LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1986, Page 224

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224 LATE REPORTS AND OVERTURES

church and as the church may affect such social issues”;
and

Wuereas, The Synod in convention resolved in 1983
“that the Synod support expanded budget and staff ap-
propriations for the study of social-ethical concerns and
issues when additional funds become available”; and

Wuereas, There are increasing demands for the
CTCR’s involvement in the area of church relations; and

Wuergas, The CTCR from its founding in 1962 until
1981 was composed of 8 professors, 7 pastors, 6 laymen,
and 2 teachers, but since 1982 has had a membership of
5 laymen, 4 pastors, 3 professors, and 1 teacher; and

Wuereas, The CTCR believes that social-ethical and
church-relations issues should continue to be addressed
from a thoroughly theological perspective; and

Wuereas, The CTCR concurs with President Bohl-
mann’s recommendation that there is a need for additional
attention to church and society matters; therefore be it

Resolved, That CTCR membership be increased by
three theologians, one to be elected by each of the Synod’s
American seminaries, and one representative to be se-
lected by the President of the Synod from the faculties of
the synodical colleges.

Commission on Theology and Church Relations
Samuel Nafzger, Executive Secretary

L3-100

To List Articles of Doctrine on Which
Agreement Is Required for Fellowship

Wuereas, The discussion of altar and pulpit fellowship
is an ongoing issue in The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod; and

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod re-
quires complete agreement in “doctrine and in all its ar-
ticles as well as the right use of the holy sacraments” (FC
Ep 7); and

Wuereas, In order to engage meaningfully in fellowship
discussions with other church bodies it is obvious that
there ought to be a delineation of the contents of “doctrine
and all its articles” so that fruitful progress can be
achieved; therefore be it

Resolved, That the joint pastoral conference of the Cal-
ifornia-Nevada-Hawaii District of the LCMS meeting at
Santa Rosa, Calif., April 8-10, 1986, memorialize the 1986
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod convention in Indi-
anapolis, Ind., to direct the appropriate synodical entity to
formulate a list of all the articles of doctrine which must
be agreed upon before fellowship can be declared so that
members of the Synod may know on what basis the Synod
enters into fellowship and so that the Synod will be en-
couraged to enter into fellowship discussions in the future.

CNH District Pastoral Conference
Steven R. Green, Secretary

L3-101

To Reject Toleration of Opposing
Doctrinal Positions

Wuereas, Scripture asks, “Can two walk together ex-
cept they be agreed?” and the context in which the question
is asked refers to doctrine; and

Wuereas, Scripture further demands, “Mark those who
cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which
you have learned”; and

Wuereas, Contrary to “assurances that all is well with
the LCMS doctrinally,” it is perfectly obvious to an in-
creasing proportion of our membership—both from per-
sonal observation and from reports made via the public
media—that we still have doctrinal difficulties of a serious
nature within our body, and therefore serious difficulties
also in our public practice; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
in its 56th Regular Convention at Indianapolis, Ind., reject
the concept of pluralism in doctrine and in practice for the
sake of better public image and more favorable public re-
lations, and reaffirm its reliance upon the power of God’s
Word in order to accomplish its objectives and meet its
obligations.

Trinity Lutheran Church
Worden, IL

Harold Loeh, Chairman
Noel Lynn Ogden, Secretary
David J. Behling, Pastor

L3-102
To Terminate Unionistic Practices

Wuereas, Some pastors and congregations holding
membership in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
are at times practicing altar and pulpit fellowship with
other denominations and congregations affiliated with
other religious bodies with which we have not officially
declared ourselves to be in fellowship; and

Wuereas, Such actions—with other Lutheran bodies
and non-Lutheran bodies—have caused confusion and con-
cern among many pastors and laymen of our Synod and
remain an offense to faithful members of the Synod; and

Wuereas, Apparent lack of discipline of those partici-
pating in such actions has had the sad result of clergy and
laity terminating their association with The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod and affiliating with other Lu-
theran groups; therefore be it

Resolved, That all district presidents and circuit coun-
selors be formally charged with the obligation of publicly
and privately discouraging any and all unionistic practices
within their respective jurisdictions; and be it further

Resolved, That any district president or circuit coun-
selor who does not faithfully discharge the above obligation
be removed from office immediately, and be made to show
cause why they should not be removed from the clergy