LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1965, Page 101

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DOCTRINAL MATTERS 101

Wuereas, The commission is already burdened with
many questions of unequal significance and is thus de-
“Jayed in supplying answers to questions of general
significance; and
Wuereas, Such delay increases the dissatisfaction
within the Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That we urge concerned persons and
groups to deal thoroughly with doctrinal problems on
the local level before referring them to the Commission
on Theology and Church Relations; and be it further

Resolved, That laymen be drawn into these discus-
sions; and be it further

Resolved, That we remind ourselves that doctrinal
study is neither a mere intellectual exercise nor an end
in itself, but that it must serve the total mission of the
church; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations evaluate carefully the matters re-
ferred to it on the basis of their general or local signifi-
cance, lest the latter preempt the commission’s time
to such an extent that it cannot properly address itself
to the total mission of the church in the world.

Action: This resolution was adopted.

To Concur in Response by Commission
on Theology and Church Relations
to Propositions 1 and 2 of Memorial 331
Cleveland “Proceedings”

RESOLUTION 2-29

Reports 2-01, Appendix A (CW, p.39); 3-45: Supple-
ment... (separate printing, pp. 35—37)

Overtures 2-15, 2-16, 2-17a, 2-18 (CW, pp. 61—66)

Wuerras, The Cleveland convention assigned Me-
morial 331 with its 15 propositions for study and report;
and

Wuereas, The Commission on Theology and Church
Relations is reporting to this convention the results of
its study of Proposition 1 (regarding the six days of
the creation) and Proposition 2 (regarding the histori-
city of Creation and the Fall; see “A Response to
Questions Raised by Memorial 331, Propositions 1 and
2,” Supplement to the Report and Recommendations
of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations,
pp. 35—37); and

Wuereas, The commission states that its report “does
not offer specific answers to specific questions” and
that it “believes that it is not possible to give simple
yes or no answers to the questions of Memorial 331
as they are worded” (p.35); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod concur in the recom-
mendation of the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations that these and all other questions be studied

“in the light of the approach to the Scriptures that
is enunciated in the Lutheran Confessions” (ibid.),

namely, that the article of justification by faith is the
perspective from which all of Scripture is to be ap-
proached (p.36), and that “the Lutheran emphasis on
the necessity of understanding the Scriptures in their
grammatical-historical sense is, in the last analysis,
part and parcel of the Lutheran Law-Gospel emphasis”
(p. 36); and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod herewith instruct the
commission to meet the concerns of Propositions 1 and
2 by carrying out its own urgent recommendations of
a broadly based and comprehensive study of the Bib-
lical hermeneutical principles involved according to
paragraph 7, p.36, of its supplementary report; and
be it further

Resolved, That the Synod sincerely thank its greatly
burdened Commission on Theology and Church Rela-
tions for the work it has accomplished so far and pray
the blessings and guidance of God’s Holy Spirit on its
future labors; and be it finally

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod reaffirms its belief that Adam and Eve were
historical persons who fell into sin and were redeemed
by our Lord Jesus Christ, and that it abide by its
official pronouncement regarding these matters as ex-
pressed in the Formula of Concord, Epitome, Art. J;
Formula of Concord, Thorough Declaration, Art. I;
Brief Statement, paragraphs 5, 6, 7.

Action: This resolution was adopted.

To Accept the Commission on Theology
and Church Relations Report Regarding 1962
Memorial 338 Dealing with Clear Passages

in Establishing Doctrine

RESOLUTION 2-30

Report 2-01, Appendix A, “B. Memorial 338” (CW,
pp. 39, 40)

Wuereas, The Cleveland convention referred certain
memorials (338, 339, 340, and 331, Proceedings, 1962,
pp. 104, 105) to the newly established Commission on
Theology and Church Relations for study with instruc-
tions to report to the next synodical convention; and

Wuereas, The Commission on Theology and Church
Relations responds to Memorial 338 (Proceedings, 1962,
p. 105) by setting forth “considerations basic in the use
of Bible passages in establishing a doctrine,” as well
as a number of conclusions; and

Wuereas, The convention, on examination of these
considerations and conclusions, finds itself in general
agreement with them; and

Wuereas, The purpose of the study and report of
the Commission on Theology and Church Relations is
to furnish guidance and instruction to the membership
of the Synod in this matter; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod accept these basic con-

siderations and conclusions as a brief outline of her-
meneutic principle in the use of Scripture in establish-