LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1965, Page 209

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4, SYNODICAL ADMINISTRATION 209

a Scripture-based evaluation of the findings of the
aforesaid report in regard to the Scriptural principles
of church fellowship as these apply to the issue of the
Synod’s joining the Lutheran World Federation, and
also of the findings of the aforesaid report in regard to
the Lutheran World Federation itself, noting especially
the items listed hereinunder.

A. Church Fellowship —

The devil knows very well that by robbing the Church
of the true doctrine of Fellowship, he is removing not
merely one doctrine, but every doctrine! It is clear then
that this issue, far from being “secondary” or “periph-
eral,” actually goes to the very heart of Christianity,
since it is an index of how seriously we take not this or
that aspect of our religion, but the whole thing. (“The
E.L.C.A. at the Crossroads in 1965,” p. 52)

B. Lutheran World Federation —

In the first place, the L.W.F. acts as, and therefore
is, a church. (Ib., p.53)

The second vital fact to be kept in mind when eval-
uating the L. W.F. is that it represents an unbelievable
doctrinal chaos and corruption. Though its constitution
pays lip-service to the Lutheran Confessions, the L. W.F.
has received into membership churches like the Pom-
eranian, which is officially part of a union church in
which the Lutheran and Reformed, or Calvinistic, Con-
fessions have equal standing and force; the Church of
Wuerttemberg, which is officially in altar fellowship with
Reformed and “united” churches; the Churches of Swe-
den and Finland, which are officially in full altar and
pulpit fellowship with the Reformed, Anglican Church
of England, and the Presbyterian Church of Scotland;
and so on. (Ib., p.54)

The third fact to be noted is that according to its
constitution (III,2,d) one of its functions is to “foster
Lutheran interest in, concern for, and participation in
ecumenical movements.” In practice this, of course,
means the World Council of Churches, which, despite
its enlarged doctrinal basis, continues to permit member
churches, like the Remonstrant Brotherhood of the Neth-
erlands, to reject the doctrine of the Trinity, and to in-
terpret the doctrinal basis accordingly (The New Delhi
Report of the W. C. C.’s 1961 Assembly, pp. 153, 157, 159).
(Ib., p. 55)

It is clear, then, that to say yes to the L. W.F. is to
say yes to Unionism, Liberalism, World Council of
Churches’ ecumenism, in short, to apostasy. (Ib., p. 55)

IV. Thank the Parish Education Committee of the
Queensland District of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
of Australia for its evaluation of Church Fellowship and
the Lutheran World Federation.

ARNOLD H. GEBHARDT
Hooper, Nebraska

4. Synodical Administration
[4-49 Un]

To Commend the President and
Vice-Presidents of the Northwest District, etc.

Wuereas, The President and Vice-Presidents of the
Northwest District, taking note of certain doctrinal
conditions and matters in the Synod, have memorialized
the Synod concerning these matters (cf. Overture 2-25,
Convention Workbook, p. 73); and

Whereas, This overture speaks toward doctrinal
matters which have been and continue to be the urgent
concern of the Synod; and

Wuereas, The President and Vice-Presidents of the
District acted within their proper responsibility as over-
seers of doctrine and practice within the Synod and
the Northwest District thereof; and

Wuereas, We recognize our responsibility to (1) up-
hold and support our officials in the District and the
Synod in the proper function of their offices and
(2) support by prayer and action the goal of a proper
doctrinal unity of the Synod under the Gospel of
Christ; therefore be it

Resolved, That we commend the President and Vice-
Presidents of the Northwest District for fulfilling the
responsibilities of their offices through the above-men-
tioned memorial; and be it further

Resolved, That we express our encouragement to
and confidence in our synodical officials for the proper
handling of the concerns of the above-mentioned over-
ture; and be it finally

Resolved, That we earnestly encourage all the mem-
bers of our conference to express their individual
concerns and thoughts to the Synod on the matters
contained in and referred to by the above-mentioned
overture.

INLAND Empire PastoraL CONFERENCE
BERNHARD Kuss, Secretary

[4-50 Un]

To Approve Unification of State of Wyoming
Within Boundaries of One District

Wuereas, District realignments are approved only by
the Synod; and

Wuereas, The Northern Nebraska District and the
Southern Nebraska District are subject to the synodical
realignment committee’s recommendation at the 1965
synodical convention and its action; and

Wuereas, This synodical committee may determine
that the Northern Nebraska District and the Southern
Nebraska District union may not be feasible at this
time; and

Wuereas, Congregations of Wyoming have petitioned
the Synod to unify Wyoming within the boundaries of
a single District (whether the District be the Northern
Nebraska District, the Southern Nebraska District, the
pending Nebraska District, the Colorado District, or the
Wyoming District) and this remains a matter of synodi-
cal decision; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Northern Nebraska District con-
vention approve such action, that is, the unification of
Wyoming within the boundaries of a single District; and
be it further

Resolved, That the Northern Nebraska District en-
courage the Synod to carry out such action as expressed
by the petition of the Wyoming congregations at the 1965
synodical convention.

NorTHERN NEBRASKA DISTRICT
B. MEscuKe, Secretary