LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1962, Page 180

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180 UNPRINTED MEMORIALS

16:17, 18. See, e.g, Constitution, Missouri Synod, Ar-
ticles III, 1, 8; XI; XII; therefore be it

Resolved, That in an evangelical concern for souls
exposed to error we call on synodical officials, through
the President, to carry out discipline in cases of public
false teaching in accordance with the Scriptural prin-
ciples correctly set forth above; and be it further

Resolved, That we reject every misuse of Matthew
18, especially the misuse of demanding that individuals
meet personally with men whose teaching is a matter
of public offense; and be it finally

Resolved, That we equally reject substitution of
appeals to a vague and formless “law of love” unsup-
ported by clear Scripture in place of the Scriptural
principle correctly set forth above.

Sr. Jonn’s LUTHERAN CONGREGATION
Clinton, Iowa
Joun M. Ruame, Secretary of
CoMMITTEE ON DOCTINAL AND
SynopicaL MATTERS
[353]

To Remove Obstacles to Reunion
with Those Who Have Left the Synod

Wuereas, Certain pastors and congregations which
were once in fellowship with the Missouri Synod have
broken off relations with our Synod (or were forced
out of membership), some declaring that their con-
science led to this action; and

Wuereas, We should examine the Scriptural prin-
ciples which would lead to such a serious break in
relations; and

Wuereas, Examination of many of these fractures in
fellowship reveal that their convictions are based on
Scriptural motivation, e. g.:

1. They are forced by Romans 16:17 to avoid the
heretics which are being exposed in our Synod;

2. They consider the charge of heterodoxy leveled
at our Synod to be true since our church has tolerated
the false doctrine of Dr. Martin Scharlemann and others
and does nothing effectively to correct the situation;

3. They grow weary of the task of witnessing to
a Synod that so far has blindly followed its leaders who
do not effectively exercise the duties of their office to
preserve the confessional principle among us; and

Wuereas, These former brethren, just because of
their adherence to convictions based on Scripture, be-
long in our Synod and should be urged to rejoin us;
therefore be it

Resolved, That our Missouri Synod, in convention
assembled, speedily remove the obstacles to reunion
with these brethren by correcting the abuses of doctrine
and practice that are current in our Synod.

Car. HorrMeyver, Hamler, Ohio
L. J. Rauscu, Florida, Ohio
Pau. LEHENBAUER, Deshler, Ohio

[354]

To Elect a Special Committee to Conduct
an Investigation of Theology Taught
at St. Louis Seminary, etc.

Wuereas, Various charges of false doctrine have been
raised by individuals and congregations against certain
members of the faculty of the St. Louis seminary; and

Wuereas, The administration of said seminary has
consistently denied such charges; and

Wuereas, Those who have raised the charges of false
doctrine claim to have the necessary documentary evi-
dence to support their charges; therefore be it

Resolved, That the convention elect a special com-
mittee whose sole duty it shall be to conduct a thorough
investigation of the theology taught at Concordia Sem-
inary, St. Louis; and be it further

Resolved, That the convention direct the Synod’s
Board of Appeals to turn over to this special investigat-
ing committee the 1050-page transcript with some 87
exhibits of a complex case involving the theology taught
at said Concordia Seminary; and be it

Resolved, That the report of this committee be pub-
lished in the Lutheran Witness and that the Praesidium
of the Synod then take immediate steps to correct what-
ever may need correcting.

SaLemM LUTHERAN CONGREGATION
Malone, Tex.
Leonarp Kappatz, Secretary
Francis Macuina, Pastor
[356]

Expression of Concern that “Statement
on the Form and Function of the Holy

Scriptures” “Is Not Sufficiently Clear” etc.

During the first months of this year the pastors of
the Collinsville Circuit of the Southern Illinois District
spent several sessions discussing the “A Statement on
the Form and Function of the Holy Scriptures” as pre-
sented in the Lutheran Witness of April 4, 1961.

From these discussions the Southern Illinois District
Collinsville Circuit Pastoral Conference expresses its
concern: not in relation to the “Statement’s” positive
expressions but rather because it is not sufficiently def-
inite to guard against misinterpretation of its own ex-

pressions. (4) rmNsvILLE Circurr PASTORAL CONFERENCE
SouTHERN Intuvors District
Frep A. Duensine, Secretary
[357]
To Investigate and Take Appropriate Action
re Some Sections in “Adventuring
in the Church”

Wuereas, The doctrine of the resurrection of the
body is such a fundamental doctrine of the church; and

Wuereas, The catechism plainly states (Question