LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1971, Page 129

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RESOLUTIONS 129

the document that is in conflict with the confessional po-
sition of the Synod, treats articles of faith as open ques-
tions, or does not observe the necessary limitations to
freedom and diversity within a confessional church.

We deplore that some have read into the document
more than it purports to say and, having read it in that
manner, have not always shown a Christian openness and
trust.

We pray that the Spirit of God give the church, the
Synod, and its seminaries the precious gift of openness
and trust which should characterize God’s redeemed peo-
ple in their dealings with one another.

Hotiann H. Jones
ARTHUR C. REpP
GILBERT A. THIELE

(A motion to table this resolution in Session 16 lost by
a standing vote of 426 to 431. Time was extended. A call for
the previous question failed of the required two-thirds vote,
533 for, 330 against. In Session 17 a motion to amend the
first resolved to read “inadequacies of’ was ruled out of
order since it had been made on a point of privilege. When
the assembly voted on the resolution proper, the chair ruled
that the resolution had failed. Division of the house was
called for. The count showed that the resolution had been
adopted, 390 to 384.

At this point Dr. Preus, on a question of privilege granted
by the floor, asked that the words “the inadequacies of” be
inserted in the title and in the first resolved. No objection
to this request was offered.

He also suggested that a letter referred to by President
John Tietjen of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, during the
discussion regarding the position of certain faculty members
be attached to the resolution, if Dr. Tietjen would be amen-
able to the proposal. Dr. Tietjen agreed.)

To Affirm Right to Rebuke Public Sin

RESOLUTION 2-51
Report 2-01, I, L; Overture 2-24 (CW, pp. 32, 57)

Wueneas, Both the Scriptures and the Symbols teach
that public sin may be publicly reproached:

When Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the

face. (Gal. 2:11, 14)

Them that sin rebuke before all that others also may fear.

(1 Tim. 5:20)

Where the sin is so public that the judge and the whole
world are aware of it, you can without sin shun and avoid
the person as one who has brought disgrace upon himself,
and you may testify publicly concerning him. For when
an affair is manifest to everybody there can be no ques-
tion of slander or false witness. For example, we now
censure the pope and his teaching, which is publicly set
forth in books and shouted throughout the world. When
the sin is public, the punishment ought to be public so
that everyone may know how to guard against it (Large
Catechism, 8th Commandment, Tappert, p. 403, par. 284);

therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod concur with the request
of the President of the Synod that the CTCR study the

matter of appropriate procedures in the case of public
offense; and be it also

Resolved, That the CTCR make its report available
to the Synod as soon as possible.

Action: Referred under omnibus resolution to Board
of Directors for study and report to next convention.

To Evaluate Historical Critical Method
of Interpretation
RESOLUTION 2-52

Report 2-01, I, A; Overtures 2-51, 2-211, 2-219—2-291,
2-223—2-224 (CW, pp. 31, 64—65, 108, 110—112)

Wuenreas, The use of certain aspects of the historical
critical method (so called) seems to be at the root of
many of the problems of Biblical interpretation that
have for some time troubled the church; and

Wuereas, While the issue has been raised at a num-
ber of conventions with the hope that the Synod’s pro-
fessors, pastors, teachers, and laymen might have ade-
quate guidelines relative to the use of the historical
critical method in theology today; and

Wuereas, The Commission on Theology and Church
Relations has already produced several documents for
the study of the historical critical method by the Synod
(cf. Appendix J, p. 44); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations give priority to continue its study and
evaluation of this method of Biblical interpretation and
bring a recommendation concerning its use to the Synod
in 1973; and be it further

Resolved, That during this biennium the Commission
on Theology and Church Relations, in keeping with the
1969 Resolution 2-29 (Denver Proceedings, pp. 90—91),
include in this study the participation of the Districts
of the Synod through pastor-teacher conferences, to
which laymen are invited; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod pray for the Holy Spirit
to lead us into all truth.

Action: Adopted (17).

To Clarify Ecumenical Participation
RESOLUTION 2-53
Overture 2-228 (CW, pp. 113—114)

Wuereas, Essays and statements associated with the
Lutheran-Reformed discussions between 1962 and 1966
were published in Marburg Revisited: A Reexamination
of Lutheran and Reformed Traditions (edited by Paul
C. Empie and James I. McCord, Augsburg, 1966); and

Wuereas, These essays and statements are presented
as a basis for discussion and do not claim to represent
the official position of the church bodies represented;
and

Wuereas, The representatives of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod faithfully reported to the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations and
faithfully represented the doctrinal position of our
church; therefore be it

Resolved, The compilers of Overture 2-228 reevalu-
ate their statements on the basis of the unofficial nature
of dialogs with other church bodies; and be it also