LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 127

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3. SEMINARY ISSUES

To Adopt “A Statement”
RESOLUTION 3-01
(Joint Resolution of Committees 2 and 3)

Overtures 2-35, 2-36, 3-21—3-23, 3-30—3-46, 3-171—3-
176C, 3-191, 3-193A—3-195B, 6-44, 6-62 (CW, pp.58 to
59, 123—130, 277—278, 282—283)

Preamble

The Formula of Concord, in the Lutheran Confes-
sions, mentions Doctor Luther as asserting that “the
Word of God is and should remain the sole rule and
norm of doctrine, and that no human being’s writings
dare be placed on a par with it, but that everything be
subjected to it.” The next paragraph begins: “This, of
course, does not mean that other good, useful, and pure
books such as interpretations of the Holy Scriptures,
refutations of errors, and expositions of doctrinal ar-
ticles, should be rejected. If they are in accord with the
aforementioned pattern of doctrine they are to be ac-
cepted and used as helpful expositions and explana-
tions.” (FC, SD, Summary, paragraphs 9—10)

Doctor Walther’s “Thirteen Theses,” which emerged
during the Predestinarian Controversy in America,
surely fits into this category. The first of these theses
appeared in Der Lutheraner, 15 January 1880, and the
last in the 1 May 1880 issue. The entire 13 were ap-
proved one year later by a vast majority at the synod-
ical convention in Fort Wayne, 11—12 May 1881. (Mis-
souri Synod Proceedings, 1881, pp. 35—36, 41)

Our Synod has continued to be greatly concerned
with doctrine, as past convention resolutions indicate
(1950—1971). Also, in order to clarify the status of
doctrinal statements, the Synod approved Resolution
5-24, “Status of Synodically Adopted Doctrinal State-
ments,” at the Milwaukee convention, July 1971, which
reads: ;

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm the desirability of
the formulation of doctrinal statements which clearly set
forth the teachings of the Holy Scriptures and apply
them to issues of our day; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod clearly state that such doc-
trinal formulations are subordinate to the Lutheran Con-
fessions; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod distinguish between resolu-
tions concerning doctrine formulated and adopted at a
convention and more formal statements of belief which
are produced by officially authorized groups, and which
are then presented to the congregations and clergy of the
Synod for study and discussion, and which are subse-
quently adopted by a synodical convention; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm the resolutions of
recent conventions that the Synod “honor and uphold
the synodically adopted statements as valid interpreta-
tions of Christian doctrine” (1969 Proceedings, p. 91);
and be it finally

Resolved, That in the case of the aforementioned more
formal and comprehensive statements of belief that the
Synod declare —

(1) its position that these statements, together with
all other formulations of doctrine, derive their
authority from the Word of God which they set
forth from the Holy Scriptures;

(2) its insistence that the ministry of the church re-
gard these formulations with special seriousness
and that those who disagree with these formula-
tions in part or in whole be held to present their
objections to them formally to those officials whom
the Synod has given the immediate supervision of
their doctrine;

(3) its conviction that as a result of joint study of the
Word of God the Holy Spirit will lead the Synod
into all truth, that possible errors in the afore-
mentioned statements will be discovered and cor-
rected, that instances of failure to submit to the
clear teaching of the Holy Scriptures will be evan-
gelically dealt with on an individual pastoral basis,
and that the Synod can speak with a voice that is
Scriptural, Gospel oriented, truly Lutheran, and
that we will continue to “walk together” as a true
Synod.

Accordingly, the following resolution is herewith
submitted.

WuereEas, A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional
Principles, issued by the President of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod in consultation with the vice-
presidents of the Synod, 3 March 1972, addresses itself
to the doctrinal issues troubling the church today; and

Wuereas, A Statement presents what the Synod
throughout its history has confessed and taught on these
issues, as witnessed to by synodical statements, cate-
chetical expositions, and convention resolutions; and

Wuereas, A Statement is, therefore, neither a new
standard of orthodoxy nor a document “based on private
writings, but on such books as have been composed,
approved, and received in the name of the churches
which pledge themselves to one doctrine and religion”
(FC, SD, Comp. Summary, paragraph 2); and

Wuereas, The Synod’s Commission on Theology and
Church Relations has evaluated A Statement as follows:

We find the doctrinal content of A Statement to be in
accord with the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions
and to contain nothing contrary to them. We also find
the doctrinal content of A Statement of Scriptural and
Confessional Principles to be in accord with the doctrinal
position of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod as it
has been taught historically and expressed in the official
oa statements of the Synod [Adopted 3 November
1972};

and

Ce

The patient ones, not shouting but quietly awaiting their turn.