D Emmanuel, Kingfisher, Okla. St. John’s, Chaska, Minn. St. John’s, Kildare, Okla. V. H. Mickow Roland Going Theo. Knepper 3-183A To Deal with Evangelical Lutherans in Mission WHEREAS. Evangelical Lutherans in Mission (ELIM) have organized themselves as a movement within the Synod to pro- test and act against the doctrinal position of the Synod, specif- ically New Orleans convention Resolutions 2-12, 3-01, 3-09. and 3-12A: and WHEREAS. They refuse to be bound by doctrinal resolutions of conventions. even though in accord with God's Word. and appeal to conscience for disobeying a doctrinal position which the Synod holds on the basis of the Scriptures: and WHEREAS. Clear doctrinal statements are intended to edify the members of the church in the true Biblical teachings. and any departure from pure doctrine can undermine the faith of weaker brethren and even destroy confidence in the Gospel itself. even as the Lutheran Confessions show: The weak in faith. on the other hand. will be scandalized: some will doubt if the pure doctrine can coexist among us with such divisions. while others will not know which of the contending parties they should support. After all. these controversies are not, as some may think, mere misunderstandings or contentions about words. with one party talking past the other. so that the strife reflects a mere semantic problem of little or no consequence. On the contrary. these controversies deal with weighty and important matters. and they are of such a nature that the opinions of the erring party cannot be tolerated in the church of God, much less be excused and defended" (Formula of Concord. Solid Declaration. Tappert. pp. 502-503): and WHEREAS. The President of the Synod, Dr. J. A. O. Preus. has stated: ‘‘Much as I regret to say it. this action [of ELIM] is a rebellion not only against our Synod and its recent convention