LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 96

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96 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

commission was organized in 1962 (1962 Res. 3-O6A). During
this time the committee has made it possible for pastors and
professors from almost every partner church of the LCMS to
study at synodical seminaries in this country, and it has also
assisted many LCMS professors in teaching at partner semi-
naries.

- “Beginning with the 1981—82 fiscal vear. however. the
Exchange Study Committee has received no funding from the
synodical budget to carry out its program. The committee has
been informed by the Board of Directors that its funding would
come in the future from Forward in Remembrance funds in
cooperation with the Board for Mission Services and the Board
for Professional Education Services. Because of these devel-
opments the Exchange Study Committee has not made any
new grants during this past biennium, but has only continued
to support the study program for Pastor Gregory Lockwood
from Australia at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis by means of
funding supplied by the Board for Mission Services.

In the fall of 1982 President Bohlmann appointed a com-
mittee consisting of Dr. Walter Rosin. executive secretary of
the Board for Professional Education Services, Dr. Edward
Westcott, executive secretary of the Board for Mission Services.
and Dr. Samuel Nafzger. executive secretary of the CTCR. to
evaluate the various scholarship programs of the LCMS and to
prepare a proposal for coordinating them.

In response to this assignment. this special committee has
submitted a proposal to the President of the Svnod calling for
the formation of a Committee Responsible for International
Study Programs (CRISP). It is reeommended that this com-
mittee should be composed of the President of the Svnod, the
presidents of the St. Louis and Ft. Wayne seminaries. and the
executive secretaries of the Board for Professional Education
Services, the Board for Mission Services. and the CTCR.
According to this proposal. this committee would be respons-
ible for the coordinating of all international study and teach-
ing programs.

Both the CTCR and the Exchange Study Committee have
indicated their approval of this basic proposal and have
encouraged the President of Synod to give serious consider-
ation to this way of carrying out the responsibilities given to
the Exchange Study Committee. Serving on the Exchange
Study Committee during the past biennium were Dr. Lowell
Schoer, Dr. Karl Barth, and Dr. Robert Preus.

B. Bible Versions Committee

The Bible Versions Committee. an auxiliary committee of
the CTCR. has been assigned the function of providing guid-
ance to the members of the Synod as they evaluate the various
translations of the Bible. Appointed by the CTCR to serve on
this committee during the 1981—83 biennium were Dr. Harold
Buls (Ft. Wayne seminary), Dr. John Grothe (St. Louis semi-
nary), and Dr. Horace Hummel (CTCR liaison).

During this past biennium the committee held one meeting
and convened two telephone conference calls to carry out its
work. The committee has arranged for the publication of a
series of five articles on Bible translations to appear in the
Lutheran Witness in 1983—84. At the request of the committee,
the following topics are to be included in this series: intro-
duction—translating the Bible. a survey of current versions. a
look at the New King James Bible. the New International
Version—the Psalms. and the use of translations in studying
the Scriptures.

C. Social Concerns Committee

The Social Concerns Committee, an auxiliary committee of
the CTCR, prepares studies on current social issues. In the fall
of 1981 the CTCR distributed to the Synod a study on “Human
Sexuality: A Theological Perspective” prepared by the SCC.
The committee is presently working on a new document on
abortion which it hopes to complete within the next vear. Also
on its agenda is the preparation ofa report on ‘The Theology of
Social Ministry” and studies in the areas of medical ethics and
Christian counseling.

The commission calls attention to the report of this com-
mittee, which is attached as Appendix A to this report.

IV. CONFESSIONAL ANNIVERSARIES

During the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Book
of Concord and the 450th anniversary of the Augsburg Con-
fession in 1980, the Committee on Confessional Anniversaries
appointed by the CTCR received from a number of Districts
extra anniversary celebration funds to be used for the Synod-
wide celebration. Following the 1980 anniversary activities,
the commission was informed that extra money was available
in the confessional anniversary celebration account. In con-
sultation with the Committee on Confessional Anniversaries
and with the Board for Mission Services the CTCR decided to
present a special gift to one of the partner churches of the
Synod. A portion of this money has been used to present the
Lutheran Church of Nigeria with enough copies of The Book of
Concord for all of their pastors and evangelists. Additional
projects are still under consideration.

Concluding Word

The goal of the apostle Paul's labors was that he. together
with all the apostles. might “present every man mature in
Christ” (Col. 1:28). This growth toward maturity in Christ.
insists the apostle. happens through the proclamation of Jesus
Christ in Law and Gospel.

As the congregations, pastors, teachers, and other members
in the Synod work together toward this same end in the days
ahead, the commission especially commends to them for their
study and enrichment the ‘Theses on Justification” prepared
during this biennium. It is the conviction of the commission
that when this doctrine is rightly proclaimed and correctly
taught, genuine Christian growth takes place and good works
abound in the lives of Christians. As the commission has
stated in its introduction to these theses. the CTCR “offers the
theses... with the special prayer that they will assist pastors
and congregations as they seek to bring comfort and peace to
troubled consciences in their midst and to edify one another for
the work of Christian service.”

Michael J. Stelmachowicz. Chairman
Norbert H. Mueller. Secretary

Appendix 3-01A

Report of Social Concerns Committee

The Social Concerns Committee (SCC) functions as an
auxiliary committee of the CTCR. Appointed by the CTCR, the
purpose of the SCC is to assist the CTCR in its assigned task of
“suggesting and outlining studies of contemporary issues,
including also current social issues, as they affect the church
and as the church may affect such social issues” (Bylaw 2.593 b
4).

The SCC in recent years has been composed of nine
members. However, during the past biennium the SCC has
experienced a number of membership changes due to the loss of
personnel and to the reorganization of the CTCR. The com-
mittee was saddened, first of all, by the death on Aug. 23, 1982.
of Dr. Martin Scharlemann. Upon the acceptance of his new
position as executive secretary of the Board for Social Ministry
Services of the Synod, Dr. Eugene Linse, chairman of the SCC
for a number of years. resigned his membership on the com-
mittee. Mrs. Mabel Warnke, a long-time member of the com-
mittee, requested for personal reasons that she not be con-
sidered for reappointment by the CTCR to the SCC. The SCC
wishes to express its deep gratitude to God for the faithful
service of these members. The committee also acknowledges
with thankfulness to God the services of Dr. Henry Eggold,
who was a member of the SCC for many vears and who died on
June 2, 1982.

Taking into account these changes in personnel and the
membership reduction called for in 1981 Resolution 2-27 “To
Establish Membership of Theology and Church Relations,”
the CTCR decided at its February 1982 meeting to reduce the
membership of the SCC from nine to seven members. At its
November 1982 meeting the CTCR proceeded to appoint to the
SCC two new members, Dr. Richard Schultz of Concordia
Seminary, St. Louis, and Dr. Randall Shields of Concordia
Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, to fill two unexpired
vacancies ending in December 1983.