Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1981 · 54th Convention › Page 185
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 185

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 185

3-80

To Participate in the Process
of Lutheran Unity

WHEREAS, The congregations of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod have not had the opportunity to be involved in
the Committee on Lutheran Unity in which the LCA, the ALC,
and the AELC have been engaged over the past year; and

WHEREAS, There is an excellent possibility that some form of
greater Lutheran unity will becomea reality during the 1980's;
and

WHEREAS, Every LCMS congregation ought to be able to
decide, by its own individual study, the merits of such unity;
and

WHEREAS, Excellent study materials have been prepared for
such a study titled “Lutheran Unity”; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS declare its desire to engage in the
process of Lutheran unity with the ALC, LCA, and AELC; and
be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage each
member congregation to undertake the study of ‘Lutheran
Unity”; and be it further

Resolved, That one copy of the above-mentioned document
be distributed to each congregation for study purposes; and be
it further

Resolved, That after such study each congregation be polled
as to its response to this issue; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod abide by the decision of the
majority vote of all congregations.

St. Stephen Lutheran Church
New Orleans, La.

Ernest B. Beyer, Chairman
Cheryl A. Pitts, Secretary

3-81

To Speak to Campus Fellowship Concerns

_WHEREAS, Campus ministries often seem to practice fellow-
ship inconsistent with synodical policy; and

WHEREAS, The excuse for such practice hides behind the
portion of Res. 2:07 (Anaheim) which states “applying the
Communion guidelines of the military and institutional chap-
lains”; and
; WHEREAS, The intention of that portion of 2:07 was clearly
intended for “isolation” situations where students could not
possibly be served by their own church body; therefore be it

Resolved, That LCMS campus pastors be advised to avoid
altar fellowship with churches with which we are not in
fellowship except in such emergencies; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod identify the incompatability
between inter-Lutheran campus ministries (and other min-
istries) and our Synod’s official position; and be it finally

Resolved, That campus pastors avoid pulpit fellowship
beyond the guidelines and limitations set forth by our Synod.

Mt. Hope Lutheran Church
Boulder, Colo.

Andrew G. Repjar, President
Harold Reiss, Pastor

3-82

To Seek Reestablishment of Fellowship
with ELS and Wisconsin Synod

WHEREAS, The Synod is committed to the conservation and
promotion of the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4:3-6; 1 Cor. 1:10)
and a unified defense against schism and sectarianism (Rom.
16:17) (Constitution, Article III, 1); and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, the Wis-
consin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, and the Evangelical
Lutheran Synod have in their past history exhibited a strong
support for confessional Lutheranism; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in recent
years has returned more and more to its historical identity asa
confessional Lutheran body; and

WHEREAS, There can be great strength in our uniting with
other confessional bodies who share the same confessional
concerns as we do; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
initiate serious discussions with the WELS and ELS to work
toward removing existing differences so that fellowship can
once more be established between our synods.

Redeemer Lutheran Church
Grand Rapids, Mich.

Ray Seppamaki, Chairman
Allen Maleske, Pastor

3-83

To Maintain Full Fellowship
with the Evangelical Lutheran Church
of Canada

WHEREAS, The Missouri Synod churches of western Canada
have enjoyed good fraternal relations with the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Canada, and have benefited from the
practice of fellowship with ELCC congregations; and

WHEREAS, The ELCC is independent of The American
Lutheran Church; and

WHEREAS, Conflicts between the LCMS and the ELCC have
been minimal in western Canada; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
declare itself to continue in full fellowship with the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Canada, and that the “protest” of fellow-
ship (1977 Res. 3-02A) does not apply to the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Canada.

St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
Melfort, Sask.

Paul Sodtke, Pastor

Winston South, President

3-84

To Declare “‘Fellowship in Protest’’
in Canada

WHEREAS, We as members of the Missouri Synod believe,
teach, and confess that Scripture is the only source and norm
for doctrine in the church and are ever concerned about the
authority of Scripture in the life of the church; and

WHEREAS, The doctrinal position of The American Lutheran
Church has been clearly shown to be at variance with what we
believe the Scriptures to say and has thus resulted in a state of
“Fellowship in Protest”; and

WHEREAS, The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada
(ELCC) is a daughter church body of The American Lutheran
Church teaching the very same doctrine; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
declare a state of “Fellowship in Protest” also with the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada, and whatever action
is taken with the ALC concerning altar and pulpit fellowship
be taken also with the ELCC.

Zion Lutheran Church
Plumas, Man.
Alfred Schmidt, President

3-85

To Adopt Guidelines for Participation
in Ecumenical Worship Services,
Weddings, and Other
Lutheran/Non-Lutheran Observances

WHEREAS, Res. 3-25 of the Dallas convention (“To Speak
Regarding Lutheran/Non-Lutheran Weddings,” Proceedings,