# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S121 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 121 Identical or similar: 3-197B to 3-197J St. Paul, Sanford, Mich. Grace, Lexington, Mo. L. Newman K. M. Simminger St. Paul, Rochelle, Ill. Theo. Weiss St. Stephen, Liberty, Mo. Q. Almstedt St. Peter’s, Brownstown, Ind. J. V. Moyer Christ, Coos Bay, Oreg. (2) St. Paul’s, Luxemburg, Wis. Nazareth, Buffalo, N. Y. Christ, Creighton, Nebr. Herbert Schutte Leslie Weerts Paul G. Barth W. J. Schindler 3-198A To Deal with ELIM and Seminex WHEREAS, It is evident that there are strong doctrinal dif- ferences between the group calling itself Evangelical Lutherans in Mission (ELIM) and The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod as is evidenced by the organization of ELIM in reaction and opposition to the adoption of A Statement on Scripture and Confessional Principles by the Synod; and WHEREAS, ELIM continues to hold to and promulgate teach- ings which the Synod has declared are ‘not to be tolerated in the church of God”; and WHEREAS, ELIM for all practical purposes has already be- come a church body of its own (a synod within a synod) by having its own seminary (Seminex), its own official paper (Missouri in Perspective). and its own mission organization (Partners in Mission)—all emphasizing and crystalizing the differences between ELIM and the LCMS; and WHEREAS, Both ELIM and Seminex are fostering continued disregard of the Synod’s Constitution and Bylaws by their very existence; and WHEREAS, No “house divided against itself can stand”; therefore be it Resolved. That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in convention at Anaheim declare ELIM to be a self-existing church body not in fellowship with The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod but in opposition to it; and be it further Resolved, That the LCMS call upon both ELIM and Seminex to disband and to return to the Synod’s Scriptural teaching and to full-hearted support of the same; and be it finally Resolved, That all persons and congregations who choose to continue their adherence to ELIM and their support of SEMI- NEX after Sept. 1, 1975, be declared to have severed their relations with The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod and to have opted for membership in their own church body. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Fairmont, Minn. Willis Hinz, Chairman Charles Backstrom, Secretary Identical or similar: 3-198B to 3-198I Mt. Calvary, Holdrege, Nebr. St. Paul’s, Shelton, Nebr. St. Paul’s, Lowell Twp., Nebr. Our Savior’s, Crookston, Minn. Holy Cross, Kearney, Nebr. Zion, Ocheyedan, Iowa Trinity, Arapahoe, Nebr. Zion, Waco, St. Peter, Gresham, Nebr. L. Bellamy David Caspersen D. Caspersen David Anderson Martin Hoyer Keith Bender Herbert Kluck W. Wagner 3-199 To Deal Lovingly but Firmly with Dissenting Groups WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod is in a state of actual though unofficial division arising from doctrinal discord; and WHEREAS, Evangelical Lutherans in Mission is the physical evidence of this division and will apparently continue their opposition seminary, mission board, and other activities that identify them as divisive and as a church within a church; and WHEREAS, Continued living with division is unnecessary, detrimental to the work of Christ performed by the Synod, and detrimental to the spiritual life of the people of our church, therefore be it Resolved. That we memorialize the 1975 convention of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod to reaffirm its acceptance of the inerrant Bible, the Lutheran Confessions because they correctly explain Bible doctrine, the synodical Handbook. and synodically adopted doctrinal statements as doctrinally accurate; and be it further Resolved, That we memorialize the Synod to continue dealing with dissidents and with the placement of graduates from Seminex in accord with the aforementioned doctrinal position; and be it further Resolved. That we memorialize the Synod to repudiate Evan- gelical Lutherans in Mission with their opposition seminary and mission activity as divisive and as a church within a church; and be it further Resolved. That we memorialize the Synod to request sup- porters of Evangelical Lutherans in Mission to affirm the afore- mentioned doctrinal position and to discontinue all divisive activities or, for the sake of peace, to seek a fellowship more in keeping with their convictions; and be it finally Resolved. That we memorialize the Synod to deal in all such matters with Christ-like, loving concern and in pursuit of unity but with firmness based on Holy Scripture, recognizing that faithfulness to what the Lord has spoken must be given pre- cedence. Trinity Lutheran Church Taylorville, Ill. Earl Schrodt, President Tom Ladage, Secretary To Declare ELIM a Divisive Movement WHEREAS, ELIM is truly and “substantially a church within the church,” as ruled by the Synod’s Board of Directors; and WHEREAS, ELIM opposes the Synod’s seminary in St. Louis, Mo., by supporting Seminex, which continues to recruit stu- dents who might otherwise enroll at Concordia Seminary, and by soliciting funds from congregations that have always sup- ported the seminary; and WHEREAS, ELIM has been and is currently disturbing the once wonderful brotherhood and fellowship that local congre- gations and their pastors enjoyed for years and years, along with the Christian day school teachers involved; therefore be it Resolved. That the Synod declare that ELIM is a divisive movement in the Synod which has done great harm to the Synod, its theological harmony, and world witness; and be it further Resolved. That the Synod declare ELIM members ineligible for synodical positions; and be it finally Resolved. That the Synod request ELIM, in Christian love and concern for the body of Christ, as well as in Christian love and concern and regard for congregations loyal to the Synod and her stand for years and years, to dissolve and cease disturbing the church as another church in rivalry with our beloved Synod. St. Matthew Lutheran Church North Tonawanda, N. Y. Dale Maerten, President Carl Kwiatkowski, Secretary