LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1965, Page 234

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234 UNPUBLISHED REPORTS AND OVERTURES

Jewish Theological Seminary of America, pop gospel,
“the bogy” of interracial marriage, etc. There was one
mention of Lutheran activity, and that was the little
item on Valpo students gathering books for the Miles
College library in Birmingham. It is mentioned that
Miles is a church-related college, but the denomination
is not given. The title of “Commentary & Report”
would seem misleading for this section of your paper
as there is no commentary. All of these excerpts from
the news are simply inserted here with no commentary.
Naturally most of them are complimentary to the
groups involved because most of them are written
by members of those groups. The logical conclusion for
the young readers, since these items appear in their
publication with no adverse comment, is that the or-
ganizations mentioned are accepted by our church in
the terms expressed in the article. We would urge that
comments be added or that this report section be con-
fined to the work of our own Synod.

Another item of some concern is the series of articles
in which a Methodist, a Presbyterian, or someone of
another faith is allowed to criticize our church and its
policies with no rebuttal or conclusion by the writers
for the Lutheran side of the issue. To provoke questions
and to offer no answers can be a dangerous thing. The
rest of the world is always heaping on the questions;
our duty must be at least to offer the answers.

We object also to the insinuation that any Christian
young man or woman who is enlightened and strength-
ened by the Holy Ghost should be willing to take the
lead in interracial marriage, and to the fact that such
marriage is advocated on the basis of Gal. 3:28: “There
is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor
free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one
in Christ Jesus.”

While we gladly admit that this passage strikes
against social and racial favoritism in the Christian
churches and that it states most clearly that such dif-
ferences of station do not exist before God, we maintain
that to give this passage a sexual twist, to use it to
deny the reality of race, is only a step from allowing
someone to use this same passage to advocate one world
government or to justify homosexual behavior.

We are not against equality for the races; we are
not opposed to our church facing its social obligations;
but we do ask that we all remember that our first obli-
gation is to our Lord and Savior and that He should
be first in all of our work and speech, including our
publications. We ask that the material produced by our
church be “good and edifying” to the highest possible
degree. We suggest that a series of historical articles
on the heroes of faith—especially those within our
own Synod — would be well in place. We would like
to see any future articles on Lutherans by outsiders
(Gif we must have them) run in parallel with expres-
sions by a good staunch Lutheran on the same points.
We would even suggest that these might well be replaced
with articles by our men on: “Why Not the National

Council of Churches?” or “Why Lutheran Instead of
Presbyterian?”

We pray that you will help us out here in the field,
for the battle is great and the time is short.

NorTHWEST DISTRICT PASTORAL CONFERENCE
Crrcurr 10

Rev. JOHN FRESE

Rev. HENRY FRY

Rev. MayYNArRD HILGENDORF

Rev. GLENN KocH

Rev. Cari Losser

Rev. LEONARD MIETZNER

Rev. Cart RATHJEN

REv. RICHARD TSCHIRLEY

[8-09 Un]
To Place Walther League Under Complete
Control of the Synod’s Board for Young
People’s Work

Wuereas, The Walther League is memorializing the
Synod at its meeting in Detroit, requesting full financial
support; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Walther League be placed under
the complete control of the Synod’s Board for Young
People’s Work.

BoarD OF DIRECTORS
THE SOUTHERN NEBRASKA DISTRICT
THe LUTHERAN CHURCH — MissourI SYNOD

Rosert J. LEEcE, Secretary

[8-10 Un]
To Urge the Synod to Take Corrective Action
Regarding Magazine “Arena”

WuereEas, The present editorial policies of the publi-
cation Arena have been reviewed by the Youth Board
and the Board of Elders at the direction of St. Matthew’s
Lutheran Congregation, Houston, Tex., and have been
found to be lacking in fundamental Christian prin-
ciples as generally accepted and subscribed to by our
church; and

Wuereas, We object to articles of low morals, ecu-
menism, and other subject matter which is in conflict
with sound Lutheran theology and which can only re-
sult in and breed doubt and loss of faith in the youth
of our Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That we strongly urge the Synod to take
corrective action regarding this magazine and its edi-
torial staff.

St. MattHew’s Lutu. Cone.

Houston, Tex.

J. R. Tacquarp, Chairman of Youth Board

M. H. Kiescunicx, Chairman of Board of Elders
M. A. LeHmann, President of Congregation

B. Houman, Secretary of Congregation

W. W. Stratman, Pastor

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