Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1981 · 54th Convention › Page 4
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 4

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

4-

This decision ends 12 years of church body fellowship, and as many years
of doctrinal discussions at the church body level of the ALC and LCMS,
including four years of fellowship in protest.

Since the two church bodies declared fellowship with each other in 1969,
fellowship representatives of the Synod have called attention to numerous
positions and practices of the ALC that they have felt are not in line with
LCMS doctrine. Among these are participation in ecumenical affairs, the
charge of a more lax position on interpretation of the Bible and the ALC's
acceptance of women as pastors.

The Missouri Synod decision to end fellowship with The American Lutheran
Church is a "step backward in the...progress that has typified U.S. Lutheran
life in this century," Dr. David W. Preus of Minnepolis, ALC presiding bishop,
declared on Wednesday.

In a speech to the convention, he called the decision "a denial of the
God-pleasing unity that God has given us."

President-elect Dr. Ralph Bohlmann has stated that there is no timetable
for ending fellowship with ALC congregations.

"I want all those involved in current fellowship situations to review ina
responsible way what the church body decision means to them at the local
church level. I don't want them to ignore it. I want them to really study
it--to give it serious consideration before they take any action."

Dr. James R. Crumley, LCA president, also addressed the convention.

Among other action, the convention adopted resolutions aimed at studies
that would improve the benefits provided its professional workers and retirees.

Indianapolis was chosen as the site for the Synod's 1986 convention.

The Synod's convention Sunday strengthened the church's already-strong
stand against abortion, calling again for a human life amendment to the U.S.
Constitution, increased government testimony, preparation of pro-life
education materials for members to study, media presentations, "a clear
witness" for members to support the stance, commendation of Lutherans for
Life, designation of the third Sunday in January as a pro-life Sunday, and
encouragement for a "common voice" against abortion among all Lutheranism.

A resolution encouraging the donation of kidneys and other organs was
overwhelmingly adopted by delegates on Tuesday. This marks the first time
that a national church body has recognized the need for organ transplants.
The resolution asks that pastors and teachers inform parishioners about organ
transplants and encourage them to sign a universal donor card. About 3,000
universal donor cards were distributed after the vote.

Delegates approved preparation of guidelines for inter-Christian
relationships with other Christian Church bodies, decided to continue the
Synod's participation in the Lutheran Council in the U.S.A. and passed a
measure assuring the Lutheran Church in America, the American Lutheran Church
and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches that the Missouri Synod
is continuing its "desire to seek agreement in Biblical and confessioanl
doctrine and practice" with them, regardless of what they should finally
decide next year about the merger proposal.

Pledges to the Missouri Synod's Forward in Remembrance fund raising appeal
have reached a total of $74,802,000.

In a speech at Sunday's convention rally, Appeal Director Dr. Gerhardt
Hyatt announced the participation of 76.4 percent of Lutheran Church-Missouri
Synod congregations.

The total administrative cost of the drive will be just over $3,000,000,
less than 4 percent of the effort's income. Most comparable major national
funding appeals costs run from 16 to 29 percent.

Hyatt had earlier observed that Forward in Remembrance has seeningly
",..broken every record for the amount of money raised in a single appeal by a
central church body."