LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 103

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RESOLUTIONS 103

that individuals can receive eternal life only by God’s
grace through faith in Jesus Christ;

2. Resolved, That we reaffirm the Scriptural truth
that in the proclamation of the Gospel the verbal and/or
written witness is indispensable;

3. Resolved, That we reaffirm the Scriptural truth
that deeds of love which flow from the Gospel at work
in the lives of God’s people are an indispensable part of
the church’s mission;

4. Resolved, That we reaffirm our subscription to the
Mission Affirmations adopted by the Detroit convention
which state:

The church is God’s mission;

The church is Christ’s mission to the whole world;

The church is Christ’s mission to the church;

The church is Christ’s mission to the whole society;

The church is Christ’s mission to the whole man;

The whole church is Christ’s mission;

5. Resolved, That we who are involved in this mis-
sion, in a spirit of joy, determine to work together in
brotherliness, trust, and mutual support;

6. Resolved, That the members of the Board for Mis-
sions refrain from involving themselves in the super-
vision and counseling of missionaries and sister churches
which is properly the function of the mission staff;

7. Resolved, That staff members of the Board for
Missions recognize and fulfill their role in implementing
policies and decisions of the Board for Missions, sup-
porting these policies and decisions, and refraining from
encouraging and promoting a dissenting view;

8. Resolved, That we recognize the fact that there
are different situations in mission fields which make it
imperative for our missionaries and sister churches to
follow practices which take into consideration the so-
ciological and cultural setting in which they carry out
their ministry;

9. Resolved, That we call upon our sister churches
and mission fields overseas to recognize their responsi-
bility to The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod and
to seek in love to avoid decisions, actions, and practices
which foster tensions and divisions among us as part-
ners in Christ’s mission;

10. Resolved, That we commend the Board for Mis-
sions for the theological principles (cf. “Board Resolu-
tions on Policy,” CW, pp. 9—10) intended to undergird
and amplify the Mission Affirmations and to maintain
and uphold the policies and practices of our church in
mission throughout the world;

11. Resolved, That the Board for Missions proceed,
in consultation with staff, missionaries, sister churches,
District mission departments, and the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations in a study to produce
a policy statement acceptable to the board, staff, mis-
sionaries, and sister churches; and finally

12. Resolved, That we pray for the direction and
blessing of the Holy Spirit for a united proclamation of
the Gospel.

Action: Adopted (7).

To Decline Overtures Re Loyalty
of Mission Workers

RESOLUTION 1-07
Overtures 1-05, 2-172 (CW, pp. 25, 96)

Wuereas, All of the workers in the Synod’s mission
have made their statement of loyalty to the Scriptures
and the Lutheran Confessions through their ordination
or induction vows; and

Wuereas, The Synod accepts in good faith the sin-
cerity and continuity of this subscription to Scripture
and the Confessions; and

Wuereas, The Synod has provided channels, instru-
ments, and safeguards for dealing with any evident de-
viation from a Scriptural or Confessional position in
either doctrine or practice and for discipline as circum-
stances may require; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod express appreciation for
the concern for the doctrinal and practical heritage of
The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod which has been
expressed by those who submitted Overtures 1-05 and
2-172; and be it further

Resolved, That Overtures 1-05 and 2-172 be declined.
Action: Adopted (7).

To Commend Districts and Overseas Sister
Churches for Increased Mission Support

RESOLUTION 1-08
Report 1-01, IV, 3 (CW, p.8)

Wuereas, The Scriptures call upon God’s people to
share the Good News of reconciliation in Christ with
the whole world; and

WuenreEas, Increased patterns of Christian giving for
missions are vitally important for continued future ex-
pansion of this work; and

Wuenreas, During the past biennium the Districts and

.

President Waima Waesa of the Wabag Lutheran Church, New Guinea,
addressing the convention in Pidgin. Missionary Elwyn Ewald translates