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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 51

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

MISSIONS 51

ship with their errors, be they many or few, but reject
and condemn them, one and all, as wrong and heretical,
and contrary to the Scriptures of the prophets and
apostles, and to our Christian Augsburg Confession,
well grounded in God’s Word”: and

WuereEas, Various degrees of fellowship and cooper-
ation with those who hold errors are being manifested
in the mission fields of the Missouri Synod through its
associations with the Lutheran World Federation and
the World Conference of Churches: and

WuereEas, Cooperative efforts are apparently envis-
ioned for the training of missionaries; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board for Missions be instructed
to seek no further cooperation from bodies or organiza-
tions with which we are not in complete and declared
fellowship: and be it further

Resolved, That our foreign and domestic missionaries
be strictly admonished that such cooperation is confes-
sionally unsound and indeed sinful.

Rev, C. L. Ruoaves
Chicago, II.

(1-09)
To Build Joint Facilities

Wuereas, It has become disturbingly obvious that
the post-World War II church building boom has caused
many local congregations to invest too heavily in brick
and mortar; and

Wuereas, Burdens of debts inhibit the active in-
volvement of Christians in the broader spheres of the
church’s mission in the world and cause us to neglect
contributions for some of the agonizing human needs
of our time; and

Wuereas, Many of the existing buildings are used
only infrequently; therefore be it

Resolved, That the congregations of the California
and Nevada District be encouraged to make their fa-
cilities available to organizations not in conflict with
Christian principles and to explore future possibilities
for building joint facilities with other Christians; and
be it further

Resolved, That the California and Nevada District
Missions Committee be instructed to pursue these possi-
bilities in developing future missions; and be it finally

Resolved, That the convention assembled at Denver
recommend this same policy for congregations through-
out the church, CALIFORNIA AND Nevapa DiIstTRICT

Cart A. WALLIS, Secretary
(1-10)

To Invest in Staff Rather than Buildings

Wuereas, Work in metropolitan areas, especially the
inner city, is becoming more important and demanding
greater priorities in the mission program of the church;
and

Wuereas, It is common. knowledge that the urban

man is much more impressed by God's love as it is
communicated through people than through buildings;

and

Wuereas, Excessive financial burdens incurred
through ambitious building programs may result in
financial burdens which could hamper the church’s
ability to reach people with new ministries of the Gos-
pel: and

Whereas, We are tempted by our mission “mindset”
to build a building, considering this to be mission work
of and by itself, while paying less attention to staff
needs and programs that reach people; and

Whereas, The California and Nevada District in con-
vention assembled voted to encourage its congregations
to consider this danger before expending funds for new
buildings: and

Whereas, The California and Nevada District will
direct its policy to channeling more effort and funds into
staff and expanded programs of ministry; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod follow the same course in the use of its funds.

CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA DISTRICT
Cart A. WALLIS, Secretary

(1-11)
To Exercise Concern in Question

of Relocation

Wuereas, The Synod resolved at its 43d regular
convention, St. Paul, Minn., June 1956 (Proceedings, pp.
757—759):

That congregations operating in changing communities be

encouraged to continue operations in those areas rather

than relinquish their properties through sale to other de-
nominations, and that the various District Mission Boards
be encouraged to subsidize these congregations when this
becomes necessary, so that the souls in those communities,

regardless of race or ethnic grouping, may be won and
served,

and

Wuereas, The letter and the spirit of this resolution
has been violated by the action of Grace Lutheran Con-
gregation, with corporate location moved in December
1968 to Grace Lutheran Chapel, 10015 Lance Drive in
St.Louis County, Mo., through sale of the mother
sanctuary at St.Louis and Garrison Avenues, in the
city of St. Louis, to the Eastern Star Missionary Baptist
Church of St. Louis, Mo.; and

Wuereas, Little sensitivity was displayed during
negotiations, either by the governing body of Grace
Lutheran Congregation or by officials of the District,
to the moral issues involved and to the intentions and
needs of those members who desired to carry on the
ministry of the Word also through the material resources
at hand in the sanctuary at St. Louis and Garrison and
through its Memorial Endowment Fund, originally de-
signed for carrying out the ministry in that area; and

Wuereas, Refuge is taken by the governing body
of Grace Lutheran Congregation and officials of the
Missouri District in measures of prudence, legal tech-