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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 393

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

SOCIAL ACTION AND WELFARE 393

ethnic backgrounds in Resolutions 7-05 at the Detroit
convention and 5-29 at the New York convention: and

Wuereas, The pastors of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod want to do everything in their power
to implement this resolution: and

Whereas, The practice of transferring white mem-
bers of integrated congregations to neighboring all-
white congregations for racial reasons is called into
question by the Synod’s resolutions: and

Wuereas, The granting of such transfers without
comment is (a) an affront to the dignity of the fellow
black members, (b) a failure to exercise pastoral con-
cern with respect to the sin of white racism, and (c) a
participation in the administration of cheap grace:
therefore be it

Resolved, That in the face of an above-mentioned
situation, pastors of both congregations will simultane-
ously confront such individuals with

a) the real purpose and meaning of membership in
the church of Jesus Christ:

b) the sinfulness of racism; and
c) the need for repentance.

ConcorDIA LUTHERAN CHURCH
Midlothian, IJ.
Davip ZERSEN, Pastor

(9-12)

To Affirm Legitimacy of Black Power
and Black Separatism

Wuereas, The Lord of the church did not pray that
His Father take His followers out of the world but
left them in the world to serve as His instruments
through whom He would extend His redemption and
realize His Lordship; and

WuereEas, The people of God must seek to discern
the presence and the acting and the moving of the
Holy One in the history and the affairs of men, in order
to identify that presence and moving and acting and
in order to participate in that presence and moving
and acting and in order to celebrate that presence and
moving and acting; and

Whereas, Our nation continues, direction unchanged
and momentum unabated, its headlong plunge towards
the permanent division of this land into two states, one
black and one white, utterly separate and grossly un-
equal; and

Wuereas, The principles of black power and black
separatism represent sociologically realistic and psy-
chologically wholesome phenomena at this juncture in
the history of the American republic: therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod, in convention assembled in Denver, Colo. in
July 1969, officially affirm the legitimacy of the princi-
ples of black power and black separatism as thoroughly
valid responses to white racism quite consistent with
the history of this nation; and be it further

Resolved, That this convention, while expressing the
profound hope that these concepts represent only tem-
porary strategies essential to achieving reconciliation
as the ultimate future goal, nonetheless affirm its abso-
lute concurrence with the necessity of the black com-
munity to identify its own needs, devise its own solu-
tions, and control its own institutions and destiny.
whatever that may imply for a white racist nation and
a white racist church.

LUTHERAN CHURCH OF PRINCE OF PEACE
Tulsa, Okla.

THomas Kirk, President

Donatp J. DALLMANN, Pastor

(9-13)

To Refrain from Corporate Involvement
in Secular Issues

Wuereas, We collectively and as individuals. search-
ing the Word for guidance, have looked at specific issues
such as civil disobedience and open housing, on which
our beloved Synod has taken “corporate” positions, and
have read and discussed various and opposing views
concerning the relationships of church and state, soberly
and prayerfully seeking to find answers; and

Wuereas, The Word is clear that consideration for the
“here and now” is not to be coequal with considerations
for the hereafter (Matt. 13:54-58; 11:20-24; 16:26; Deut.
5:7); and

Wuereas, The primary role of the church (preaching
the Gospel to all the nations) is often obscured and con-
fused by taking “corporate” positions and “official” ac-
tions in secular affairs; and

Wuereas, Secular positions and pronouncements
from certain church bodies and councils are creating
unnecessary and un-Christian dissension and discord
which cause people seeking spiritual guidance to be

repelled from the church; and

Wuereas, It is our feeling that the corporate church
would better perform its task of winning more souls for
Christ by remaining steadfast to the Word and refrain-
ing from diverting its purpose by taking official positions
and actions in secular affairs: therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod withdraw its corporate
positions in the area of civil disobedience and open hous-
ing: and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod refrain from maintaining
or establishing corporate positions on similar secular
(i. e., social. economic. and political) issues, past, pres-
ent, or future: and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod express itself against join-
ing (while not cutting off dialog with) any other body,
denomination, council. or group which has a different
doctrinal basis or which is expressly associated with
official positions on secular affairs: and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its long-held con-