Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1969 · 48th Convention › Page 57
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 57

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

2. THEOLOGICAL MATTERS

(2-01)

Report of Commission on Theology
and Church Relations

The Commission on Theology and Church Relations
continues to serve the church by providing a forum
where questions pertaining to doctrine and church re-
lations can be examined and discussed carefully and
responsibly. The materials and recommendations re-
sulting from such examination and discussion are in-
tended not only as aids to the profitable consideration
of issues throughout the Synod but also as reliable
guides to the Synod in her efforts to witness faithfully
to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the contemporary world.

The theological and ecumenical issues considered by
the commission during the past biennium were largely
those assigned to it by past synodical conventions. These
problems were dealt with in eight plenary sessions of
3 days each and in numerous meetings of the commis-
sion’s two major subcommittees. In addition the com-
mission supervised the work of three special committees
on exchange study, Bible versions, and hermeneutics;
reports from these committees are appended below
(Appendices A to C). The commission also received
a detailed progress report from the Joint Commission
on the Theology and Practice of Confirmation. Much
of the commission’s work was expedited by its Execu-
tive Secretary, Dr. Richard Jungkuntz, who also was
the primary agent of the commission in maintaining ap-
propriate liaison with various interchurch agencies and
synodical boards, commissions, and committees.

Commission officers during the past biennium were
Dr. Theodore Nickel, chairman; Dr. Albert Meyer,
vice-chairman; and Dr. Ralph Bohlmann, secretary.
Officers of the two major committees were Dr. Jacob
Preus and Dr. Carl Gaertner, chairmen; Pastor Alvin
Wagner and Dr. Alfred Fuerbringer, vice-chairmen;
and Prof. Richard Korthals and Pastor Norbert Mueller,
secretaries. Members of the Executive Committee were
Dr. Alfred Fuerbringer, chairman: Dr. Ralph Bohlmann,
secretary; Dr. Theodore Nickel, Dr. Jacob Preus, Dr.
Frede Mortensen; and, ex officio, Dr. Oliver Harms and
Dr. Richard Jungkuntz.

Other members of the commission were Dr. Richard
Bardolph, Dr. Herbert Bouman (1967—68), Dr. Paul G.
Bretscher, Dr. Henry Eggold, Dr. Martin Franzmann
(1968—69), Dr. Karl Graesser (asleep in Jesus, Nov. 21,
1967), Dr. Carl Halter, Mr. John Jass, Dr. Fred Kramer,
Dr. David Leege, Dr. E. F. Sagehorn, Dr. Martin
Scharlemann, Dr. Ernst Stahlke, Dr. Clarence Stuck-
wisch, and Dr. Edwin Weber (since November 1967).
Dr. Roland Wiederaenders and Prof. Herbert Mayer
were additional advisory members.

In the following paragraphs the commission reports
its major activities since the 1967 synodical convention

5

7

and offers various recommendations to the Synod in its
two areas of responsibility: theology and church rela-
tions.

I. THEOLOGY
A. Hermeneutics

Questions pertaining to the proper interpretation of
Holy Scripture continued to receive a great deal of
attention.

Some members of the Synod submitted questions or
concerns about A Lutheran Stance Toward Contempo-
rary Biblical Studies, a document which the New York
convention “commended to the Synod’s membership for
study and discussion” (Resolution 2-02, 1967 Proceed-
ings, p. 88). The commission has issued a brief state-
ment in response to these questions (cf, WoRKBOOK
Appendix). The commission recommends:

1. That this statement, entitled “Answers to Ques-
tions Raised Regarding the Document A Lutheran
Stance Toward Contemporary Biblical Studies,” be re-
ceived as a helpful explanation and clarification of the
original document.

In connection with discussions on the relationship
between the authority of Holy Scripture and justifica-
tion by grace, the two major principles of Lutheran the-
ology, the commission heard and discussed an essay by
Dr. Martin Franzmann entitled “Lutheran Hermeneu-
tics: Res et Verba. Seven Theses on Reformation Her-
meneutics.” ! This essay was endorsed by the commis-
sion and distributed to the clergy members of the Synod
as useful resource material for their continued study
of hermeneutical problems.

The commission heard regular reports on the prog-
ress of the comprehensive study of Biblical hermeneu-
tics being conducted by the special eight-man commit-
tee authorized by the 1965 synodical convention (see
Appendix C for this committee’s report). Materials
prepared by members of the committee were shared
with the commission and are to be distributed to the
clergy members of the Synod.’ The commission has
asked the committee to direct its future investigations
more specifically to the nature of Biblical authority.
Ways of involving the Synod at large in the discussion
of hermeneutical issues are currently being explored
by the commission. The commission recommends:

2. a. That the materials distributed by the herme-
neutics committee receive critical study by pastoral
conferences throughout the Synod.

b. That the Board of Directors be requested to pro-
vide sufficient funds during the next biennium for com-
mission-sponsored regional workshops and seminars for

1 Published in April 1969 issue of Concordia Theological

Monthly.

2 These materials include essays and responses prepared by
members of the committee on various problems of Biblical interpre-
tation. These essays represent the thinking of the individuals who
prepared them and are not to be regarded as the official position
of either the hermeneutics committee or the CTCR.