LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 91

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RESOLUTIONS 91

To Honor and Uphold Doctrinal Statements
RESOLUTION 2-27

Overtures 2-31, 2-49, 2-50, 2-51, 2-52, 2-53, 2-54 (CW, pp.

81, 89—91); 2-68U (URO, p. 8)

Wuereas, The Synod guides itself solely by the norm
of the inerrant Scriptures, and the Lutheran Confessions
as a true and unadulterated exposition of the Word of
God, and exercises discipline and settles controversies
by that norm; and

Wuereas, In response to problems and controversies
throughout its history the Synod has adopted many doc-
trinal statements as applications of that norm; and

Wuereas, The Synod has accepted statements which
stand in its history as specific responses to contempo-
rary issues, not placing one statement above others but
regarding them all as standing under the Holy Scrip-
tures and under the Confessions (Cleveland, 1962, Pro-
ceedings, Res. 3-17, p. 105); and

Wuereas, The Synod, guided by the Word of God and
the Confessions, has not found it necessary to disavow
any of its doctrinal statements and does not today;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in humble gratitude thank
God that He has blessed the Synod with such doctrinal
statements; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod continue to urge its mem-
bers to honor and uphold the synodically adopted state-
ments as valid interpretations of Christian doctrine and
not to give them more or less status than they deserve;
and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod, in convention assembled,
dedicate itself anew to the Word of God and the Lu-
theran Confessions that, under the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, the Synod may also speak successfully to the
theological problems which beset it today, resolve the
controversies which vex it, and apply Christian dis-
cipline.

Action: Adopted (16).

(The committee accepted the suggestion to eliminate the
words “to alter or” after “necessary” in the final whereas.
In the closing moments the assembly resolved that Res. 2-27
should also serve as its answer to Overture 2-31).

To Adopt a Statement on
Conscientious Objection
RESOLUTION 2-28

Overtures 2-37 to 2-43 (CW, pp. 85—88)

Wuereas, The Holy Scriptures teach that “every per-
son be obedient to the governing authorities” (Rom.
13:1) but recognize the right and duty of the individual
to obey God rather than men when the civil authorities
demand obedience contrary to God’s will: “We must
obey God rather than men” (Acts 5: 29); and

Wuereas, The Lutheran Confessions teach that Chris-
tians may without sin engage in just wars and serve as
soldiers (A. C. XVI; Apology XVI, Tappert, pp. 37.2 and
222.1); and

Wuereas, The theological position of the Lutheran

Church declares the individual’s right to refuse partici-
pation in unjust wars (CTCR’s “Guidelines for Crucial
Issues in Christian Citizenship”; “A Christian’s Atti-
tude Toward War,” CTM, Feb., 1955; CTCR’s “Civil
Obedience and Disobedience”); and

Wuereas, The present military draft law exempts
only those objectors who on the basis of conscience op-
pose war in every form and allows them a 1A O status
(military noncombatant) and a 1 O status (nonmilitary
service) and does not recognize objection to a specific
war where the individual conscience is convinced that
the government is engaged in an unjust war; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the Synod encourage its members to
pledge themselves anew to loyalty and obedience to the
government also in the matter of military service; and
be it further

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its historic theo-
logical position whereby it recognizes that conscientious
objection to a war which an individual considers to be
unjust is a valid stance; and be it further

Resolved, That the members of the Synod respect an
individual's decision not to engage in a war which his
conscience, enlightened by the Word of God, considers
to be unjust; and be it further

Resolved, That the pastors and congregations of the
Synod be urged to make use of the CTCR’s documents
“Guidelines for Crucial Issues in Christian Citizenship”
and “Civil Obedience and Disobedience” in providing a
counseling and supporting ministry to those who con-
scientiously object to military service as well as to those
who in conscience choose to serve in the military; and
be it further

Resolved, That the Synod petition the government
to grant equal status under law to the conscientious ob-
jector to a specific war as it does to a conscientious ob-
jector to all wars; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Social Ministry study
the matter of amnesty for those who have refused to
serve in the armed forces for reasons of conscience and
report its findings to the President of the Synod as soon
as possible; and be it finally

Resolved, That this present resolution replace Reso-
lution 2-35 of the New York convention (Proceedings,
1967, p. 96).

Action: Adopted (16).
(A motion to recommit for the purpose of improving New
York Resolution 2-35 failed to carry.)
To Study Materials Distributed by
Hermeneutics Study Committee and
to Request Board of Directors to Consider
Providing Funds for Workshops
RESOLUTION 2-29
Report 2-01, I, A, 2, a, b (CW, pp. 57—58); Appendix C
(CW, pp. 65—66); Overture 2-61U (URO, p. 6)
Wuereas, A great deal of tension and confusion ex-