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

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120 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

Resolved, That all delegates to this synodical convention
and all member congregations be regularly invited and urged
to pray to our Lord to bless the vital, cooperative voice of
Lutheran Christians in the U.S.

Board of Directors
Ohio District
Douglas E. Riley, Secretary

3-89

To Increase Involvement in
the Lutheran Council in the U.S.A.

WHEREAS, We as acongregation have always rejoiced in the
fact that Lutherans from all traditions have joined together in
the mission which the Lord has given us in this time and place;
an

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Council in the U.S.A. has provided
a vehicle for the vast majority of Lutherans in this country to
join together in mission and ministry since 1967; and

WHEREAS, The Council continues to be the primary means
whereby our congregation can be involved in refugee place-
ment, relief efforts, military ministry, campus ministries,
social service ministries, film production and distribution, and
regional mission planning; and

WHEREAS, Three of the Council's five member church bodies
are preparing to unite in 1988, thus possibly making necessary
arealignment of some Council programs and a continuation of
others; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention reaffirm its commit-
ment to the Lutheran Council in the U.S.A.; and be it further

Resolved, That all changes made in Council programs be
done with the goal of enhancing mission, ministry, and
cooperation: and be it further
_ Resolved, That the Synod increase its level of involvement
in the Council through the coming years.

Resurrection Lutheran Church
Franklin, N.C.

Walter Roth, President

Verlie Hibbing, Secretary
Paul Kibler, Pastor

OTHER INTERCHURCH MATTERS

3-91

To Cease Participation with the ALC
and LCA in All Programs Promoted
by and Through CCCPCL

WHEREAS, Synod resolved not to publish a joint catechism
with the ALC and LCA lest this imply full church fellowship
and doctrinal agreement with those bodies (Res. 7-05, St. Louis,
1979); and

WHEREAS, The door is still open to work in the areas of
parish education, worship, evangelism, youth ministry, social
ministry, and stewardship with the ALC and the LCA through
the agency known as the Coordinating Committee for Coop-
erating Projects in Congregation Life (CCCPCL); and

WHEREAS, Such joint participation in CCCPCL would give
the impression that we are in full church fellowship and
doctrinal agreement with these bodies; therefore be it

Resolved, That henceforth no programmatic board, no
synodical committee, or any individual in our Synod partici-
pate in any CCCPCL programs and projects; and be it further

Resolved, That this action become immediately effective
and binding upon adoption.

Mount Hope Lutheran Church
Casper, Wyo.

John G. Evans III, Secretary
J.B. Brown, Pastor

3-92A

To Deny Petitions for Membership in
the World Council of Churches,
the National Council of Churches,
and the Lutheran World Federation

WHEREAS, Some in our Synod continue to advocate Lu-
theran Church—Missouri Synod membership in the World
Council of Churches, the National Council of Churches, and
the Lutheran World Federation; and

WHEREAS, The WCC, the NCC, and the LWF embrace in
their fellowships many church bodies diametrically opposed to
our loyal commitment to the inerrant Word of God; and

WHEREAS, The fractured fellowship with our own commu-
nion currently demands fulltime responsibility in contending
for the truth within our Synod; and

WHEREAS, Many Christian people throughout America
would be encouraged in their witness to the truth of God's Word
by a decision of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod un-
equivocally and decisively to reject any and all involvements
with the anti-Christian and modernistic WCC, NCC, and LWF;
therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
declare itself out of harmony with and in Biblical opposition to
the World Council of Churches, the National Council of
Churches, and the Lutheran World Federation; and be it
further

Resolved, That we register the seriousness of our protest by
withdrawing any and all sundry commitments we may have in
official and. or unofficial association with the WCC, NCC, and
LWF as now constituted; and be it finally

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
unreservedly reject any and all overtures to identify with these
groups as now constituted.

St. Thomas Lutheran Church
Rocky River, Ohio

Richard Dorow. President
Kenneth Maver. Secretary

Identical or similar:

3-92B

Mt. Hope, Casper, Wyo. J.B. Brown

3-93

To Encourage Relations
with Lutheran Church of Australia

WHEREAS, Particularly through the former Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Australia (ELCA), which in 1966 merged
with the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Australia
(UELCA) to form the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA).
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has deep historical
and theological bonds with this LCA; and

WHEREAS, Despite the LCA’s decision at its constituting
convention to pursue the fellowship question ‘with urgency”
(1966 Report, p. 14), it has so far not been possible for the LCA
to sort out its ecumenical fellowship relations; and

WHEREAS, The LCA will be asked to consider full member-
ship, though with certain reservations, in the Lutheran World
Federation; and

WHEREAS, Inits Document of Union the LCA itself officially
confesses “that wherever continued cooperation in the preach-
ing of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments and
worship exists, there we have a witness to the world of unity in
the faith and a profession of church fellowship” (par. 5), and
also recognizes as the LWF’s unresolved “‘ecclesiological prob-
lem” the question: “Can a federation with a specific doctrinal