# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S434
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

434

changing situations in society and law. and including
women and representatives of the Commission on Social
Concerns in the production of these materials: therefore
be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod reaffirm its position regarding willful abortion
(abortion on demand) as contrary to the will of God:
and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod receive the document
“Abortion: Theological. Legal. and Medical Aspects”
and commend it to the membership of the Synod for
reference and guidance: and be it finally

Resolved. That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod make its position w:th respect to abortion known
publicly.

To Preserve a Proper View of Law
RESOLUTION 2-20
Overture 2-81 (CW, p. 71)

Wuereas. In our Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
“We believe. teach, and confess that the Law is properly
a divine doctrine, which teaches what is right and pleas-
ing to Ged. and reproves everything that is sin and con-
trary to God's will,” and that “For this reason. then.
everything that reproves sin is, and belongs to. the
preaching of the Law" (FC, V. 2.3): and

Whereas, In our Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
“We believe. teach, and confess that the preaching of
the Law is to be urged with diligence. not only upon
the unbelieving and imperitent, but also upon true be-
lievers, who are truly converted, regenerate. and justi-
fied by faith." and that “Thus the Law is and remains
both to the penitent and impenitent, both to regenerate
and unregenerate men. one [and the same] Law.
namely, the immutable wi.l of God: and the difference,
so far as concerns obedience, is alone in man, inasmuch
as one who is not yet regenerate does for the Law
out of constraint and unwillingly what it requires of him
{as also the regenerate do according to the flesh): but
the believer, so far as he is regenerate, does without
constraint and with a willing spirit that which no threat-
enings (however severe) of the Law could ever extort
from him.” (FC. VI, 2, 6): and

Wuereas, “All Scripture should be divided into these
two chief doctrines, the law and the promises” (Apol.
IV, 5); therefore be it

Resolved. That we reaffirm that the Law, as well as
the Gospel. is the Word of God. and a divine doctrine:
and be it further

Resolved, That we reefirm our historic Lutheran
position with respect to the use of the Law

To Study and Improve Process
of Doctrinal Review

RESOLUTION 2-21
Overtures 2-10, 2-96, first resolve (CW. pp. 50, 75)

Whereas, The prime concern of the Synod in regard
to doctrinal review is not censorship but is rather to in-
sure that the doctrine set forth in its publications is in
accord with the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confes-
sions; and

Whereas, The Board of Doctrinal Review has been
assigned the responsibility of carrying out tbis con-
cern: therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board of Doctrinal Review be
directed to continue to carry out its work as prescribed
in the synodical Bylaws (11.151—11.163, pages 199-202,
Handbook): and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Doctrinal Review be
directed to continue to study and evaluate the Bylaws
with a view toward recommending to the Synod at its
next convention any changes which the Board, on the
basis of its experience and study, believes will improve
the reviewing process: and be it finally

Resolved. That Overture 2-10 be respectfully de-
clined.

To Amend “Handbook” Bylaw 11.111
RESOLUTION 2-22
Report 2-02, Handbook Revision (CW. p. 47)

Wuereas. The Commission on Worship should be

REFERRED RESOLUTIONS

representative of the total constituency of the church:
and

WHEREAS. The present reading of the Handbook,
-), precludes
service by women as full members of the commission:

11.111 (‘shall consist of seven men

and

WHEREAS. The Synod in previous conventions has ap-
proved and encouraged such service by women: there-
fore be it

Resolved. That Handbook. 11.111. paragraph a, the
second sentence, substitute for the word "“men’ the
word “persons.”

PRESENT WORDING

11.111 Personnel and Appointment

a. A Commission on Worship shall be appointed
bs the President of the Synod after consultation
with the Vice-Presidents. It shall be composed of
seven men ard include pastors, teachers, and lay-
mi They shall serve for terms of four years in
such manner that the terms of three members shall
alternate with the terms of the other four members.

PROPOSED WORDING
11.111 Personnel and Appointment

a A Commission on Worship shall be appointed
the President of the Synod after consultation
with the Vice-Presidents. It shall be composed of
seven persons and include pastors, teachers, and
laymen. They shall serve for terms of four years in
such manner that the terms of three members shall
alternate with the terms of the other four members.

