LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1965, Page 207

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3. CHURCH RELATIONS 207

its constitution (doctrina publica), there is all the more
reason to reject such a church (Lehre und Wehre, 1879,
p. 5). The Finnish State Church is one of the member
churches of the Lutheran World Federation. However,
in renewing its church law in 1870, it altered its con-
fessional article in such a way that adherence to the
doctrine of the Lutheran Confessions is no longer obli-
gatory. In addition to this, the Finnish State Church
has officially entered into pulpit and altar fellowship
with the Anglican Church of England and the Cal-
vinistic Church of Scotland. It also belongs to the World
Council of Churches. After the Lutheran World Federa-
tion Assembly at Helsinki a state church professor
wrote as follows: “The confessional Lutheran unity of
doctrine being centered around the doctrine of justifi-
cation and depending on it has in reality disappeared.
No common doctrine of the church unites the churches
belonging to the Lutheran World Federation.” (Prof.
Haikola, Teol. Aik., No. 1, 1964, p. 12)

Wuereas, the Lutheran World Federation and the
proposed Lutheran Council in the U.S. A. are not ortho-
dox church associations, we sincerely urge you to
refrain from making any decisions that would result
in The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod joining
these church associations. We should also like to call
your attention to the fact that even in adiaphora the
Lutheran Confessions, referring to 2 Cor. 6: 14, warn
against acting in a manner that would give the impres-
sion that we are in agreement with churches that
tolerate false doctrine and that such churches would
“become one body” (in unum corpus coaluissent) .
(Formula of Concord, Art. X)

Our sincere hope is that during these trying times
every effort would be made to strengthen the unity
of the faithful Lutherans and to avoid everything that
would jeopardize such unity.

The Lutheran Free Church of Finland on the basis
of God’s Word wishes to continue to travel the road of
true Lutheranism, which it has traveled together with
The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. On this road
we have been greatly helped and encouraged by The
Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod not only in the
area of doctrine but also in the area of practical church
work. For all this we are sincerely grateful. As you
continue to promote and to defend our common cause,
we wish to say to you: “Brethren, be strong in the
Lord.”

Free Ev. LUTHERAN CHURCH OF FINLAND
R. L. Errarmson, President
M. Sareza, Secretary

[3-38 Un] .
To Refuse to Seek Membership
in the Lutheran World Federation

Wuereas, The Lutheran World Federation has ac-
cepted into its membership a number of church groups
which admit members of the anti-Christian Masonic
lodge into their fellowship; and

Wuereas, Some who belong to the Lutheran World

Federation are known to be sympathetic to the efforts
of the atheistic communism; and

Wuereas, Some of the churches holding membership
in the Lutheran World Federation hold membership
in the unionistic and dangerous World Council of
Churches; and

Wuereas, Dr. J. A. O. Preus, president of Concordia
Theological Seminary, Springfield, Ill, and official Mis-
souri Synod observer at the Helsinki meeting of the
Lutheran World Federation, has expressed himself as
being opposed to the idea of the Synod’s joining the
Lutheran World Federation; and

WuerEas, A great amount of diversity of doctrine
and practice exists among members of the Lutheran
World Federation; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod at its June 1965 convention refuse to seek mem-
bership in the Lutheran World Federation.

MEMBERS OF THE VOTERS’ ASSEMBLY
St. Marruew’s LuTHEeran Cuurcu
Hudson, N. Y.

ALFRED WAGNER

STANLEY McIntosu

HENRY Koester

ARTHUR A. FRANK

Wo. RHINEHART

Martin R. HENNIG

GEORGE LEIsu

Louis MuELLer

GEORGE WOLKLAGER

MERLIN W. HorFsterrer

HERBERT P, Montuiu

HERMAN R,. Fink, Jr,

[3-39 Un]

To Request India Evangelical Lutheran
Church to Withdraw from Membership
in the Federation of Evangelical Lutheran
Churches, ete.

Wuereas, Ecumenical Press Service (Dec. 24, 1964)
reported:

Affiliation with the Federation of Evangelical Lutheran
Churches in India has been given final approval by the
India Evangelical Lutheran Church, a “sister synod”
of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod (USA). The
decision means that the 35,000 member church will form
part of an organization which is a member of the World
Council of Churches. Until now the IELC has had only
an observer relationship with the Federation, which is
the common agency of eight other Indian Lutheran
churches having a combined membership of 718,000.

and

Wuereas, A portion of the funds contributed by Mis-
souri Synod Lutherans for missions has already gone
to the World Council of Churches through the India
Evangelical Lutheran Church (Executive Council Min-
utes of the India Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1961,
section 61.191); and

Wuereas, The India Evangelical Lutheran Church