LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 89

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3. THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

3-01

Report of Commission on Theology
and Church Relations

Introduction

The Commission on Theology and Church Relations, estab-
lished by the Synod in 1962, functions to ‘‘assist the President
at his request in discharging his constitutional responsi-
bilities” and to “provide guidance to the Synod in matters of
theology and church relations’( Handbook, 2.593 a, b). In
carrying out these assigned responsibilities during the past
biennium, the commission has addressed itself to assignments
and requests given to it by the Synod and its officials, boards,
and commissions and has assisted the President in monitoring
official contacts of the Synod with other church bodies and
ecumenical agencies.

The commission is served by two staff members, Dr. Sdmuel
H. Nafzger, executive secretary, and Rev. Jerald C. Joersz,
assistant executive secretary. The officers of the commission
during the biennium were Dr. Michael Stelmachowicz, chair-
man; Dr. George Wollenburg, vice-chairman; and Dr. Norbert
Mueller, secretary. Taking into account the reduction in its
membership called for by 1981 Resolution 2-27 “To Establish
Membership of Commission on Theology and Church Re-
lations,” the CTCR during this biennium restructured itself by assign-
ing its members to two standing committees which carry out
the preliminary work necessary for the completion of the
commission’s assignments. The chairman of Standing Com-
mittee I was Dr. Lowell Schoer and of Committee II, Dr. Horace
Hummel. The officers of the commission make up the member-
ship of the executive committee. Dr. Ralph Bohlmann and Dr.
Samuel Nafzger have served as ex officio members of the
executive committee.

In addition to the officers listed above the following are
currently members of the commission: Dr. Richard Bardolph,
Mr. Walter Bleke, Rev. George Dolak, Mr. Marvin Erdman, Mr.
Don Graf, Mr. Stanley Koelling, Rev. John Korcok, Dr. Al
Marcis, Dr. James Manz, and Dr. Don Ridgeway.

The commission acknowledges with gratitude the faithful
service of those who for various reasons were ineligible to
continue membership on the commission. Having served two
full terms and not eligible for reelection or reappointment were
Dr. Karl Barth, Mr. Joseph Schradie, and Mr. Philip Tanger.
(Upon his election as president of Concordia Seminary, St.
Louis, Dr. Barth became an advisory member of the com-
mission under its new structure. Serving in this capacity until
Dr. Barth’s election was Dr. John Klotz, acting president of the
seminary.) Ineligible for reelection or reappointment because
their terms expired in 1981 and their positions were abolished
in keeping with the reduction of membership required by 1981
Resolution 2-27 were Rev. Arthur Crosmer and Dr. Richard
Schultz. Former representatives of the two seminary faculties
on the commission were Prof. Roland Hopmann and Dr. Erich
Kiehl (St. Louis), and Prof. Kurt Marquart and Dr. Eugene
Klug (Fort Wayne).

Beginning with the 1983—1986 triennium, the commission's
membership required by 1981 Resolution 2-27 will be in place.
The commission’s membership will consist of 13 voting and 4
advisory members selected as follows: two pastors, one parish
teacher, and two laypersons elected by the synodical con-
vention; two clergymen (one of whom will be a District
President) and two laypersons elected by the Council of
Presidents; two professors, one appointed or elected by each
seminary faculty; and two additional members appointed by
the President of the Synod, in consultation with the Vice-
Presidents. The President and the First Vice-President of the
Synod and the presidents of the Fort Wayne and St. Louis
seminaries will serve as advisory members of the commission.

In the two-year period covered by this report the CTCR met
in seven plenary sessions of three days each. Numerous
committee meetings and telephone conference calls were held
during the biennium.

In the report that follows the commission presents a
summary of its major activities since the 1981 convention of
the Synod and offers some recommendations pertaining to
theology and church relations.

I. THEOLOGY
A. Assignments Completed
1. The Ministry: Offices, Procedures, and Nomenclature

In October 1981 the CTCR mailed its report on ‘“‘The
Ministry” to all pastors, teachers, and congregations of the
Synod. This report was prepared in response to requests from
the Board of Control of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; the
President of the Synod; and the Board of Directors of the
Northwest District that the CTCR prepare a theological study
dealing with proper ‘‘call” nomenclature and procedures,
particularly as these apply to the varied offices of the church.
Excerpts of “The Ministry” were printed in the October 1981
issue of the Lutheran Witness. The entire report is included in
Appendix III of this Workbook.

Since the publication of this report in September 1981, the
CTCR has received requests from groups throughout the
Synod to lead discussions on this study. In response to these
requests the executive secretary of the commission has made
numerous presentations to pastor and teacher conferences, as
well as to various other groups and agencies in the Synod
expressing interest in matters relating to the doctrine of the
ministry. At the request of the CTCR, the Concordia Theo-
logical Quarterly and Lutheran Education have published Dr.
Nafzger’s presentation providing background information on
the context of ‘“‘The Ministry” report, an overview of the
differing approaches to the problems which have confronted
the church in this area, a summary of the document’s content,
and a review of the nomenclature suggested in the report. The
Board for Parish Services, in consultation with the CTCR and
its staff, prepared and printed in 1982 a study guide on “The
Ministry” for use by congregations, pastors, teachers, and
other workers in the Synod.

In response to their study of “The Ministry” various
individuals and groups in the Synod have forwarded to the
commission their reactions and suggestions. The commission
is pleased to report that the majority of these responses has
been favorable. In some cases requests have been made for the
restudy and clarification of certain aspects of the doctrine of
the ministry. In July 1982 the President of the Synod forwarded
to the CTCR a request from the Michigan District that tasks
and designations of ministries be reviewed and clarified.

Taking into account all of the responses it has received and
the fact that some confusion exists concerning the principles
set forth in its report, the CTCR decided at its November 1982
meeting to prepare a statement to clarify issues raised by
discussions of ‘“The Ministry” and at the same time to urge the
members of the Synod to continue their study of this matter,
inviting them to submit responsible papers speaking to the
subject. At the time of this report, the commission has not
completed work on this statement.

2. Human Sexuality: A Theological Perspective

The commission distributed its report on “Human Sexu-
ality: A Theological Perspective” to all pastors, teachers, and
congregations of the Synod in October 1981. The need for such
a study was expressed in a resolution placed before the 1973
convention of the Synod. Since this resolution (Res. 2-34 “To
Study Issues of Human Sexuality”) was not acted on because of
lack of time, it was referred to the CTCR by the Board of
Directors. The commission in turn asked its Social Concerns
Committee to prepare a study of this issue. An excerpted
version of the report was published in the February 1982 issue
of the Lutheran Witness. The full report is printed in Appendix
III of this Workbook.