To Act on Matters Pertaining to “Openness
and Trust”
RESOLUTION 2-23
Overtures 2-924, B (CW, p. 74)

Wuereas, The Milwaukee convention has dealt with
the issues of “Openness and Trust’ by repudiating the
inadequacies of that document: and

WHEREAS, Any public espousal of this document
should be dealt with by the proper officials in each case:
and

Whereas, There may be those who have thus far
failed to act according to the request of the Milwaukee

convention to repudiate the inadequacies of “Openness
and Trust”; therefore be it

Resolved. That we re-emphasize the concern of the
Milwaukee convention, voiced in Resolution 2-50, 1971
Proceedings, pp. 128 ff.: and be it further

Resolved, That we urge responsible officials to act
in each case as may be required.

To Include Both Traditional and New Forms
in New Hymnal
RESOLUTION 2-24

Overture 2-109 (CW, p. 79)

WuHereEas, The Synod's Commission on Worship has
sought to fulfill its responsibility and has prepared four
contemporary worship forms; and

Whereas, It is the experience of congregations that
many members prefer to retain the traditional Com-
munion liturgy and to include the new forms only as
alternate worship forms: and

WHEREAS, It is also essential that all new worship
forms adopted for use in our church correctly present
the historic Christian truths; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod direct the Commission on
Worship to include the traditional Communion service
in the new hymnal and to offer contemporary settings
on alternate forms; and be it further

Resolved, That in the new worship forms the Nicene
Creed, Apostles’ Creed, and The Lord's Prayer be re-
tained in their present English wording as published in
The Lutheran Hymnal (1941 copyright edition).

To Give Attention to Hymns
and Worship Forms
RESOLUTION 2-25
Overtures 2-109, 2-111 (CW, p.79)
Wuereas, The Lutheran churches now represent an
amalgam of many cultural heritages and developments:
and

Wuereas, Forms of worship are to grow out of and
be representative of their respective culture; and

Whereas, Such a cultural amalgam is best served

in worship by a variety of forms of worship with which
the various cultures within the church can identify;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod, through its representatives
in the Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship urge
that in liturgy and in hymnody the church should strive
to serve the needs of its total membership — providing,
in addition to the traditional worship resources, also
the familiar and the new.

To Express Appreciation to the Churches
in Mexico and Korea

RESOLUTION 2-26
Report 2-01, II, “Korea and Mexico” (CW, p.33)

WHereas, The Korea Lutheran Church revised its
constitution as suggested by the CTCR of the Synod:
and

Wuereas, The Lutheran Synod of Mexico included
a paragraph in its constitution more specifically listing
the Creeds to which that Synod subscribes as suggested
by agencies of the Synod: therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod recognize with apprecia-
tion that its sister churches in Korea and Mexico have
concurred in the suggestions made by the Synod in 1971
Resolution 3-03 and pray that God will richly bless
their labors for His Kingdom in their ‘respective lands.

To Pursue Altar and Pulpit Fellowship
with the Lutheran Church of Australia

RESOLUTION 2-27
Report 2-01, II, B, “Australia” (CW, p. 34)

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
feels a close kinship with fellow Lutherans in Australia:
and

WHEREAS, The Denver convention (3-03, 1969 Pro-
ceedings. p.94) expressed the desire of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod to enter into discussions lead-
ing to altar and pulpit fellowship with the Lutheran
Church of Australia: and

Wuereas, At the request of the Commission on The-
ology and Church Relations this desire was conveyed
again to the brethren in Australia by the President of
the Synod on his visit to Australia in February 1973;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod express its continued de-
sire to establish altar and pulpit fellowship with the
Lutheran Church in Australia and pray that God will
richly bless our mutual efforts to that end.

To Encourage a United Position
on Abortion in Harmony with Scripture
and the Confessions
RESOLUTION 2-28
Overture 2-67 (CW, p. 67)

Wuereas, It would be desirable for the American
Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Church in America,
and The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod to present
a united position on abortion which is in harmony with
Scripture and the Confessions: therefore be it

Resolved. That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod encourage its President, in consultation with the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations, to seek
ways in which a united position can be developed.

To Endorse Plans to Hold Another
International Lutheran Theological Conference

RESOLUTION 2-30
Report 2-01, I, A (CW. p. 33)

The fourth International Lutheran Theological Con-
ference was held in Madras, India. in February 1973.
This conference brought together the presidents of sister
churches for a discussion of vital issues pertaining to
the mission of the church. A fifth ILTC is tentatively
planned for Brazil in 1974 or 1975. At that time, the
conference plans to devote considerable time to a dis-
cussion of the proper relationship of sister churches to
each other.

Wuereas, Such conferences provide an important op-
portunity for our sister churches to develop a sense of
international confessional Lutheran identity; therefore
be it