LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1967, Page 103

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SYNODICAL ADMINISTRATION 103

informed in regard to the principles and implications in-
volved; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod in this convention herewith express thanks to
God for His Spirit’s guidance and blessing in the delib-
erations and consultations with The American Lutheran
Church, which resulted in the consensus expressed in
the “Joint Statement and Declaration”; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod recognize that the Scrip-
tural and confessional basis for altar and pulpit fellow-
ship between The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
and The American Lutheran Church exists, that the
Synod proceed to take the necessary steps toward full
realization of altar and pulpit fellowship with The
American Lutheran Church, and that the Synod invite
the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches to join
with us in the same; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod urge all its representatives
and officials to work earnestly and sincerely toward a
unified evangelical position and practice in areas of
church life where disturbing diversities still exist, par-
ticularly in reference to unchristian and anti-Christian
societies, through continued mutual study with the
officials and representatives of The American Lutheran
Church on the basis of the Word of God; and be it fur-
ther

Resolved, That the Synod direct its officials to make
arrangements for promoting the widest possible mutual
recognition of the doctrinal consensus and its implica-
tions for church fellowship among the entire member-
ship of the Synod by making it a primary part of the
agenda for conferences and for the 1968 District conven-
tions and by arranging meetings between District Presi-
dents, theological faculties, pastors, teachers, and
congregations of the church bodies involved; and be it
finally

Resolved, That the President of the Synod in con-
junction with the Council of Presidents: make the ap-
propriate recommendations to the 1969 convention.

Action: Adopted.

(The original Resolution 3-22 offered by the committee
was identical with the subsequent Resolution 3-23 except
that the second and fifth Resolveds read as follows:

Resolved, That the Synod recognize that the conditions
for altar and pulpit fellowship between the Synod and The
American Lutheran Church have been met, and that the
Synod proceed to take the necessary steps toward full
realization of altar and pulpit fellowship with The Ameri-
ean Lutheran Church, and that the Synod invite the
Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches to join with us
in the same;

Resolved, That the Synod authorize the President of
the Synod, in consultation with the Council of Presidents,
and preferably in conjunction with the President of The
American Lutheran Church, after that body has taken
favorable action on the “Joint Statement and Declaration,”
officially to declare altar and pulpit fellowship between
The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod and The Ameri-
can Lutheran Church.

The amendment was moved and seconded to substitute for

the fifth Resolved the words: “Resolved, That the Synod,
gathered in convention in 1969, after The American Lutheran

Church has taken favorable action on the ‘Joint Statement
and Declaration,’ officially declare whether or not there is
altar and pulpit fellowship between The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod and The American Lutheran Church.”

After considerable discussion of the amendment the entire
resolution together with the proposed amendment was re-
committed.

The committee then offered its revised version as Resolu-
tion 3-23. Mr. Martin W. Luening of Tujunga, Calif., moved
adoption. By a standing vote of 704 to 48, speaking was
limited to one opportunity for each delegate to speak 2
minutes to the resolution and every amendment that might
be proposed.

The amendment was lost to add “progress toward” before
“consensus,” before “the Scriptural and confessional basis,”
and before “doctrinal consensus” in the first Whereas and
the second and fourth Resolveds, and to add the words “in-
cluding further study of issues not yet resolved” after the
second reference to the ALC in the second Resolved.

The convention also voted down a motion to amend the
resolution to read “a consensus” in the first Whereas, “future
altar and pulpit fellowship” in the second Resolved, and “the
existing doctrinal consensus” in the fourth Resolved.

After the resolution was adopted at 10:42 a.m., July 13,
President Oliver Harms led the assembly in prayer.)

To Enter into Conversation
with the Lutheran Church of Australia

RESOLUTION 3-24
Delayed Report 3-56 X

Wuereas, The convention of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod here assembled has received a
communication from the Rev. Dr. M. Lohe, president of
the Lutheran Church of Australia, extending greetings
to our Synod as it meets in convention and also express-
ing interest in meeting with our Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod for the purpose of establishing pulpit
and altar fellowship between these two bodies; therefore
be it

Resolved, That our Synod through its President ac-
knowledge with gratitude this communication; and be it
further

Resolved, That we request the President of our
Synod, Dr. Oliver R. Harms, to express to Dr. Lohe our
sincere interest and ready willingness to have con-
versation and consultation with the Lutheran Church of
Australia with the object of duly establishing a proper
basis on which The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
can enter into pulpit and altar fellowship with the Lu-
theran Church of Australia.

Action: Adopted.

4. SYNODICAL ADMINISTRATION

To Respond to Invisible Overture
from the Synod
RESOLUTION 4-01
Overture — by the Convention

Wuereas, By the grace of God the Synod has been
richly blessed by the work of our beloved President,
Oliver R. Harms; and