LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 121

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RESOLUTIONS 124

paper entitled “Gospel and Scripture” to its members
for reference and guidance.

Action: None. Referred under omnibus Res. 4-47 to
the Board of Directors.

To Reaffirm the Synod’s Position
Regarding Tri-Lutheran Campus Ministry

RESOLUTION 2-37
Overtures 2-98A through 2-101 (CW, pp. 75—77)

Wuereas, The 1969 synodical convention (Cf. Res.
2-26, 1969 Proceedings, p. 90) expressed the Synod’s
position that “joint sponsorship or participation in mat-
ters not directly affecting the Synod’s doctrinal position
(cooperation in externals) is not only possible but de-
sirable when this can be done without compromising
the faith or confession of the church (cf. “Theology of
Fellowship,” Part Three, C, 4); and

Wuereas, Members and agencies of the Synod are
presently participating with other Lutherans in many
such activities and programs at various levels of the
church’s life; and

Wuereas, The members of the Synod have volun-
tarily united in a fraternal agreement to determine fel-
lowship relations with other church bodies or congrega-
tions, not individually, but through convention action
(cf. Bylaw 1.21); and

Whereas, The Synod has urged all its members to
refrain from exercising local option either on a District
or on a congregational level in regard to fellowship
(Res. 2-18, 1967 Proceedings, p. 92); and

Wuereas, Past conventions of the Synod have pro-
vided for consultative and coordinative planning with
other Lutherans on matters pertaining to campus min-
istries (cf. Res. 3-20, 1967 Proceedings, pp. 101—102; Res.
1-20, 1969 Proceedings, p. 82), but has not authorized
any activities that would violate the Synod’s fellowship
principles or its policies with regard to unionistic prac-
tices (cf. Constitution, Article VI); and

Wuereas, Our Synod has directed its Districts to ex-
ercise considerable leadership in the planning and de-
velopment of campus ministry programs, but has not
authorized its Districts to disregard any synodical fel-
lowship principles or policies; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod reiterate its desire for con-
sultative and coordinative planning with other Lu-
therans in the development of campus ministry pro-
grams; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its position that
the achievement of doctrinal agreement and the subse-
quent synodical establishment of fellowship must pre-
cede joint involvement with other Christians in matters
directly pertaining to the ministry of Word and Sacra-
ment or directly affecting the doctrinal position of the
Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod ask its Board for Missions
and its various District boards and officials responsible

for campus ministry programs to discharge their re-
sponsibilities with due regard for the distinction be-
tween such joint activities, funding, and administration
which can be carried out without the prior establish-
ment of fellowship (cooperation in externals) and those
which should properly follow the synodical establish-
ment of fellowship (cooperation in internals); and be it
further

Resolved, That the Synod’s Board for Missions ex-
amine the current campus ministry practices of all
synodical Districts in terms of the above distinction and
make recommendations to the 1975 synodical conven-
tion for any action which may be necessary to insure
that the Synod’s fellowship principles and policies are
being observed; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod urge all those involved in
these matters to attempt to work out any differences of
interpretation or opinion about specific activities with
true Christian charity and fraternity, and with sincere
regard for the cause of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and
be it finally

Resolved, That the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations be urged to give the highest priority
to its present study of the Synod’s church relations poli-
cies and principles, and that this study include practical
guidelines for the implementation of the Synod’s church
relations policies in those areas of its work which may
be carried out jointly with other Christians.

Action: None. Referred under omnibus Res. 4-47 to
the Board of Directors.

To Repudiate the Historical Critical Method
of Interpreting Scripture

RESOLUTION 2-38
(Joint Resolution of Committees 2 and 3)

Report 2-01, I, “Historical Critical Method”; Appendix
Ill, Z-01; Overtures 3-51 through 3-71 (CW, pp. 29—30,
130—138, 435—448)

Wuereas, The Commission on Theology and Church
Relations has for many years given intensive study and
discussion to the problems raised by any use of the
Historical Critical Method in interpreting Scripture; and

Wuereas, Such study and discussion have clearly re-
vealed that inherent in the use of the Historical Critical
Method are presuppositions and procedures which (a)
deprecate the authority and truthfulness of the canoni-
cal text of Scripture, (b) distort the concept of Biblical
inspiration, (c) deny the unity of Scripture, and (d)
dilute the principle of Sola Scriptura; and

Wuereas, The CTCR has recommended to the Synod
that any method which tends to deny the divine charac-
ter and authority of Scripture be rejected and repudi-
ated by the Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod concur in the general
judgment of the CTCR with regard to the Historical
Critical Method (cf. CW, p. 30); and be it further