LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1965, Page 105

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3 f£ American Lutheran church life to the
Pree has tended to hamper the free course of the
i and the development of church unity among the
j who have been gathered by the various Lu-
theran missions.
“Jn this connection the church will do well to take
sie of the following factors: the renewed emphasis on
ithe Biblical doctrine of the church; the formation of sister
daughter churches; a worldwide sensitivity to na-
‘ional cultures; considerations of good stewardship; and
the growing consensus among Lutheran churches in for-
ion fields. These developments bring to the fore ques-
fions relating particularly to pulpit and altar fellowship
among the various Lutheran mission churches and to co-
operation in the training of pastors and other church

workers.

” Aware of these developments and in response to the
"4962 convention of the Synod (Resolution 3-11) the Com-
“mission on Theology and Church Relations, in consulta-
“tion with the mission boards involved, recommends the
following theological principles for adoption by the Synod
at its 1965 convention:

4. The New Testament constrains all believers to wit-
ness to Jesus Christ and to preach the Gospel, Matt. 28:19,

20; Acts 1:8.

2. The New Testament emphasizes the unity and the
*“gneness which all baptized believers possess in Jesus
Christ. It also speaks of the Christians’ privilege and
duty of manifesting this unity to one another and to those
who are not yet of the household of faith, 1 Cor. 1: 10-13;
Eph. 4:1-6; John 17:20-23.

3. In keeping with Scriptural teaching, the Symbolical
Books of the Lutheran Church state that it is sufficient
for the true unity of the church that there be agreement
on the doctrine of the Gospel and that the sacraments be
administered as instituted by our Lord, AC VII.

4, The New Testament assumes that the body of be-
lievers in a given place has the evangelical freedom which
is essential for the church’s basic duties of proclaiming
the Gospel, of preserving the purity of doctrine, and of
manifesting her essential unity, 1Cor.1:4-9. Christian
congregations in a given area who are united under their
common Lord by a common faith and a united confession
have the right and duty to determine how they can best
fulfill their God-given responsibilities.

5. The example of the apostolic church in the New
Testament indicates that the parent church will continue
to manifest responsibility and concern for the daughter
church as it develops, Acts 8:14; 15:6-32, and that the
daughter church will manifest the same attitudes toward
the parent church, Acts 15:2; 2 Cor.8 and 9. In the Synod
the daughter churches manifest these attitudes particu-
larly by working in close consultation with the respective
mission boards. However, it should be remembered that
the New Testament places the ultimate responsibility on
the church and the pastor(s) in a given place for preach-
ing the Gospel, maintaining purity of doctrine, and prac-
ticing church fellowship, Acts 20:28-31; 2 Tim. 4:1-5;
Titus 3:10.

The responsibility of working toward the establishing
of pulpit and altar fellowship within the limits of these
principles, and of publicly declaring it when the necessary
conditions have been fulfilled rests primarily on the
churches in a given area. The unity must be established
on the basis of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.

While such endeavors are being carried on and when
by the grace of God they have been consummated, the
Synod pledges itself to continued financial support so
long as the need exists or until circumstances dictate
otherwise.

Cooperative theological training and other related en-
deavors are to be explored by the mission churches in
the interest of united confessional Lutheranism and of
good stewardship of manpower and money. Specific plans
and arrangements are to be developed in consultation
{ with the respective mission boards.

}
}

Action: This resolution was adopted.

CHURCH RELATIONS 105

To Invite the Evangelical Lutheran Synod
and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran
Synod to Resume Discussions, ete.
RESOLUTION 3-05

Overture 2-01, para. 41 (CW, p.36)

Wuereas, The Lord of the church urges us to “walk
worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all
lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing
one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of
the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-3); there-
fore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod again extend heartfelt invitations to the Evan-
gelical Lutheran Synod and the Wisconsin Evangelical
Lutheran Synod to resume discussions with us on the
basis of Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions
and earnestly urge these synods to accept these invita-
tions for the purpose of restoring the bonds of fellowship
which once existed; and be it further

Resolved, That the President of the Synod contact
the respective synods and make every effort to arrange
the resumption of such conversations; and be it further

Resolved, That the President of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod in consultation with the Com-
mission on Theology and Church Relations appoint a
special committee for carrying on these discussions as
soon as this invitation is accepted; and be it further

Resolved, That these discussions be encouraged on
the local level as well as on the synodical level; and
be it further

Resolved, That we commend and thank President
Harms for the efforts he has made to bring about such
conversations; and be it finally

Resolved, That we ask our heavenly Father’s bless-
ings upon the invitations as well as upon future dis-
cussion.

Action: This resolution was adopted.

To Continue Discussions with The American
Lutheran Church

RESOLUTION 3-06

Report 2-01, paras. 24, 51, 52 (CW, pp. 34, 37)
Overtures 3-25, 3-31, 3-32, (CW, pp. 104, 106)

Wuereas, Upon the invitation of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod, extended to The American
Lutheran Church, to engage in theological conversations
“for the purpose of seeking a God-pleasing unity and
fellowship” (Proceedings, 1959, p. 196), meetings were
held by representatives of both church bodies in 1964
and in 1965; and

Wuereas, Additional meetings are contemplated;
therefore be it

Resolved, That this convention express its joy over