LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 162

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162 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

cerning the future involvement in the Lutheran Theological
Seminary in Saskatoon (which is a seminary of The Evan-
gelical Lutheran Church of Canada and the Lutheran Church
in America—Canada Section). Since we are still members of
the Missouri Synod, this naturally also involves the synodical
board for Higher Education along with others. A committee
comprised of approximately 20 people from all three Districts,
representatives of the Saskatoon seminary, the St. Catharines
seminary (which is a Missouri Synod Seminary in Canada),
Concordia College, Edmonton, people from the academic
community, and District officials of the three synodical Dis-
tricts in Canada, and the Board for Higher Education proposed
that St. Catharines be considered as a seminary for Canada
and that an additional seminary be located in the Edmonton,
Alberta, area. This proposal was not accepted by the Manitoba
and Saskatchewan convention and their District is presently
preparing an alternative proposal which is to be considered by
this 1981 synodical convention.

One means that is being considered and scheduled for the
fall of 1981 to deal with the problems that face a founding of a
new church body is the calling of an all-Canada conference
that would have representation of one delegate for every 1,000
communicants here in Canada. This conference will be held in
connection with the 1981 convention of Lutheran Church—
Canada and will allow for and encourage a greater “grass
roots” participation in the formation of the new church body.
On other matters the three Districts are moving ahead with the
Forward in Remembrance offering, having a goal of $2,000,000
as our portion of this great challenge and appeal.

The Lutheran Church—Canada has asked for observer
status in anticipation of seeking full membership in the
International Lutheran Conference, the international organi-
zation that is comprised of the Lutheran church bodies through-
out the world that are in fellowship with The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod. As president I will be representing
the LCC at this conference, which is to be held in Guatemalain
August.

We continue to be involved in the Lutheran Council in
Canada, which is comprised of the three church bodies on the
Canadain scene. This is part of the work that we do in that
there are many areas where the Canadian government recog-
nizes only a “Lutheran” voice when dealing with federal
agencies such as military and prison chaplaincies, the present-
ing of briefs to legislative bodies, etc. At present one of our
Lutheran Church—Canada members, Rev. Val Hennig of
Calgary, Alta., serves as chairman of the Lutheran Council in
Canada. Our participation also includes the Canadian
Lutheran World Relief program, which according to inde-
pendent sources is one of the finest programs for help to
underdeveloped and Third World nations.

Present members of the Lutheran Church—Canada board
of directors are Rev. Elroy Treit, president: Dr. Albin Stanfel,
vice-president; Rev. Roy Holm, secretary; Mr. Bill Buller,
treasurer; Rev. E. Lehman and Mr. Arno Ginther, members-at-
large. The above-named members of the board in addition to
other appointed representatives from the various Districts
have been attending, by invitation, the meetings of the
Lutheran Merger Commission, that group that is presently
negotiating a merger between the other two church bodies here
in Canada. We have also extended to them the invitation to
attend our own Ways and Means Committee meetings so that
they and we are better informed as to directions and timing of
the forming of the new church bodies here in Canada.

In conclusion, we once again ask for your prayers and your
guidance as we take the steps of the formation of our church in
Canada.

Elroy Treit, President

3-07
Report of Board of Doctrinal Review

The Synod has since its founding had a formal system for
the theological review of its publications. The rationale,
criteria, and responsibility for the process are incorporated in
the Synod’s Constitution.

Article III (1) lists as one of the purposes of the
Synod the preservation of sound doctrine.

Article II indicates the criteria of the review to be
Scripture and the Confessions.

Article XI (B) assigns the supervision of doctrine
to the President of the Synod.

Early Presidents of the Synod frequently also served as
president of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. To avoid a work
overload, early Presidents began the practice of assigning the
task of reading manuscripts to certify their theological
adequacy to members of the faculty of Concordia Seminary, St.
Louis. The practice of having the seminary faculty members
review manuscripts continued until 1968.

In response to a report submitted by the faculty of Con-
cordia Seminary, St. Louis, the Synod at its 1965 Detroit
convention appointed a special committee to “review and study
the policies and mechanics” of doctrinal review. The committee
reported its findings and recommendations to the 1967 New
York convention. The report was adopted and the current
system of doctrinal review (Handbook, Bylaws 11.151—11.163)
was set in place.

Prior to 1967 the theological review process was called and
operated as a censorship system. A reviewer either “passed” or
“rejected” a submitted manuscript with or without comment.
In contrast, the current review process operates with the
objective of assisting authors and editors to assure that the
doctrine set forth in the published material is in accord with the
Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. To that end the 60
doctrinal reviewers appointed by the President of the Svnod
are required to offer specific suggestions and comments on
materials reviewed. They do not certify a manuscript for
publication until they are persuaded that it is in agreement
with Scriptures and the Confessions.

During the past biennium, doctrinal reviewers who are
appointed for two-year renewable terms have certified 1,538
items prior to publication.

When the Board of Doctrinal Review met during the past
biennium it assessed the effectiveness and reviewed the opera-
tions of the Synod’s doctrinal review process. To assist and
encourage presidentially appointed doctrinal reviwers, the
board developed and distributed in January 1980 a Handbook
for Doctrinal Reviewers.

The Board of Doctrinal Review believes that the system of
doctrinal review is operating effectively and is providing
assurance that the materials published by the Synod are
theologically strong. The Synod has reason to be grateful to the
doctrinal reviewers for their dedicated and unheralded service
and to the members of the Concordia Publishing House staff
for the careful and confidential manner in which they have
administered the doctrinal review process.

John Meyer, Chairman
Arthur Graudin, Secretary

THEOLOGICAL CONCERNS
3-10

To Study Authenticity, Canonicity,
and Inspiration

WHEREAS, Our pastor has for a number of years been in
contact with the Commission on Theology and Church Rela-
tions over doctrinal matters, particularly in the area of inspi-
ration and Biblical authority; and

WHEREAS, The CTCR did give partial answer to a matter of
particular concern to our pastor in its statement concerning the
valid distinction between the homologoumena and anti-
legomena New Testament books (‘agreed upon” and “spoken
against” books); and

WuHereas, The Executive Secretary of the CTCR has sug-
gested to our pastor that he should memorialize the Synod ona
doctrinal matter which is of concern to our pastor:

In response to your April 22 request “that the Commission spell out

the significance of the distinction between the homologoumena and

antilegomena. and do so publicly for our entire church,” the CTCR
has asked me to inform you that it is the general policy of the

Commission not to respond to individual requests for study projects.

So that we can devote our limited energies to questions and problems

which are of the most pressing interest to the whole Synod, it is our