LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 121

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 121

basis act in essential church work (in sacris) on behalf of its
member Churches without itself assuming the character of
Church in the New Testament sense?” (par. 16a); and

WHEREAS, The historical-critical destruction of Biblical
authority, as widely prevalent in the Lutheran World Federa-
tion, stands in the sharpest possible contrast to the LCA’s
solemn public confession, in its “Theses of Agreement” and in
further statements, of the full inspiration and inerrancy of
Holy Scripture (e.g. the LCA’s specific rejection of the view
“that what according to clear biblical statements ‘actually is or
actually happened’ may be regarded as what actually is not or
actually did not happen” and the description of certain his-
torical-critical assumptions as “an attack not only on the
apostolicity of the Church (Eph. 2:20), but on the very Lordship
of Christ” [1972 Report, pp. 360, 362]); and

WHEREAS, We owe one another the sort of faithful mutual
concern for the shared treasures of our precious orthodox
confession which the former ELCA exhibited when ata time of
great crisis in the Missouri Synod it sent a formal and fraternal
letter of admonition to the Missouri Synod, dealing with the
very issues of Scripture, church, and ecumenism which are now
also agitating the LCA itself (cf. 1962 ELCA Report. pp. 36—
38); therefore be it

Resolved, That the CTCR together with the President of
Synod be authorized to consider and, if they deem it advisable,
to draft and send to the LCA a letter of encouragement—in the
spirit of mutual regard and concern, not of interference or
censoriousness—expressing appropriate concerns and offering
collegial consultations and particularly a close collaboration
in seeking a worldwide fraternal and orthodox Lutheran
settlement and concord in those questions concerning Scrip-
ture and church fellowship which challenge all our churches in
our time.

Faculty

Concordia Theological Seminary
For Wayne, Ind.

Norbert H. Mueller, Secretary

3-94A

To Exercise Doctrinal Supervision of LCMS
Campus Ministries

WHEREAS, A segment of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod campus chaplains have sought permission to practice
intercommunion hospitality with Roman Catholic campus
chapels; and

WHEREAS, The Scriptural and Confessional position of the
LCMS is far removed from official Roman Catholic doctrine;
and

WHEREAS, The practice of unionism has been openly
advocated and practiced in some of the LCMS campus
ministries; therefore be it

Resolved, That the office of the President of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod be directed to exercise doctrinal
supervision and discipline in accord with the Scriptural,
Confessional, and Constitutional stance of the LCMS over the
campus ministries of the Synod.

Our Saviour Lutheran Church
Vernal, Utah
Russ Case, President

Roberta Johnson, Secretary
David L. Bahn, Pastor

Identical or similar:

3-94B to 3-94D

Messiah, Grand Junction, Colo.
Redeemer, Delta, Colo.
Beautiful Savior, Broomfield, Colo.

John W. Meyer
Alvin Hahn
Harlan Harnapp

3-95

To Strengthen Discipline for Stronger
Unity in Doctrine and Practice

WHEREAS, Since God wants Christians to have unity in
doctrine and practice, Synod has written as one ofits objectives
under Art. III:

The Synod, under Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions,
shall—
Conserve and promote the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4:3-6; 1

Cor. 1:10), work through its official structure toward fellowship with

other Christian church bodies. and provide a united defense against

schism, sectarianism (Rom. 16:17), and heresy; and

WHEREAS, The Synod’'s Constitution, in harmony with
Scripture, requires this of its members as conditions for
acquiring and holding membership (Art. VI); and

WHEREAS, The synodical President is required by the Con-
stitution to supervise doctrine and practice to bring this about
(Art. XI, B):, and

WHEREAS, District Presidents are required to do the same
(Bylaws 3.71, 3.73, and 3.75); and

WHEREAS, Unionism continues to plague and prevent the
full unity of our beloved Synod because of continuing incidents
of participation in mixed confession worship services and
wedding services and in charismatic movement meetings and
rallies, even though Res. 3-27, ‘To Promote Proper Discipline,”
was passed at our 1977 Dallas convention (Proceedings. p. 137):
and

WHEREAS, Bylaw 8.13 states that the District President may
on his own initiative institute proceedings and take adminis-
trative action: therefore be it

Resolved, That the synodical President shall carry out the
duties of his office (Art. XI, B), especially as it relates to
supervision of the doctrine and administration of all District
Presidents, to admonish all who in any way depart from the
Synod’s Constitution; and be it further

Resolved, That every District President shall represent the
Synod in his respective territory to cause the resolutions of the
Synod to be implemented in his District and to supervise the
doctrine, the life, and the official practice on the part of the
pastors and teachers of his District, thus following the synodi-
cal President’s leadership in promoting and maintaining
stronger unity of doctrine and practice in a//the Districts of our
beloved Synod.

St. Peter Lutheran Church
Hilbert, Wis.

Delmar Schroeder, President
Dean Bergelin, Secretary
Gene R. Kangas, Pastor

3-96

To Terminate Unionistic Activities

WHEREAS, By becoming members of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod, the pastors and congregations,
strictly voluntarily, accept the conditions as outlined and set
forth in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, Involvement in the services and sacramental
rites of heterodox congregations or congregations of mixed
confession (Constitution, Article VI 2 b) is expressly forbidden
and thus is a violation of the conditions for membershp in The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and

WHEREAS, Public violations of these conditions for member-
ship in the Synod through involvement in unionistic services
of worship (including those sometimes labelled “rallies” and
“celebrations”’) by member clergy and congregations of the
Synod have been thoroughly documented throughout the
church; and

WHEREAS, Such unionism violates ‘the conservation and
promotion of the unity of the true faith” (Eph. 4:3-6; 1 Cor. 1:10)
and ‘“‘a united defense against schisro and sectarianism” (Rom.