LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1962, Page 181

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

COMMITTEE 3 181

197) that at the time of death the soul of the individual
is immediately in the presence of God; and

Wuereas, The Bible clearly states that the dead rise
in the Lord when it says: “Today shalt thou be with
Me in Paradise”; and: “Fear not them which kill the
body but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear
Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in
hell”; and: “I have a desire to depart and to be with
Christ, which is far better”; and: “Blessed are the dead
which die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the
Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their
works do follow them”: and

Wnuereas, Our church has the obligation to keep
these teachings pure from error and falsehood; and

Wuereas, The book Adventuring in the Church on
pages 148 and 149 states that the soul and the body
both die, and both rise from the dead, implying that the
soul of the believer dies; and

Wuereas, The Bible states that Christ has abolished
death and brought life and immortality to light through
the Gospel; therefore be it

Resolved, That this convention request the District
President of these men involved with the writing of this
book to investigate and take appropriate action con-
cerning this problem of the immortality of the soul.

SoutHern Circurr Pastorau CONFERENCE
Cotorapo Districr
Warren H. Scuave, Secretary

(See also unprinted Memorial 716, Committee 8, page 194)
[358]

To Appoint a Representative Committee
to Review “A Brief Statement”

Resolved, That the convention of the Synod, meeting
in Cleveland, Ohio, appoint a representative committee,
possibly the proposed Commission on Theology, whose
responsibility it will be to review thoroughly A Brief
Statement from the exegetical, symbolical, dogmatic,
historical, and practical points of view, with special at-
tention also to its adequacy and relevance for our day,
and to submit its report at a future convention of the

Synod.
yn ALBANY-ScHENECTADY-KincSTON

PastoraL CONFERENCE
Norman B. ELtine, Secretary
[359]

To Cooperate More Closely with Other
Lutheran Bodies in “Mission Planning
Activities”

Wuereas, As stewards of the vineyard of Christ, it
is necessary for the church to use its precious resources
of manpower and money in the most efficient manner,
in order that the greatest possible number of people
can be reached by the Christian witness; and

Wuereas, It is necessary for The Lutheran Church —

Missouri Synod to recognize that the Lutheran bodies
of the National Lutheran Council are also witnessing
effectively to the unchurched of America; and

Wuereas, A sense of good stewardship dictates that
we plan our mission extension activities cooperatively
with the bodies of the National Lutheran Council in
both suburb and inner city; and

Wuereas, Competition for mission fields between
The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod and the bodies
of the National Lutheran Council has on several occa-
sions within the author’s intimate knowledge of mission
extension work in one of the nation’s largest metropoli-
tan centers reached the point of tension and even bitter-
ness on the part of some of the local pastors involved
(the strife unbecoming of the conduct expected of
Christian brethren toward each other and resulting in
at least one case of a loss of face for Lutheranism as
a whole within a community); and

Wuereas, The result of the competition is that there
are often two Lutheran churches in an area where one
could easily serve (with the resulting waste of re-
sources), or no Lutheran church where one should be
planted; and

Wuereas, The need for cooperation becomes more
critical every day as new doors of mission opportunity
are opened; and

Wuereas, The formation of an inter-Lutheran agency
to succeed the National Lutheran Council is being con-
sidered, in which The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod would be an active participant; therefore be it

Resolved, That when this new inter-Lutheran agency
is established, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod,
in convention assembled, direct the Board for Missions
in North and South America to establish a closer rela-
tionship with the NLC’s Division of American Missions,
at the national, District, and local levels; and be it finally

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod work toward the day when, through prayer and
discussion, complete pulpit and altar fellowship may be
established with our brethren in the National Lutheran
Council since, in the final analysis, complete pulpit and
altar fellowship is the only means of making a greater
degree of cooperation possible.

Sam Muetter, Chicago, II.

(Substantially identical Memorial 219, by the same author,
was submitted to Committee 2)

[360]

To Consider Situation of Racine Lutheran
High School when Discussing Synodical
Conference Problems
Wnuereas, Lutheran High School of Racine, Wis., has

been operated as a school serving Synodical Conference
students for the past eighteen years; and

Wuereas, It has been a successful venture serving
many young people during these years; and
Wuereas, Because of its local success it has been an