LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 47

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PRESIDENT’S REPORT 47

what to do when we are unmasked before the world.
Have we forgotten? We betray our faith when we pass
by on the other side in order to avoid seeing or becom-
ing involved. We betray our faith when we resort to
adoption of resolutions or the passing of laws designed
to make Christian people behave the way they ought.

God is still at work in the church and in the world.
Now, as always, He is at work most of all through the
Gospel, that secret weapon, that quiet Word which is
dynamite. This Gospel is the treasure of the church, and
it is the resource of the church. And when we say this,
we need to know what we are talking about and what
we mean. Possessing the Gospel and being possessed of
it is more than capturing it in the right words and
putting it down on paper. It means life, for the grace
of God is always the life of God.

If this is the time when the sounds of judgment are
being heard loudly and clearly and with due irritation,
then this is especially the time for the Gospel to be
heard and felt. There is no great mystery to the apathy
and the hopelessness that grip men. We have all wit-
nessed man’s utter helplessness in dealing with the real
problems of humanity and of time and of eternity.
Manifestos and marches, unfulfilled promises and pro-
grams have only served as grim reminders of what we
know too well already. So why should we try, or why
should we care?

All this time God wants to make known how much
He does care. When everyone else is ready to cut men
down and to condemn them, then God wants to forgive
them, embrace them as His children, and give them the
chance with His help. This is the word that must get
out. This is the message which the church ought to be
saying and living with one another and with everyone
else. The Gospel is God’s proclamation of equal oppor-
tunity for all men. Through this Gospel God confers
His status on men. The Gospel is God’s power for every
human situation.

Earlier I passed harsh judgment on our common life.
Yet I have evidence to support my judgment. It seems
to be public knowledge among us and beyond us that
matters of doctrine hold special concern for us. Yet
despite this fact I must report that in 1968 some District
Presidents were involved in handling more than three
times as many problem cases of a personal nature with
our congregations and workers as cases concerning
doctrinal matters. They dealt with problems involving
performance of work three times as frequently as they
dealt with doctrinal issues.

In 1968, even more than in earlier times, our church
suffered excessive backdoor losses. There are many
factors involved in such losses. But if we express con-
cern about the number of marriages that end in failure,
then we ought to be deeply concerned when for every
three new accessions that enter into our membership
by the front door there is one who departs by the back
door. There is here a number equal to a good-sized
District, equal to one hundred good-sized congregations.
We are troubled at the tearing of bonds that hold us
together in marriage, family, the community, and the

nation. I hold that we ought to be distressed when we
seem too ready to dissolve or write off the fraternal
bonds we have with those who share our faith.

It is in this setting that I report to you on the doc-
trine and life of the church. You know, as I do, that
it is somewhat hazardous to venture a judgment con-
cerning the state of health of the Synod, the condition
of doctrine and life among us. The comments I make
are based on several sources. The District Presidents
regularly submit reports to my office at least once each
year in formal fashion. In addition I have met to dis-
cuss these matters in a more informal manner with
smaller groups of District Presidents at least once each
year in regional meetings. Matters of concern to the
doctrine and life of the Synod are also on the agenda
when these men meet as the Council of Presidents.
In addition I have met on regular and special occasions
with the Vice-Presidents of the Synod. The Vice-Presi-
dents assist my office in making regular visitations to
the campuses of our colleges and seminaries, to the
conventions of our Districts, and to the meetings of
numerous boards and commissions of the Synod. In
addition there are many and varied forms of unofficial
contact and communication by which the President’s
office carries out the supervision of the doctrine and life
of the Synod.

Earlier I reported that doctrinal differences seem
to be of less significance than our difficulties in other
areas of our common life. In the last two years no
major new issues in the field of doctrine have arisen.
The allegations generally continue to deal with the
same subjects, and they frequently point fingers at the
same people as in the past. The accusations generally
do not emerge in large numbers until they are stimu-
lated by some source or other. Also, as in the past, the
appropriate officials have turned their attention to the
matters promptly and responsibly. As in the past also,
they have generally found that difficulties have origi-
nated in injudicious writing and speaking or in unwar-
ranted misinterpretation and misunderstanding. It is
my conviction that prompt action has been able gen-
erally to clarify the issues and to eliminate the difficul-
ties. It is further my conviction that open and fraternal
conversation and admonition have often helped to pre-
vent difficulties or to resolve them.

I am, however, compelled to report to you my grow-
ing anxiety about the increasing number and the grave
nature of personal and professional problems apparent
in the life of our church. The spiritual ministry carried
on by our workers and congregations is a responsibility
that is becoming more demanding everywhere and all.
the time. Even the best of our people are being taxed
to the limit. New burdens are added from within, and
there is not available a ready supply of instant help to
bear the burdens. On the contrary, those who so often
need to be surrounded with an atmosphere of under-
standing and support have found that the climate in-
stead is saturated with rumor, suspicion, and competi-
tion of all kinds.

Initial steps have now been taken to develop re-