LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1967, Page 92

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92 THEOLOGICAL MATTERS

To Reaffirm Position on Scriptures
RESOLUTION 2-16

Overtures 2-10 to 2-16 (CW, pp. 62—65)

Wuereas, God in His grace has given to us His Holy
Word; and

Wuereas, By His grace we freely subscribe to Article
II of the Constitution of The Lutheran Church — Mis-
souri Synod:
Synod, and every member of Synod, accepts without
reservation: .

1. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as the
written Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith
and of practice;

2. All the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lu-
theran Church as a true and unadulterated statement and
exposition of the Word of God, to wit: the three Ecumeni-
cal Creeds (the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, the
Athanasian Creed), the Unaltered Augsburg Confession,
the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald
Articles, the Large Catechism of Luther, the Small Cate-
chism of Luther, and the Formula of Concord.

therefore be it

Resolved, That we pray in this day of theological un-
rest and confusion that God by His mercy keep us faith-
ful to His inspired and inerrant Word “as the only rule
and norm of faith and practice” and to the Lutheran
Confessions as a true and faithful exposition of that
Word.

Action: Adopted as amended.

(The words “and inerrant” were inserted by amendment,
Another amendment, to quote the exact words of Article Hy,
1 and 2 of the Constitution after “keep us faithful to,” failed
to carry.)

(Nore: After the convention it was reported that Over-
ture 2-16 had been withdrawn since it had been forwarded
by mistake. This does not, however, invalidate Resolution
2-16 given above, since the resolution still constitutes the
convention’s answer to Overtures 2-10 to 2-15.)

To Refer Questions Concerning Proposed
Rite for Holy Baptism
RESOLUTION 2-17

Overture 2-86 (CW, p. 81)

Wuergas, The Commission on Worship, Liturgics, and
Hymnology approved a “Proposed Rite for Holy Bap-
tism” and requested pastors of The Lutheran
.Church — Missouri Synod and the Synod of Evangelical
Lutheran Churches to use this rite in an experimental
way and to make comment to the Commission on Wor-
ship, Liturgics, and Hymnology; and

Wuereas, The “Proposed Rite for Holy Baptism” in-
cluded as optional the words “Go, unclean spirit, and
give place to the Holy Spirit” as derived from the words
“Fahr aus, Du unreiner Geist, and gib Raum dem Heili-
gen Geist” (or: “Exi, spiritus immunde, et locum praebe
spiritui sancto”) from the Taufbiichlein of Dr. Martin
Luther’s Kleiner Katechismus *; and

Wuereas, The “Proposed Rite for Holy Baptism” in-
cluded as optional such adiaphora as: making the sign of
the cross at the time when the pastor prays: “Hallow

this water by Thy Word to be a washing of regeneration
and renewal in the Holy Spirit,” placing a white baptis-
mal robe upon the person baptized, and placing a lighted
candle into the right hand of the person baptized; and

Wuereas, The inclusion of the above-mentioned op-
tional parts has been questioned; and

Wuereas, The final text of the Rite for Holy Baptism,
as part of a completed agenda, will be presented to the
Synod for approval; therefore be it

Resolved, That the decision whether to include in the
revised “Rite of Holy Baptism” the words “Go, unclean
spirit, and give way to the Holy Spirit”; making the sign
of the cross when the pastor prays “Hallow this water
by Thy Word to be a washing of regeneration and re-
newal in the Holy Spirit”; placing a white baptismal
robe upon the person baptized; and placing a lighted
candle into the right hand of the person baptized, be
referred to the Commission on Worship.

* Die Bekenntnisschriften der evangelisch-lutherischen
Kirche (Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1952), p. 538.

Action: Adopted.

To Refrain from Selective Pulpit Fellowship
RESOLUTION 2-18

Overtures 2-05 and 2-06 (CW, p. 60)
A. Wuersas, On the one hand, the congregations and
members of the Synod join in renouncing

unionism and syncretism of every description, such as:

a. Serving congregations of mixed confession, as such,
by ministers of the church;

b. Taking part in the services and sacramental rites of
heterodox congregations or of congregations of mixed
confession. (Constitution of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod, Article VI, 2, a, b)

therefore be it

Resolved, That we refrain from selective pulpit fel-
lowship with “heterodox congregations or . . . congrega-
tions of mixed confession”; and

B. Wuereas, On the other hand, all congregations
and members of the Synod have voluntarily united for
“the conservation and promotion of the unity of the true
faith (Eph. 4:3-6; 1Cor. 1:10) and a united defense
against schism and sectarianism (Rom. 16:17)” (op. cit.,
Article IT], 1); and

Wuereas, Efforts are accordingly now being made
within Lutheranism to enter into fellowship on the basis
of Scripture and the Confessions, and this fellowship
ought not be endangered by anticipating it; and

Wuereas, The practice of selective pulpit fellowship
would create problems and disharmony in the Synod;
therefore be it

Resolved, That we respectfully urge members of the
Synod to refrain from selective pulpit fellowship with
Lutherans not in fellowship with us.

Action: Adopted.

(During the discussion a motion to lay this resolution on
the table failed to carry.)