LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1967, Page 93

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THEOLOGICAL MATTERS 93

To Take a Position with Reference
to Communing Lutherans of Other Synods

RESOLUTION 2-19

Overtures 2-80, 2-81 (CW, pp. 79—80)

Wuereas, Clarification regarding the administration
and reception of Holy Communion has been requested,
with particular reference to Lutherans of other synods
not now in fellowship with us; and

Wuereas, The principle of “close Communion” re-
quires that only those who are in altar fellowship cele-
brate and partake of the Lord’s Supper with each other;
and

Wuereas, The celebration and reception of Holy
Communion not only implies but is a confession of the
unity of faith; therefore be it

Resolved, That pastors and congregations of The Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod, except in situations of
emergency and in special cases of pastoral care, com-
mune individuals of only those Lutheran synods which
are now in fellowship with us.

Action: Adopted.

(A motion to refer this resolution to a proper commission
for final action failed to carry.)

To Clarify Mission Affirmations
RESOLUTION 2-20

Overtures 2-71, 2-72, 2-73 (CW, pp. 77—78)

Wuereas, A number of concerns have been expressed
regarding improper interpretation and use of the Mis-
sion Affirmations adopted at the convention of the Synod
at Detroit in 1965 (Proceedings, 1965, pp. 79—81) ; and

Whereas, We believe these affirmations speak with
clarity and that misunderstandings and misuse will not
occur when the affirmations are carefully read in context
and in the light of their intent; and

Wuereas, These affirmations have a Scriptural and
evangelical message for the church today, steering us on
a course which avoids both separatism and unionism on
the one hand and also avoids on the other hand a social
ethic without Gospel and a Gospel without social re-
sponsibility; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod hereby affirms that:

1) in declaring that the church is Christ’s mission,
the affirmations by no means present the mission of the
church as one which confuses an ethic of love with the
speaking of the Gospel (Rom. 10:17);

2) the affirmations were designed to remind us that
those who proclaim the message of God’s love in Christ
should also witness to Christ in Christian actions (Matt.
5:16);

3) the affirmations offer no license for unionism or
separatism but rather emphasize our responsibility to
minister also to other Christians in the body of Christ
(Eph. 4: 11-12);

4) the affirmations, in emphasizing the “Church’s
Mission to the Whole Man,” do not thereby imply any

improper conclusions regarding man’s state of existence
between death and resurrection (an intensive study of
this subject is now under consideration by the Commis-
tion on Theology and Church Relations); the affirma-
tions rather stress that our loving concern for man be
that of Christ: a love not only for a man’s soul but also
for his body and mind, which God has created and re-
deemed (Matt. 4:23); and be it further ,
Resolved, That all members of the Synod be encour-
aged to give these previously ratified affirmations con-
tinued study and conscientious implementation, so that
the church of Christ might better serve her Lord in the
world to which He came and for which He gave His life.
Action: Adopted.

To Encourage Bible Versions Committee

RESOLUTION 2-21
Report 2-01, Appendix B (CW, p.50)

Wuereas, The Bible Versions Committee, a subcom-
mittee of the Commission on Theology and Church Re-
lations, has surveyed and studied various matters relat-
ing to Bible translations; therefore be it

Resolved, That we acknowledge with thanks the
work done by this committee and that we encourage the
committee to remain abreast of the issues related to
Bible translations.

Action: Adopted.

To Continue Study of Issues Involving
Authorship and Inspiration of Various
New Testament Books

RESOLUTION 2-22

Overture 2-09 (CW, p. 62)

WuereEas, Overture 2-09 expresses concerns about the
authorship and inspiration of various New Testament
books; and

Wuersas, These concerns were answered at the De-
troit convention of 1965 (Resolution 2-25, Proceedings,
1965, p. 100); and

Wuereas, The Commission on Theology and Church
Relations is continuing to address itself to these con-
cerns; therefore be it

Resolved, That we urge the Commission on Theology
and Church Relations to continue its exploration of the
issues to which this overture calls attention and to share
its findings with the Synod.

Action: Adopted.

To Decline Overture 2-108 U
(Prayers for the Dead)
RESOLUTION 2-23

Overture 2-108 U (URO, p. 18)
Wnuereas, Our Lutheran Confessions do not teach

that we should pray for the benefit of the souls of the
dead; and