# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S130 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 130 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS WHEREAS. It is critically important for the defense of the inerrant Word of God and the propagation of the Gospel of Christ for and through us that we “be of the same mind in the Lord” (Phil. 4:2): and WHEREAS, Research and surveys by non-Lutherans as well as Lutherans have repeatedly and consistently demonstrated much weaker Biblical convictions and practices among LCA pastors than among those of the LCMS te. g.: “What Do Pastors Believe?" Milwaukee Journal. Feb., March. April 1966; ‘“Di- vided They Merge.” Christianity Today. Oct. 13, 1967: “Ecu- menism's Roots,” Lutheran Layman. Sept. 1967: ‘Protest Paradox.” Jeffrey K. Hadden, 1967: ‘Will Ethics Be the Death of Christianity?’ Glock and Stark Research, 1967: “Iowa Lu- theran Ecumenism,” Wm. P. Thalacker, ALC pastor, 1967: “The Lutheran Ethic.” Lawrence Kersten, 1969): and WHEREAS. A program of unified campus ministries has already committed the LCMS to entangling spiritual alliances at variance with the directive of 1 Cor. 1:10 “that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you”: and WHEREAS. The confessional anemia of Marburg Revisited, so strongly implemented and supported by the LCA, clearly indicates its determination to press for ecumenical victories echoing the weakness of Judg. 17:6: “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes": and WHEREAS, The joint promotion of youth work on a pan- Lutheran basis further demonstrates that a great Lutheran doctrinal gulf separates the LCA from those in the LCMS who still hold that ‘‘all matters of doctrine and of conscience shall be decided only by the Word of God" (Art. VIII c)., as demon- strated in Bridge. Vol. 5, Nos. 2 and 3 (Feb. and Mar. 1971): and WHEREAS, In the foreign mission field the tail has for some time now been wagging the dog with the practice of unionistic fellowship. cooperative training sessions, and joint presemi- nary and seminary instruction, in direct violation of the Synod’s constitutional demand for “renunciation of unionism and syncretism of every description’ (Art. VI 2) and the directive of Phil. 2:2 that we be “‘likeminded . . . being of one accord”: therefore be it Resolved, That the LCMS in convention assembled in Ana- heim firmly reject any and all overtures calling for closer fellow- ship ties with the LCA: and be it further Resolved, That the LCMS hear and heed the clarion call of God to be reconciled to His Word and first enter into further doctrinal discussions with the LCA after its own house is in order and the walls of Zion have been strengthened. Messiah Ev. Lutheran Church Sterling, II. Harold Nelson, Secretary Eldor Mueller, Pastor CANADA 3-235 To Remove Impediments to One Lutheran Church in Canada WHEREAS, The Lutheran Council in Canada has proposed 1980 as the merger date for the three major Lutheran synods in Canada; and WHEREAS. There are some legal technicalities concerning the synodical Constitution of the LCMS before such a merger can take place. such as declaring fellowship with the Lutheran Church in America in Canada and other matters we are not aware of: therefore be it Resolved. That we support the work of the Lutheran Council in Canada in achieving its goal: and be it further Resolved. That we begin to remove any synodical technicali- ties that might hinder or prevent such a merger. Grace Lutheran Church Brandon, Man. Hazel E. Phipps, Secretary 3-236A To Permit Lutheran Church— Canada to Consummate Mergers in Canada WHEREAS, Lutheran Church—Canada has been authorized by the Synod to negotiate mergers with the Lutheran bodies in Canada: and WHEREAS, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, in convention in 1972, issued an invitation to The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod in Canada and to the Lutheran Church in America—Canada Section to enter into official negotiations for merger: and WHEREAS. The Bylaws of the Synod require that the Synod authorize consummation of merger negotiations (1.21: 16.03): therefore be it Resolved. That Lutheran Church—Canada be authorized to enter into merger with other Lutheran bodies in Canada upon the approval of the three geographical Districts of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod in Canada: and be it further Resolved. That the Bylaws be changed accordingly. Board of Directors, Alberta and British Columbia Dist. Norman W. Eifert, Secretary Identical or similar: 3-236B and 3-236C Riverbend, Edmonton, Alta. Bethlehem, Vancouver, B.C. P. H. Schmidt (vacant) 3-237 To Make Constitutional Changes to Allow for Possible Declaration of Fellowship Between the Synod and Part of Another Lutheran Body WHEREAS. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has repeatedly urged its Canadian Districts (Lutheran Church— Canada) to pursue doctrinal unity with the Lutheran Church in America —Canada Section (3-17, p. 111, Denver Proceedings: 3-9, p. 132, Milwaukee Proceedings ): and WHEREAS, The Constitution of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod does not provide for declaration of altar and pulpit fellowship with part of another Lutheran church body when doctrinal unity has been established; therefore be it Resolved. That the Constitution of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod be amended to provide for the declaration of pulpit and altar fellowship with a geographical portion of an- other Lutheran church body when by God’s grace and guidance doctrinal unity sufficient for fellowship has been achieved. Our Saviour Lutheran Church Niagara Falls, Ont. Lyle Spiece, Chairman Car! Allemang, Secretary 3-238 To Move Toward Establishing Sister Synod in Canada WHEREAS, The Lutheran churches of Australia, Denmark, Central America and Panama, Poland in Exile, France, Ger- many, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Lebanon, Mexico, New Guinea, Nigeria, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Venezuela have demonstrated the desirability of the principle of autonomy through sister-synod functioning: and WHEREAS, There is a growing concern regarding nationalism: and WHEREAS, Dr. J. A. O. Preus, the synodical President, has