LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 120

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122

to seek it with more intentionality and with greater
energy.

In the Lutheran Church in America, the high priority
we give to seeking the visible expression of the unity of
the church of Jesus Christ poses a dilemma. We know
that. We are glad to be working toward a new Lutheran
church in the U.S.A. with The American Lutheran
Church and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran
Churches. We anticipate a stronger witness and a more
effective ministry and pursuit of mission from such a
configuration. We are awed by the work involved, but
we are convinced that the Holy Spirit is leading-us to a
new expression in our confessional family today. While
we understand the reasons why the Missouri Synod is
not a part of that present process, we regret the absence
of such a strong and vital church.

Short of our being together in a new Lutheran
church, we need to examine again our fellowship and
our partnership. The LCA acknowledges itself to be in
confession with all churches which have its same
confessions. We recognize the Missouri Synod to be a
church with the Gospel, with a properly ordered minis-
try, and with sacraments observed in accordance with
the Gospel. It grieves us that we’re not seen in the same
way by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. We are
convinced that our Lord Christ would have us worship
together, pray together, receive His body and blood
together.

I must also say that we wish our partnership in the
Lutheran Council were based on a common commit-
ment. Surely the task that we’re called on to do in our
world today is greater than any of us can do alone.
While some work would be a lower priority for us in the
LCA than for some other Lutheran churches, we seek to
cooperate in ways that produce the best results for all of
us. Our inter-Lutheran goals in those instances are
more important than LCA ones in such a setting.

That is to say that in the LCA common work is putin
a privileged position. We strive to honor fully our
commitments to one another. It is our perception,
rightly or wrongly, that the Missouri Synod operates in
a different way and that the priority is often given to
Missouri Synod goals and interests, not our common
ones. That difference in procedure, if we are correct,
poses a problem. But a problem which each of us should
strive diligently to resolve through conversation and
agreement with one another. And such agreements
should not wait for a new inter-Lutheran agency.

Our commitment in the Lutheran Church in America
is also toward what we see as a proper ecumenical
stance. We find that the expression of the oneness of the
whole people of God must go beyond our own churches
and must involve us seriously with other denomina-
tions. With many other Christians we have found to our
amazement and exhilaration a profound theological
convergence on the basic tenets of faith. Those who
acknowledge God as Creator, Jesus Christ as Savior,
and the Holy Spirit as Guide can hardly be named
heathen, but must be recognized and loved as brothers
and sisters. We cannot wait, we are convinced, for total

OTHER PRESENTATIONS

homogeneity and agreement on every jot and tittle of
our human expressions of faith before we reach out to
one another and even go to the Sacrament of the Altar
together.

We value our heritage, but we recognize that other.
Christians are also to be acknowledged and confirmed
in their own. We are not sectarians as Lutherans, buta
part of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church; and
we find great joy in our fellowship, varying in levels
though it be, with churches of other denominations. We
intend to search diligently for ways to express our unity:
in deeper and wider dimensions.

I have to say something of my own personal ex-
perience in that regard. In the last couple of months it
has been possible for me to have a personal visit with
Pope John Paul II at Rome, with the ecumenical
patriarch Demetrius of Constantinople, just last week.
with the Archbishop of Canterbury in Canterbury. In,
all of those instances I have had to acknowledge, in a,
way that I will have to admit I have never recognized;
before as a Lutheran pastor, the fact that there is a;
large, in fact, a vast tradition of Christians in this world
that we dare not ignore. I will have to say that I have.
been amazed at the kind of profound spirituality that,
has been a part of our conversations, a spirituality that
have had to recognize as being somewhat deeper than
my own. In each of those instances our conversatio
has closed with a prayer together.

Christian friends, I believe that God heard thos
prayers, and that there must be a way in which we can’
reach out to each other, in which the witness of
tradition can be made, but in which also we can rece’
that great witness of so many others who have wo
shiped the same God for centuries in their tradition.,

On Nov. 10, in Eisleben, I will be a part of.a
ecumenical service. I was somewhat overwhelmed whené
the church in Germany asked me to present the Lut!
an point of view concerning the great Reformer, an
realize that others on that same program will be Car
nal Willebrans, a representative of the orthodo
churches, and that there are a number of heads:
communions of other churches in the world who wil
part of that ecumenical service. And I cannot help, bi
feel that there is something particularly fitting in
year, that the celebration of the 500th birthday of tha
person whom we honor so highly should be in,
ecumenical setting.

We wish that we were together as Lutherans in,
pilgrimage toward unity with others who name:
sacred name of our Lord. We have appreciated y
participation with us in serious theological dialogs
other churches, but we have been concerned Wi
Lutherans could not finally speak as if they h
common confession.

What is the future for us? Is God writing 4
chapter in religious history in this world that may”
a totally different direction from the last chapter?!
will we be included in it or exluded from it? What}8
kairos, what is God’s moment today, and how do wi
Lutherans make sure that we are a part of