Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1969 · 48th Convention › Page 165
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 165

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

CHURCH RELATIONS 165

church) in performing the true mission of the church
(building the Kingdom of Grace and gathering blood-
bought souls) and carefully preserving the purity of
doctrine and practice. instead of misdirecting our re-
sources and efforts in dabbling in the errant ecumenical
pattern, remembering that “if the blind lead the blind,
both shall fall into the ditch.” (Matt. 15:14)

St. Paut’s LUTHERAN CHURCH

Varna, IIl.

GERALD JUNKER, Secretary

Pau V. ScHNELLE, Pastor
(3-190)

This overture was also forwarded by Zion Lutheran
Congregation, Wenona, IIl., Bert Baker, Secretary: Paul
V. Schnelle, Pastor.

(3-191)
To Withhold Declaration of Fellowship

Whereas, The Synod in convention in 1937 in New
York asked “its representatives and officials to work
earnestly and sincerely toward a unified evangelical
position and practice in areas of church life where dis-
turbing diversities still exist”; and

Wuereas, The officials were “to make arrangements
for promoting the widest possible mutual recognition
of the doctrinal consensus and its implications for church
fellowship among the entire membership of the Synod”;
and

Wuereas, “It is incumbent upon Christians who dis-
cover a wholehearted consensus . . . to live together
in unity and mutual assistance”; it is also incumbent
upon Christians who have not found a wholehearted
consensus to express that lack of consensus: and

Wuereas, This circuit, situated in an area with
strong ALC representation, has made many efforts to
discover the consensus expressed by the commissioners,
in meetings with pastors and congregations and other
larger groups; and

WHEREAS, The discussions, centered around the three
doctrinal studies of the commissioners, brought us to
these observations:

1. We are deeply disturbed by the position taken by
many pastors of The ALC concerning the doctrine of
Scripture. Such statements as “The inerrancy of the
Scriptures is the inerrancy of Jesus Christ”; “Only that
which refers to the Gospel is inspired”; “The infallibility
of the Scriptures is the infallibility of Jesus Christ”;
“God can speak to different people in different ways
through the Bible, and whatever way He speaks to me,
that I can believe” were expressed.

2. The lodge issue is another matter. Such state-
ments as “That doesn’t concern us”; “It’s not an impor-
tant matter”; “The lodge issue is a dead isue”’; “We
do very little after we take them in as members” are
not in harmony with the position of our Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod nor with Scripture. We be-
lieve the lodge issue to be a very important matter

because of the confession that the church makes with
regard to Christ Jesus. It is not only practical but also
doctrinal. A membership which allows a person in one
place to confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and
in another to allow work righteousness is making mock-
ery of Christ’s statement: “He that is not with Me is
against Me, and he that gathers not with Me scatters.”
(Luke 11: 23)

3. Another matter of concern is the attitude of pas-
tors in The ALC concerning unionistic services. In our
area there are those who have, in public worship ser-
vices, joined with other denominations including the
Roman Catholics and given public offense. The assump-
tion that “Since all accept Christ we can worship
together” is a general assumption in The ALC in our
area; and

Wuereas, Many of the above statements are not in
conformity with the doctrinal position of our Lutheran
Church —- Missouri Synod; and

WHEREAS, The commissioners in the essay “The Doc-
trine of the Church in the Lutheran Confessions” agreed
that “it is not sufficient that the Gospel is correctly
stated in the church’s official confession. It must actu-
ally be proclaimed in the pulpits and taught in the
church,” and “for this reason the confession asserts that
the Gospel is to be preached ‘in conformity with a pure
understanding of it,’” and “the word ‘pure’ signifies
freedom from any element that would vitiate the Gospel,
in this case particularly every form of work righteous-
ness”; and

Whereas, We feel that the consensus expressed by
the commissioners was not revealed in our discussion
and that there is not the basis for declaration of altar
and pulpit fellowship since The American Lutheran
Church in its preaching and teaching concerning Scrip-
ture and its practice concerning lodge membership is not
in conformity with the Gospel and a pure understanding
of it; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod, assembled at Denver, withhold a declaration of
altar and pulpit fellowship with The American Lutheran
Church until such time as a consensus is found which
would not vitiate the Gospel.

PASTORAL CONFERENCE

WASECA CIRCUIT

MINNESOTA SOUTH DISTRICT

Rev. Victor M. Rotu, Counselor

(3-192)

To Refrain from Establishing Fellowship

WuterEAS, God’s grace and the power of His Holy
Spirit have preserved to our beloved Missouri Synod
the true doctrines of Holy Scripture; and

WuHereas, Our constant refusal to compromise any
of these doctrines, for any reason whatsoever, has kept
us strong in His Word and faith; and

Wuereas, It is one of the Synod’s corporate objec-
tives to unite such as acknowledge and remain true to