Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1969 · 48th Convention › Page 199
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 199

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

CHURCH RELATIONS 199

(3-274)

St. Paul’s First Lutheran Church, North Hollywood,
Calif., J. David Walther, Secretary, also submitted this
overture but omitted the first whereas and changed the
final words to read: “... to join and identify with the
World Council of Churches.”

OTHER CONCERNS
(3-275)

To Participate in Ecumenical Meetings
with Devotions

Wuereas, Our Synod professes to be chiefly a confes-
sional movement within the body of Christ; and

Wuereas, Our pastors and people should be involved
in ecumenical meetings with other Christians on the
parish level; and

Wuereas, While we recognize that cooperation and
participation in such ecumenical meetings may be a
matter of personal conscience, we also recognize that
nonparticipation and separation give a negative witness;
and

Wuereas, Failure to participate in prayers, hymns,
and devotions in such ecumenical meetings may be
a denial of testimony by our church or even offend and
further estrange churches which seek Christian unity;
and

Wuereas. Participation in prayers, hymns, and devo-
tions in such ecumenical meetings is a witness to our
common faith in Jesus Christ, and not in itself either
a denial of doctrinal differences or a declaration of
doctrinal unity; therefore be it

Resolved, That we encourage our congregations to
lose no time in arranging and participating in meetings
with other Christian churches, to listen and to wit-
ness; and be it finally

Resolved, That we encourage our pastors and people
in such ecumenical meetings to participate with other
Christians in prayers, hymns, and devotions as a wit-
ness to our common faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and

Savior. EnGLisH DIsTRICT

Rorert L. Lanpeck, Secretary
(3-276)

This overture is also on hand from the Mecklenburg
Circuit Pastoral Conference, Southeastern District, Les-
lie L. Frerking, Secretary.

(3-277)

To Avoid Dissension on Fellowship Issue

Wuereas, There is at present much dissension and
division among congregations and pastors of the LCMS
on the subject of ecumenical relationships, which has
been a problem of increasing disturbance to the church;
and

Wuereas, The true ecumenical spirit is not centered
in organizational structures but in a unity of faith and
doctrine, and the call to unity in the Scriptures is based
on a unity of persons in the faith rather than church
bodies in organizations; and

Wuereas, The church’s task of bringing the Gospel
to all men is hindered by undue debate and argumenta-
tion over church unity (such as that spent in the past
2 years by pastors and congregations in working either
for or against the ALC fellowship proposal) and such
quarrels within our own body are neither necessary nor
effective in the work and witness of the church; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the officials of the Synod continue to
work for a God-pleasing unity with other Christians
based on the Word of God while resisting the pressure
of worldwide ecumenical movements not centered in
such unity; and be it further

Resolved, That to avoid further strife and division
in our own church body, no further organizational
fellowship proposals, such as with LWF, WCC, NCC,
etc., be considered unless a unanimity is first achieved

in faith and doctrine. = Sy Joun’s LUTHERAN CHURCH

El Segundo, Calif.
Pau. M. LuTTMann, Secretary

Later Additions
(3-278)

To Encourage Fellowship

Wuereas, Our Lord’s commission to witness to the
world is as singular in its direction to the church as is
His prayer for the church’s unity: and

Wuereas, The church’s public image of unity is
directly related to the credibility of its witness; and

Wuereas, This witness requires clarity and unity for
its most effective impact: and

Wuereas, Our Synod’s President in conjunction with
the Council of Presidents has recognized that suitable
conditions for fellowship with The American Lutheran
Church exist and therefore have recommended that
such fellowship with The American Lutheran Church
be officially approved by the Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod approve the recommenda-
tion of the President and the Council of Presidents to
establish church fellowship with The American Lu-
theran Church; and be it further

Resolved, That implementation of this fellowship
include arrangements to effect the best possible coor-
dination of public relations activities of the two bodies.

BoarD FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS
Victor C. RICKMAN, Chairman
RicHARD HANNEMAN, Secretary
KENNETH M. Linpsay, Director