Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1969 · 48th Convention › Page 167
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 167

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

CHURCH RELATIONS 167

WuereEas, The approach of The American Lutheran
Church in respect to the lodge can allow one to deny
the work of redemption of Jesus Christ, who said, “I am
the Way, the Truth and the Life: no man cometh unto
the Father but by Me” (John 14:6) and “Whosoever
shall confess Me before men, him shall I also confess
before My Father who is in heaven, but whosoever
shall deny Me before men, him shall I also deny before
My Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32-33), by
allowing persons to become members of The ALC when
holding lodge membership; and

WuereEas, Issues concerning practice between the two
synods have not been either pinpointed or resolved;
therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod not enter into altar and pulpit fellowship with
The American Lutheran Church until such difficulties
as hinder a God-pleasing declaration of fellowship are
removed within both The American Lutheran Church
and The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod.

TRINITY Ev. LUTHERAN CHURCH

Arenzville, II.

RoBERT SCHONE, Secretary

KENNETH KuLow, Teacher

Louris C. Knier, Pastor
(3-195)

Not to Establish Fellowship Until Difficulties
Are Resolved

Wuereas, God-pleasing fellowship requires not only
outward acceptance of the orthodox creed and doctrine,
but also an agreement in practice concerning the actual
teaching in pulpits, in theological seminaries, and in
publications; and

Whereas, Prayerful consideration and study of the
current doctrines, teachings, and practices of many
within The American Lutheran Church indicate that
many problems and disagreements do exist, and include
inerrancy of Holy Scripture, synergism, unionism, and
lodgery; and

WHEREAS, Since The American Lutheran Church has
declared fellowship with the Lutheran Church in Amer-
ica, an indirect fellowship between The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod and the Lutheran Church in
America would exist; and

WHEREAS, The American Lutheran Church holds
membership in the Lutheran World Federation and the
World Council of Churches: and

Wuereas, God-pleasing pulpit and altar fellowship
with The American Lutheran Church is not possible
until these difficulties are fully resolved; therefore be it

Resolved, That fellowship between The Lutheran

Church — Missouri Synod and The American Lutheran
Church not be established at this time.

IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
Elmhurst, IIl.
ALFRED KARNSTEDT, Secretary

(3-196)

To Decline Altar and Pulpit Fellowship
with The ALC

WuereEAs, The Northwest District convention directed
its congregations to earnestly study the documents which
explain the basis for fellowship with The American Lu-
theran Church; and

Wuereas, The Northwest District convention directed
the congregations to meet with neighboring congrega-
tions of The American Lutheran Church to discuss the
Scriptural and confessional basis for altar and pulpit
fellowship; and

WHEREAS, Our congregation, in its senior Bible class,
has made a thorough study of the theology and practices
which pertain to fellowship, and has found that there
are dissimilarities in doctrine and practice between ALC
and LCMS (that is, in the doctrine of inspiration and
inerrancy of the Scriptures, as well as in the question
of lodge membership); and

WHEREAS, Pastors of this circuit have met with pas-
tors of The ALC, with rather unfruitful results, and lay
members of this congregation have attempted to meet
with ALC lay members to discuss the Scriptural and
confessional basis for fellowship without success; and

Wuereas, After careful review and by unanimous
resolution our voters’ assembly, on Nov. 19, 1968, placed
itself on record as being opposed to altar and pulpit
fellowship between ALC and LCMS; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod be petitioned at its Denver convention to decline
altar and pulpit fellowship with The American Lutheran
Church; and be it also

Resolved, That we continue earnestly to pray and
work for that unity and fellowship in spirit and in truth
which our Lord sets forth in the Scriptures.

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH
Hillsboro, Oreg.
C. S. Woopwortn, Secretary

(3-197)

To Decline to Enter into Fellowship
with The ALC

Wuereas, The American Lutheran Church has de-
clared itself in fellowship with the Lutheran Church
in America subject to a referendum; and

Wuereas, The American Lutheran Church is pres-
ently holding membership in the Lutheran World Fed-
eration (LWF) and the World Council of Churches
(WCC): and

Whereas, There is considerable doctrinal unrest
within The American Lutheran Church; and

WHEREAS, The matter of fellowship with The Ameri-
can Lutheran Church has caused serious problems
within our own Missouri Synod; and

Whereas, Certain problems concerning proposed fel-