LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1971, Page 135

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RESOLUTIONS 135

souri Synod, thereby implicating The Lutheran Church
— Missouri Synod in seeming contradictions of its own
confessional stance; and

Wuereas, Concern has been expressed that projects
of various divisions may involve members of The Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod in actions which are
contrary to the agreed practice of the Synod; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod reiterate its insistence on continued theological
discussions within the Lutheran Council in the U. S.A.
as a means of promoting unity in doctrine and practice
among the constituent bodies; and be it further

Resolved, That members of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod, participating in the work and activity
of the Division of Theological Studies of the Lutheran
Council in the U.S. A., represent at all times the theo-
logical position of their Synod; and be it finally

Resolved, That the President of the Synod, in con-
sultation with The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
voting representatives to the Lutheran Council in the
U.S.A., and the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations, be responsible for a study and evaluation of
the Division of Theological Studies of LCUSA as well
as the theological involvements of the other divisions,
and the nature and origin of documents related hereto,
to determine the extent to which the Synod’s partici-
pation in LCUSA is achieving or hindering the promo-
tion of unity in doctrine and practice; and that the
findings and recommendations be reported to the Coun-
cil of Presidents and to the next convention of the
Synod.

Action: Adopted as amended (9).

(An amendment in Session 7 to add the Council of Presi-
dents to the first statement of the final resolved and to ex-
cise it from the last phrase failed to carry by a vote of 455 to
591. The question was then divided, with first consideration
given to Part I.

In Session 9 an amendment to add “and the Council of
Presidents” to the opening words of the fourth resolved of
Section I was defeated by a vote of 372 to 387. The resolveds
of Section I were then adopted. The second whereas was
inserted by amendment. Section II was then considered. The
convention defeated an amendment “that the LCMS delegates
participate only in committees that recognize the delegate as
a representative of the Missouri Synod.” A motion to table
Section II failed. After no amendments had been offered to
the whereases, Section II was adopted.)

To Receive “A Statement Regarding
Lutheran Unity”
RESOLUTION 3-19
Report 2-01, B; Overture 3-291 (CW, pp. 34—35, 191)

Wuereas, The Inter-Lutheran Consultation in 1970
produced a statement entitled “A Statement of the
Participating Bodies in the LCUSA Regarding Lu-
theran Unity” (CW, Appendix F, pp. 40—41); and

Wuereas, The Synod’s President requested the Com-
mission on Theology and Church Relations to present

appropriate recommendations to The Lutheran Church
— Missouri Synod after reviewing the statement; and

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church in America and The
American Lutheran Church have adopted this statement
at their 1970 conventions; and

Wuereas, The proposals of the participating bodies
have far-reaching significance for The Lutheran Church
— Missouri Synod, and widespread discussion of the
issues involved should take place before commitments
are made; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod receive the document entitled “A Statement of
the Participating Bodies in the Lutheran Council in the
United States of America Regarding Lutheran Unity”
and note its content; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod restate its desire to initiate and continue its
efforts to work toward a greater degree of unity with
those Lutheran churches with whom it is in altar and
pulpit fellowship and with those with whom this fellow-
ship has not yet been recognized; and that the activity
proceed as follows:

1) Discussion of the Scriptures and the Lutheran
Confessions with those Lutheran churches with
whom we are not yet in fellowship in order to
seek agreement in doctrine and practice leading
to a declaration of altar and pulpit fellowship.
These discussions may serve to provide guidelines
for additional cooperative activity.

2) Declaration of altar and pulpit fellowship by a
majority vote of the church delegates assembled
in church convention after the President of the
Synod and the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations make a recommendation for
this action.

3) Continued negotiations to find the proper ensuing
steps to implement additional forms of cooperative
activity;

and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod express the position that, at this time, it is
primarily oriented toward altar and pulpit fellowship
and further cooperative activities, rather than organic
union; and be it further

Resolved, That the President of the Synod, in con-
sultation with the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations, be empowered to appoint four representatives
to the discussions of the committee recommended by
the Inter-Lutheran Consultation and the executive
committee of the Lutheran Council and endorsed by
The American Lutheran Church and the Executive
Council of the Lutheran Church in America, and that
the President keep the Synod fully informed of the
progress of such discussions; and be it finally

Resolved, That the pastors and congregations of the
Synod be asked to give careful consideration to the