LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1967, Page 88

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~ To Commend “A Lutheran Stance Toward
Contemporary Biblical Studies” for Study
and Discussion

RESOLUTION 2-02
Report 2-01, I, B, 4 (CW, pp. 46—47)
Overture 2-07 (CW, pp. 60—61)

A

Wuereas, The Detroit convention (Resolution 2-07,
Proceedings, 1965, p. 95) resolved that the Commission
on Theology and Church Relations conduct a compre-
hensive study of Biblical hermeneutics; and

Wuereas, This assignment does not declare a mora-
torium on Biblical study and scholarship throughout the
Synod, but on the contrary the church’s scholars as
well as all other members of the church are expected
to continue their daily study of the Scriptures; and

WnereEas, Questions have been raised regarding the
essential elements that characterize sound Biblical
studies in our time and a Lutheran stance toward such
studies; and

Wuereas, The Commission on Theology and Church
Relations has provided the membership of the Synod
with a document, “A Lutheran Stance Toward Con-
temporary Biblical Studies”; therefore be it

Resolved, That the document “A Lutheran Stance
Toward Contemporary Biblical Studies” be commended
to the Synod’s membership for study and discussion.

B

Wuereas, The responses which the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations received from members
of the Synod have been very helpful; therefore be it

Resolved, That we encourage those who have con-
cerns regarding any part of the document “A Lutheran
Stance Toward Contemporary Biblical Studies” to pre-
sent these concerns to the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations for clarification of the document; and
be it further

Resolved, That Overture 2-07 be respectfully de-
clined.

Action: Adopted,

(An amendment to substitute “pastoral conferences” for
ne. Synod’s membership” in the Resolved of 2-02A was
ost.)

To Reexamine and to Clarify “The Witness
of Jesus and Old Testament Authorship”
RESOLUTION 2-03

Report 2-01, I, B, 6 (CW, pp. 46—47)
Overture 2-08 (CW, pp. 61—62)

A

Wuereas, President Harms requested the Commis-
sion on Theology and Church Relations to begin a study
dealing with the authorship of Old Testament books;
and

| -Wuereas, The Commission on Theology and Church
Relations has provided the membership of the Synod
with the document “The Witness of Jesus and Old
Testament Authorship”; and

Wnereas, The convention is appreciative of the help-
ful contribution made by this document toward a defini-
tive answer to the larger question of the authorship of
Old Testament books; therefore be it

Resolved, That “The Witness of Jesus and Old Testa-
ment Authorship” be regarded as setting forth one as-
pect of the larger question dealing with the authorship
of Biblical books and that it be studied and discussed
in pastoral conferences with a view to testing its fidelity
to the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.

B

WHEREAS, Questions and concerns have been sub-
mitted to the commission regarding the clarity of the
language and the content of this document; therefore
be it

Resolved, That, as the commission continues its
work, it be encouraged to reexamine this document in
the light of the responses it receives; and be it further

Resolved, That the commission issue a reply to the
church which answers the questions and concerns sub-
mitted to the commission, clarifying the language and
content of the document; and be it finally

Resolved, That Resolutions 1 and 3 of Overture 2-08
be respectfully declined.

Action: Adopted as amended.

(The Second Resolved of 2-03 B was inserted by amend-
ment.)

To Adopt “A Declaration on the Status
and Use of Synodically Adopted
Doctrinal Statements”

RESOLUTION 2-04
Report 2-01, 0, B, 7 (CW, pp. 46—47)
Overture 2-92 (CW, pp. 82—85)

Wuereas, The Cleveland convention directed the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations to con-
sider the question of the status and use of synodically
adopted doctrinal statements (Brief Statement of the
Doctrinal Position of the Missouri Synod, Common Con-
fession, Parts I and II, and the Doctrinal Declaration,
in which the Synod made Specific responses to con-
temporary issues); and

Wuenreas, The confessional principle regarding doc-
trinal formulations is expressed in the Formula of Con-
cord, Solid Declaration, Rule and Norm, paragraphs
9 and 10 (Book of Concord, ed. Theodore Tappert, pp.
505—506) :

Here he [Luther] expressly asserts by way of distinc-
tion that the Word of God is and should remain the sole
writings dare be put on a par with it, but that everything
must be subjected to it.

This, of course, does not mean that other good, useful,