# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S437 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its confession that the Scriptures are the inspired and inerrant Word of God; and be it also Resolved, That the members of the Synod be alerted to “The Theses of Agreement and Inerrancy” of the Australian Lutheran Church (distributed recently by the CTCR) for study and reflection on this historic Lutheran doctrine. To Call for Unity of the Church in Mission RESOLUTION 2-47 Overtures 2-12, 2-13, 2-30, 2-103 (CW, pp. 51—52, 57, 77) Wuerras, It is incumbent upon all Christians to live together in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3): and Wuereas. One of the stated objects of the Synod is “the conservation and promotion of the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4:3-6, 1 Cor.1:10) and a united defense against schism and sectarianism (Rom. 16:17)”: and Wuereas, Unity of spirit and purpose among mem- bers of the Synod is essential if the Synod is to pursue its mission in joyful obedience to our Lord's command (Matt. 28:19); therefore be it Resolved, That members of the Synod repent of the divisiveness which has hindered our church's unified witness to the Gospel of Christ: and be it further Resolved, That members of the Synod deal with one another in Christian love so that we may continue to enjoy a spirit of unity and harmony which has been our heritage for 125 years: and be it finally Resolved, That members of the Synod implore the Holy Spirit to unite us in dedicated and joyful procla- mation of the Gospel of Christ. To Answer Protests RESOLUTION 2-48 Report 2-01, 1, A (CW, p.34) The Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Germany and the Evangelical Lutheran Church — Synod of France and Belgium expressed concern about alleged doctrinal aberrations in our church body (1971 Pro- ceedings, Resolutions 11-10, 3-25; pp. 222—223). The Synod of France and Belgium continues in a state of protest. The Evangelical Lutheran Free Church is now a part of the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Free Church in Germany. The new group of three Free churches in Germany has not entered a protest. Wuereas, The Synod of France and Belgium con- tinues in a state of protest; and Wuereas, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod desires to maintain fellowship with the Synod of France and Belgium; therefore be it Resolved, That we assure our sister church of our continued fidelity to Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions and entreat the Synod of France and Bel- gium to continue the bond of fellowship with which God has blessed us. To Establish a Task Force to Study Women’s Role RESOLUTION 2-49 Report 2-01, 6, Overtures 2-43, 2-44, 2-45, 2-46 (CW, pp. 31, 61—63) Wuereas, Both the Denver (1969) and Milwaukee (1971) conventions of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod have called for the increased participation of women in the life of the church: and Wuerras, The Synod recognizes its need for the utilization of the talents of women in many areas of congregational and synodical responsibility: and Wuereas, Both the CTCR and CMMC point to the need for a study further clarifying the role of women in service to the church: therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod establish a task force (with at least equal representation of women) to study the role of women in The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod and that this task force be appointed by the President of the Synod in consultation with the CTCR and the leadership of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League; and be it further REFERRED RESOLUTIONS Resolved, That the guidelines for the work of the task force be developed by the task force with the ap- proval of the President: and be it finally Resolved, That the task force report and make rec- ommendations to the Synod through the CTCR six moaths prior to the 1975 synodical convention. To Refer Overture 2-86 to the CTCR RESOLUTION 2-50 Overture 2-86 (CW. p.72) Wuereas, Overture 2-86 raises a question which is being addressed in the ongoing study of Biblical inter- pretation by the CTCR: therefore be it Resolved, That this overture be referred to the CTCR. To Study CTCR Documents RESOLUTION 2-51 Report 2-01, A. 2; D, 5, a (CW. pp. 30—31) Resolved, That the following CTCR documents sub- mitted to this convention be commended to the Synod for study: a) “A Comparative Study of Varying Contemporary Approaches to Biblical Interpretation” (CW, pp. 435 ff.) b) "The Ministry in Its Relation to the Christian Church as Seen on the Basis of Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions” (CW. pp. 458 ff.) c) “An Opinion of the CTCR on the Interpretation of A Review of the Question. What Is a Doc- trine?” (CW, p. 38 ff.) To Refer “CW” Overtures Not Processed by Committee No. 2 RESOLUTION 2-52 Resolved, That Overture 2-11 be referred to the Board of Doctrinal Review: Overture 2-40. 2-41, 2-42. 2-77, 2-82, 2-83, 2-84. 2-85, 2-86, 2-108, 2-167. 