LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 159

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 159

resolution, “To Implement Pro-Life Programs.” (See recom-
mendations at the end of this report.)

In January 1981 the SCC completed work on its draft on
“Human Sexuality: A Theological Perspective” and submitted
this document to the CTCR for adoption. In offering guidance
to the Synod on this complex issue, the report discusses what
the Scriptures teach concerning the order of marriage within
the larger framework of human sexuality as God's creation, the
purposes of marriage, and certain problems in the area of
human sexuality.

The SCC is also conducting a basic study on “Christian
Counseling.” In this study the committee hopes to provide
guidance to pastors and Christian counselors as they evaluate
the various methods of Christian counseling.

From time to time items of common concern arise among
various agencies of the Synod such as the Council for Christian
Medical Work, the Board of Social Ministry, the Commission
on Services to the Mentally Retarded, and the SCC. A resolu-
tion was adopted by the SCC recommending that the SCC
provide, where appropriate, the forum for an exchange of
pertinent information with the CCMW and the BSM. It will
also arrange for the exchange of representatives to discuss
items of common interest.

Drs. Nafzger, Linse, and Meilaender attended a consulta-
tion on Biomedical Ethics held in Chicago, Jan. 4—5, 1980,
under the auspices of the Division of Theological Studies of the
LCUSA. They reported to the SCC on the problems and issues
discussed at that meeting.

The committee also heard periodic reports regarding the
progress of Lutherans for Life, an inter- Lutheran organization
founded in 1978 to provide acommon response for all Lutherans
to society’s threats to the sanctity of life.

Additional issues before the committee include the proposal
for a synodical workshop on women (family) (1977 Res. 3-086),
and the development of materials related to life concerns (1977
Res. 3-26).

Recommendations
To Implement Pro-Life Programs

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has
taken a strong position in the support of human life in Res.
3-02A at its convention in St. Louis in 1979; and

Wuereas, The American tragedy, abortion on demand,
continues unabated—one million unborn children are
destroyed each year; and

WHEREAS, Continuing and increasing protest against abor-
tion on demand and witness to the sanctity of all human life
are the responsibility of every Christian; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod set
aside the third Sunday of January each year as Pro-Life
Sunday in order to give special consideration to the sanctity of
life; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
urge its congregations to form new chapters of Lutherans for
Life as part of acommon Lutheran witness to the sanctity of
life; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in
convention assembled instruct its program boards, particularly
the Board for Youth Ministry, the Board of Parish Education,
and the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief to prepare
materials which present the Synod’s opposition to willful
abortion on the basis of the Scriptures for all age levels in the
church; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
encourage its auxiliary agencies—the Lutheran Laymen’s
League, the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and
Lutheran Youth Fellowship to lend support and witness to the
efforts of the church in this area of concern; and be it further

Resolved, That the Lutheran Hour be encouraged to devote
one of its services annually to the support of a Pro-Life cause
and that “This Is the Life’’ makes this issue one of its
programs; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod encourage its President to ask the
pastors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod for a clear

witness and enthusiastic support of our church's position on
this question; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
encourage all of Lutheranism to develop a common voice in
opposition to the American tragedy that is found in abortion on
demand: and be it finally

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Svnod
commend Lutherans for Life for its clear witness in behalf of
life while at the same time urging Lutherans for Life to greater
efforts toward this end.

3-02

Report of LCMS Representatives
to ALC-LCMS Commission on Fellowship

The Commission on Fellowship, made up of six repre-
sentatives appointed by each of the presidents of The American
Lutheran Church and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
was formed following the declaration of altar and pulpit
fellowship between these two churches in 1969 in order “to
assist the church bodies in the proper understanding and
practice of fellowship and to deal with issues and problems
which exist or may arise which may impair or inhibit fellow-
ship.” (See 1969 Res. 3-15 and “ALC LCMS Commission on
Fellowship Statement of Purpose.” Convention Workbook.
1971, p. 145.) Serving as LCMS representatives on the Com-
mission on Fellowship during the past biennium were Karl
Barth, Llovd Behnken, Ralph Bohlmann, Kurt Marquart.
Samuel Nafzger, and J. A. O. Preus. ALC members of the
commission were John Halvorson, Rolf Hanson, Roy Harris-
ville, David Preus, William Weiblen, and Walter Wietzke. Four
meetings of the commission have been held since the 1979
synodical convention Nov. 26-27, 1979: Feb. 29—March 1, 1980:
April 30, 1980; und Jan. 27, 1981.

During the past biennium discussion in the Commission on
Fellowship focused on the areas of doctrinal disagreement
between the ALC and the LCMS which had been identified in
earlier discussions and had been listed in resolutions adopted
by the 1977 and 1979 synodical conventions. (See 1977 Res.
3-02A and 1979 Res. 3-03.) Attention was given to Studies in
Lutheran Hermeneutics. a 1979 volume produced by LCUSA’s
Division of Theological Studies which includes essays on the
doctrine of Scripture written by representatives from the ALC
and the LCMS, and to the conclusions and recommendations
of a committee of representatives from the ALC, LCA, and
LCMS which discussed the ‘“‘function of doctrine and theology
in light of the unity of the church,’ known as the FODT Report.
(See 1979 Convention Workbook, pp. 84 ff.) The Commission on
Theology and Church Relations “Bible Study on Fellowship”
was reviewed and discussed by the commission, as was alsoa
preliminary draft of the CTCR’s report on “The Nature and
Implications of the Concept of Fellowship.”

Most of the discussions in the Commission on Fellowship
during the past two years centered around the assignment
given to the LCMS commissioners by the 1979 convention, that
they prepare and ‘distribute to the Synod in the coming
biennium a clear and documented statement on the existing
areas of doctrinal disagreement between the two church
bodies” (1979 Res. 3-03). This request has resulted in the
preparation of “The American Lutheran Church and The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod: A Statement of Doctrinal
Differences,” which should be regarded as a part of this report
of the LCMS commissioners. (The complete text of this report is
printed in Appendix IV of this Convention Workbook.) This
document, which includes a listing of the differences between
the ALC and the LCMS as perceived and drafted by the ALC
representatives on the Commission on Fellowship, was sent by
the President of the Synod to all LCMS pastors, teachers, and
congregations in January 1981. It has also been subsequently
distributed throughout The American Lutheran Church by
President David Preus.

“A Statement of Doctrinal Differences” begins by noting
that “there are many things which these two church bodies
have in common.” But it also reviews the history of the
differences between the ALC and the LCMS as they have
manifested themselves in the 12 years during which these two