LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 150

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150 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

mission whose membership represents a microcosm of the
Svnod; and

WHEREAS, The restructure as proposed by Task Force II
would drastically change the CTCR’s function and nature; and

WHEREAS, The CTCR has in the past requested a review of
its structure and has itself, only recently, again reviewed its
structure, resulting in the conclusion that the present nature
and function of the CTCR is necessary to fulfill its Handbook
mandated responsibilities; and

WHEREAS, The workload of the CTCR continues to increase,
requiring the breadth of expertise and competence reflected in
its composition; and

WHEREAS, (However it would be advantageous to the work
of the CTCR if the presidents of the two seminaries would be
permanent members of the commission; therefore be it

Resolved: That the present nature and function of the CTCR
be retained as reflected in the composition of its current
membership and as articulated in the present Handbook of the
Synod: and be it further

Resolved: That the presidents of the two seminaries be made
permanent members of the CTCR without increase in the
membership of the commission and considered part of the
designated representation of the respective seminary: and be it
finally

Resolved: That the Board of Directors be encouraged to
make additional staff assistance available to the commission
in order to facilitate the early completion of its many major
assignments and to enable continued CTCR participation in
pastors and teachers conferences throughout the Synod.

a

II. CHURCH RELATIONS
A. Partner Churches
1. Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELK)

On June 25, 1972, three Lutheran Free Churches in West
Germany, each of which had previously been in altar and
pulpit fellowship with the LCMS, joined together in a merger
which resulted in the formation of the Independent Evangeli-
cal Lutheran Church (Selbstaendige Evangelisch-Lutherische
Kirche, often referred to as SELK). The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod formally resolved at its 1977 convention “that
the Synod in gratitude to God officially declare itself to be in
altar and pulpit fellowship with the Selbstaendige Evange-
lisch-Lutherische Kirche, thereby continuing fellowship it has
enjoved for many vears with the member bodies of this church”
(1977 Res. 3-09).

In June of 1980 SELK sponsored a special celebration of the
450th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession, the 400th
anniversary of The Book of Concord and the 150th anniversary
of the origin of the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church
in Germany. Representatives of sister churches from around
the world were invited to attend these celebrations, which were
held in Hannover. At the request of President J. A. O. Preus, Dr.
Samuel H. Nafzger, executive secretary of the CTCR, partici-
pated in this special program and brought official greetings to
the Synod’s partner church in Germany.

2. International Lutheran Conference

The 10th consultation of the International Lutheran
Conference will meet in Antigua, Guatemala, Aug.5—12, 1981.
Composed of the presidents of the Synod’s partner churches,
this conference meets every three years for the purpose of
conducting discussions on topics of common interest and
concern. The theme of the 1981 conference will be “The Cross
and the New Cults.”

3. Visit to Partner Churches

Dr. Ralph Bohlmann, president of Concordia Seminary, St.
Louis, and a member of the CTCR, visited partner Lutheran
churches in Taiwan and Hong Kong in connection with a
summer 1980 trip to Australia and Germany for the purpose of
delivering lectures in commemoration of the 1980 confessional
anniversaries. Dr. Bohlmann reported to the commission that
he brought official greetings from President Preus to the
Lutheran Church in Australia and to the Independent Evan-

gelical Lutheran Church of Germany (SELK). While in
Australia, he also conveyed greetings to the Lutheran Church
in Australia’s Commission on Theology and Inter-Church
Relations (CTICR) on behalf of Dr. Karl Barth, chairman of the
LCMS’ CTCR. Dr. Bohlmann reported that in connection with
the conference in Germany representatives from various parts
of the world had met and formed an organization known as the
Association of Confessional Lutheran Seminaries in order to
foster theological study, cooperation, and the exchange of
information and ideas. The commission hopes that the
fraternal relationship our Synod enjoys with the partner
churches and various other church bodies overseas will be
deepened as a result of contacts such as those made by Dr.
Bohlmann.

B. Inter-Lutheran Relationships
1. The American Lutheran Church

In 1969 the LCMS declared itself to be in altar and pulpit
fellowship with the ALC by a vote of 522-438. It also pledged its
efforts “to seek a unified evangelical position and practice”
and provided for the creation of an intersynodical commission
to work toward that end (Res. 3-15). Since that time representa-
tives of the two church bodies have met at least twice a year in
order to discuss issues and problems, including the inspiration,
inerrancy, and authority of Holy Scriptures; the meaning and
implications of confessional subscription; the nature and basis
of fellowship; the ordination of women to the pastoral office:
membership in ecumenical organizations such as the World
Council of Churches and the varying practices regarding anti-
Christian organizations. Because of the growing evidence of
disagreement in these doctrinal areas, especially at the official
church body level, the LCMS in 1977 declared itself to be ina
state of ‘‘fellowship in protest” with the ALC. In 1979 the
Synod resolved to continue fellowship in protest, urged its
members to continue studying the meaning and implications
of fellowship, and stated its intention to reconsider its relation-
ship to the ALC in the 1981 synodical convention.

The 1979 synodical convention also asked its representa-
tives to the ALC LCMS Commission on Fellowship to “‘distri-
bute in the coming biennium a clear and documented state-
ment on the existing areas of doctrinal disagreement between
the two church bodies” (1979 Res. 3-03). That document.
entitled “The American Lutheran Church and The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod: A Statement of Doctrinal Differ-
ences” (included in Appendix III), was distributed to all LCMS
pastors and congregations in January 1981 and subsequently
has received wide distribution throughout the ALC. Appended
to that report is a document prepared by the representatives of
the ALC which also points to perceived differences between the
two church bodies (however much one might wish to argue
with the formulations). The “Statement of Doctrinal Differ-
ences” document prepared by the LCMS commissioners utilizes
the framework of a 1977 tri-Lutheran statement entitled “The
FODT Report” (cf. 1979 Convention Workbook, pp. 84-87) and
adds copious documentation from the official resolutions, state-
ments, and representatives of our two church bodies in order to
illustrate the profound doctrinal differences that exist in three
major areas: the authority and interpretation of Holy Scripture.
the meaning of confessional subscription, and the limits of
diversity and the nature and basis of church fellowship. The
“Statement of Doctrinal Differences” document corroborates
what the CTCR reported to the 1977 synodical convention
when it stated: "The CTCR regretfully concludes that at the
church body level agreement in doctrine and practice does not
exist today between the ALC and the LCMS” (1977 Convention
Workbook, p. 43).

The 1981 report of the LCMS representatives on the
Commission on Fellowship (see p.159 of this Convention Work-
book; makes it painfully clear that discussions during the past
biennium have not effected a resolution or modification of the
doctrinal differences that led the LCMS to initiate ‘‘fellowship
in protest” in 1977 and to continue it in 1979. If anything, the
report of the commissioners gives evidence that the position of
the ALC on the controverted issues is very firm and not likely
to change.

The decision facing the LCMS is complicated by the fact
that the two church bodies have quite different convictions