2-168, 9-169, 2-173 to the Commission on Theology and Church Relations: 2-94, to the Board for Lay Ministry: 2-97, to the Saint Louis seminary Board of Control: Report 2-01, I. G. No.7 (CW. p.31) (with which Committee No. 2 is in general agreement). to the Board of Parish Educa- tion and Concordia Publishing House: 2-112—2-113, to the Commission on Worship (with the general endorse- ment of Committee No. 2): 2-166. to the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief: Report 2-01, II, A. 12. b (CW. p.34), to the Commission on Constitutional Mat- ters, With Report 2-01. Ili, F, No. 25 (CW, p. 37) Com- mittee No.2 expresses general agreement, with 2-102 A and B, general disagreement. To Maintain Accreditation RESOLUTION 3-03 Overtures 3-84, 3-87A—B, 3-89, 3-91A—E (CW, pp. 138—141) Wuereas, Article Ill of the Synod's Constitution states as a first object of the Synod “the conservation and promotion of the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4: 3-6: 1 Cor.1:10) and a united defense against schism and sectarianism” and as a third object of the Synod “the training of ministers and teachers for service in the Evangelical Lutheran Church”; and Wuereas, The third object must be carried out in the light of and in keeping with the first object; and Wuereas, The Synod is committed to a program of quality education at its colleges and seminaries; and Wuereas, Accreditation by regional and professional accrediting agencies is a recognition of the achievement of certain standards: and Wuereas, Accrediting agencies have given repeated assurances thattit is not their intention to infringe on the doctrinal position of the Synod or its special inter- ests, rights, and privileges; and Waereas, The synodical President is charged with the duty of supervising the doctrine and administration of all such as are employed by the Synod (Constitution, Article XI B, 1 b); therefore be it Resolved, That the synodical President, the Board for Higher Education, the Boards of Control, the ad- 437 ministrations and faculties of the Synod’s colleges and seminaries shall be firmly reminded of their charge and responsibility to protect with all diligence the doctrinal position of the Synod; and be it further Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education, the Boards of Control of the Synod’s colleges and semi- naries, and the administrations and faculties of these institutions be encouraged to maintain the high stand- ards that have enabled the colleges and seminaries to become regionally and professionally accredited and to take whatever steps are necessary to maintain ac- creditation and to improve the quality of professional education so long as the doctrinal position, and the in- terests, rights. and privileges of the Synod are not in- fringed upon: and be it finally Resolved, That the above named again call the atten- tion of professional and regional accrediting agencies, when the occasion arises, to their pledges not to involve themselves in the doctrinal affairs of a denomination whenever their actions seem to threaten the doctrinal position and the interests, rights, and privileges of the Synod. To Direct Board of Control to Appeal Probation RESOLUTION 3-04 Report 3-01, D; Overtures 3-82, 3-85A—B and 3-86 (CW, pp. 109, 139) Wuereas, The Special Task Force on Accreditation has expressed the opinion that the action of the Amer- ican Association of Theological Schools in placing Con- cordia Seminary. St. Louis, on probation was unjustified and has given valid reasons for this judgment in its re- port and in the resource materials which it has prepared for possible appeal: and Wuereas, The Special Task Force on Accreditation has expressed the opinion that an appeal to the Execu- tive Committee of the AATS acting as a Board of Re- view under Article VII of the Constitution of the AATS “would have been in order” and “would still be in order’, and Wuereas, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, is threat- ened with the loss of its accreditation if probation is not lifted prior to June 1, 1974; therefore be it Resolved, That the Board of Control of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, be directed to submit and diligently prosecute an appeal to the Executive Committee of the AATS, forthwith: and be it further Resolved, That in preparing this appeal the Board of Control consult with the Special Task Force on Accredi- tation or its representatives and with the President of the Synod. To Pursue Concerns with AATS RESOLUTION 3-05 Report 3-01, D; Overtures 3-82, 3-88, 3-90 (CW, pp. 107—111, 140—141) Wuereas, The Special Task Force on Accreditation has called attention to a number of unusual procedures of the American Association of Theological Schools with regard to Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, e.g., 1. Failing to share the report of the visiting team with the Board of Control of the institution in- volved or with its executive officer; 2. Publicizing reports of probation proceedings through news releases to the public press; 3. Censuring an agency involved, such as the Board for Higher Education, without interviewing any members of its staff or the board and without con- sulting in any way with it; 4. Giving an institution that has been placed on pro- bation only 2 years in which to correct what the AATS believes to be inadequacies, at the end of which time the AATS constitution requires that probation must be lifted or accreditation removed; 5. Taking an action which goes beyond the recom- mendation of the on-site visiting team; therefore be it Resolved, That the Boards of Control of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and of Concordia Theological Sem- inary, Springfield, be instructed to pursue these con- cerns of the Synod with the commissions, boards, and members of the AATS.