LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 173

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 173

on the congregational, District, or synodical levels against
that individual.

Ohio District Pastoral Conference

Southern Section

Melvin Younger, Chairman

William Bliese, Secretary

3-42
To Permit Use of the Title ““Bishop”’

WHEREAS, The President of the Synod is charged (Hand-
book, 2.27 b) with the duty of “exercising supervision over the
doctrine taught in the Synod and... shall at regular intervals
officially visit or cause to be visited all the educational
institutions of the Synod... .”; and

WHEREAS, The terms “supervise” and “‘visit” are based on
the Scriptural words émicxoros and ézioxory and are the
historic words that refer to the office of bishop; and

WHEREAS, The term excoxozos (bishop, guardian, supervisor)
appears five times in the New Testament and in 1 Peter 2:23 is
linked to the term pastor (zoiuéva Kat éx(axorov) as Jesus is
called the pastor and bishop or shepherd and guardian of our
souls; and

WHEREAS, The term bishop, ézéoxorros became the normal
word used in the church to describe those charged with the
supervision of doctrine; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions approve the ministry
of bishops if properly understood as being under the Gospel;
and

WHEREAS, Martin Luther himself consecrated Nicolaus von
Amsdorf and George von Anhalt as bishops; and

WHEREAS, The Saxon Visitation Articles of 1523 translate
the term érioxomos and regard the visitation of the parishes and
the supervision of doctrine to be the specific function of the
bishops, not by virtue of any particular power, but by means of
the Word; and

WHEREAS, The majority of the world’s Christian churches
use the Scriptura] term bishop; and

WHEREAS, The American Lutheran Church and the Luther-
an Church in America now use the term bishop; and

WHEREAS, Some partner churches of the Synod such as the
Gutnius Lutheran Church of New Guinea and the Independent
Lutheran Church of Germany use the term bishop; and

WHEREAS, The title “president” operates with political and
business models that strongly emphasize the power of the
position rather than the Scriptural and churchly emphasis
upon doctrine and service; and

WHEREAS, The office of bishop by use of the terms “‘super-
vise” and “‘visit” (especially regarding doctrine, 2.27 b) already
exists in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; therefore be
it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention assembled permis-
sively grant as an alternate title the Scriptural term bishop to
the President of the Synod and the District Presidents and the
Vice-Presidents of both the Synod and the Districts, but for
legal purposes the designation President/Vice-President be
retained in the Constitution.

Ev. Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit
Elk Grove Village, Ill.
Janice Kleiner, Secretary

3-43
To Deal with Dissent

WHEREAS, The Word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord
declares: “Woe to the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep
of My pasture! saith the Lord.... He that hath My Word, let him
speak My Word faithfully. What is the chaffto the wheat? saith
the Lord. ... 1am against the prophets that cause My people to
err by their lies” (Jer. 23); and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, since its

inception, has been faithful to the Word of the Lord as revealed
in the Holy Scriptures, basing all of its doctrines on the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the
chief Cornerstone (Eph. 2:19-22; 2 Tim. 3:13-17; 2 Tim. 4:1-4);
and

WHEREAS, There are forces inside and outside The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod who are causing divisions and
offenses by engaging in practices and teaching doctrines that
are contrary to the Holy Scriptures; and

WHEREAS, Repeated attacks are being made by individuals
and organizations against the theology and practices of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and

WHEREAS, Publications like the ELIM White Papers and
Missouri in Perspective, issued by members of the AELC, are
urging liberal pastors and teachers in the LCMS (1) to actively
practice fellowship with the LCA, ALC, and AELC; (2) to
support Seminex and Partners in Mission, because they are
“symbols of hope for a more open church,” while the students
at the LCMS seminaries are being taught ‘‘a more narrow
position”; (3) to support the work of ELIM and Missouri in
Perspective; (4) to boycott the $40 million Forward in Remem-
brance thankoffering; (5) to keep open options on affiliation
with the AELC, ALC, or LCA, if the LCMS breaks fellowship
with the ALC and withdraws from the Lutheran Council
(LCUSA); (6) to organize ad hoc conferences and invite Seminex
professors or people from the ALC and LCA to present study
papers; (7) to meet together with fellow liberals for fellowship
and support; (8) to get tough at District conventions of the
LCMS. Make it clear that you will not cooperate with isola-
tionist programs of the Missouri Synod; (9) to use the book of
worship accepted by the ALC, LCA, and AELC rather than the
book published by the LCMS; (10) when the Missouri Synod’s
Commission on Theology and Church Relations distributes its
Bible-study materials that highlight differences with the ALC,
balance those materials with ones that present the ALC’s
understanding of the issues. Expose your congregation to ALC
and LCA educational materials (ELIM White Papers of August
1979 and September 1980); therfore be it

Resolved, That the President of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod, whose duty it is to promote and maintain
unity of doctrine and practice in all the Districts of the Synod,
call upon those person inside and outside of the LCMS who are
promoting strife and dissension, speaking perverse things to
draw away disciples after them, to cease their unloving and
un-Christian activities and allow the LCMS to pursue its God-
given duty to preach and teach the Word of God in its truth and
purity, without hindrance or interference on the part of
dissenters; and, be it further

Resolved, That the District Presidents be enjoined to
reprove, rebuke, and exhort those pastors and teachers of their
respective Districts who are cooperating with and supporting
organizations and individuals who are causing divisions and
offenses in the LCMS. (2 Tim. 4:1-4; Acts 20:29-31; Rom. 16:17-
18; 1 Cor. 11:17-19).

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
Pacifica, Calif.

Robert Vanderpool, President
Frank Alstrin, Secretary

Paul E. Miller, Pastor

3-44A
To Work for Reconciliation

WHEREAS, Our Lord bids us to be reconciled to one another in
the spirit of truth and love; and

WHEREAS, Our former synodical President, the sainted Dr.
Oliver Harms, in a letter before his death expressed prayer and
desire for such reconciliation within our Synod and without;
and

WHEREAS, No one is without sin; vet where sin abounded
grace does much more abound; therefore be it

Resolved, That we as a Synod extend our hand of confession
and forgiveness to those in the Christ Seminary community
and others who have left our Synod and invite them to