LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1971, Page 136

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136 RESOLUTIONS

issues raised by the “Statement of the Participating
Bodies” and the proposals of The American Lutheran
Church.

Action: Withdrawn by the committee (11).

(After this resolution had been presented and discussed
in Session 11, it was withdrawn by the committee, which later
presented it in revised form as Resolution 3-26, incorporating
some of the suggestions offered during the earlier discus-
sion.)

To Engage in Fellowship Discussions
with the Wisconsin Evangelical
Lutheran Synod and Evangelical

Lutheran Synod

RESOLUTION 3-20

Report — In Response to Request by President Preus
(TB, p. 172)

Wuereas, In former years The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod enjoyed the blessing of altar and pulpit
fellowship with the Wisconsin Synod and the Evan-
gelical Lutheran Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod reaffirm willingness to engage the Wisconsin
Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Synod in fellow-
ship discussions on the basis of the Scriptures and the
Lutheran Confessions; and be it also

Resolved, That the President of the Synod implement
this action.

Action: Adopted (13).

To Seek Better Relations with
The American Lutheran Church

RESOLUTION 3-21

Reports 2-01; Overtures 3-73, 3-74, 3-75, 3-77—3-171,
3-173—3-240, 3-290, 3-293, 3-296, 3-308 (CW, pp. 33, 145
to 147, 148—183, 192, 193, 197)

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
established fellowship with The American Lutheran
Church in its Denver Resolution 3-15; and

Wuereas, Blessings from God have accrued from this
fellowship during the past two years; and

Wuereas, A number of overtures, however, in the
convention Workbook indicate that despite the state-
ments appearing in the document “Theology of Fellow-
ship” there are differing interpretations between mem-
bers of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod and
The American Lutheran Church on what fellowship in-
volves; and

Wuerras, A number of overtures in the convention
Workbook indicate that serious differences in the doc-
trine of the authority of Scripture still exist between
members of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
and The American Lutheran Church; and

Wuereas, Following the Denver convention of The
Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, The American Lu-

theran Church’s action regarding the ordination of
women poses serious problems to, and causes deep con-
cern among, members of The Lutheran Church — Mis-
souri Synod, particularly since the report of The Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod representatives on the
Interchurch Commission on Fellowship, contrary to the
view of The American Lutheran Church, states that this
is a matter that involves the authority of Scripture; and

WHEREAS, Only four meetings of the Interchurch
Commission on Fellowship have been held since the
Denver convention, which limited number of meetings
have not permitted adequate attention to the tasks
agreed upon by the commission; and

Wuereas, Denver Resolution 3-15 leaves the imple-
mentation of fellowship between The Lutheran Church
— Missouri Synod and The American Lutheran Church
congregations to the discretion of the local congrega-
tions; and

Wuereas, A number of overtures printed in the con-
vention Workbook urge the Synod to withdraw, suspend,
rescind, reconsider, ete., fellowship with The American
Lutheran Church; and

Wuereas, A number of overtures printed in the con-
vention Workbook urge the Synod to increase, further
implement, etc., fellowship with The American Lutheran
Church; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod express its Sratitude to the Lord of the church for
His blessings on this fellowship and for every evidence
of growth in the understanding and practice of fellow-
ship in both The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
and The American Lutheran Church; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod implore the blessings and guidance of the Holy
Spirit upon present and future discussions dealing with
differences between two church bodies, that ever greater
blessings may accrue in the future; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod register its strong regret over The American Lu-

reconsideration to this action; and that the Synod re-
Spectfully request The American Lutheran Church not
to implement further its resolution to ordain women;
and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod request that the Interchurch Commission on Fel-
lowship continue during the next biennium and that it
strongly urge this commission to meet more frequently
than heretofore during the next biennium “to assist the
church bodies in the proper understanding and practice
of fellowship and to deal with issues and problems which
exist or may arise which may impair or inhibit fellow-
ship” (“Statement of Purpose,” ALC-LCMS Commis-
sion on Fellowship); and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod request its appropriate officers, in consultation