LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 139

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RESOLUTIONS 139

John Tietjen, in their several responses [Fact Finding
or Fault Finding? (Sept. 8, 1972); “Response of the
Faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis” to Dr. Preus’
A Statement (April 4, 1972); Faithful To Our Calling,
Faithful To Our Lord, Parts I & II (Dec. 1972); “Re-
sponse of the Faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis,
to the ‘Report of the Synodical President’” (May 22,
4973) ], have refused to acknowledge as true any of the
charges of false doctrine, thus any violation of Art. II
of the Constitution; and

Wuereas, Said documents provide written evidence
of the deviations in doctrine as charged; and

Wuerras, The synodical floor committee on semi-
nary issues has met with Pres. Tietjen and his advisory
faculty committee and ascertained that there has been
no retraction or change relative to the faculty’s position;
and

Wuereas, The Board of Control of Concordia Semi-
nary, St. Louis, has failed to recognize the validity of
the charges contained in Pres. Preus’ Report (Sept. 1,
1972) as based on the Fact Finding Committee’s report;
and

Wuereas, It is in keeping with our Lutheran heritage,
specifically our commitment to and under the Lutheran
Confessions “that the opinion of the party in error can-
not be tolerated in the church of God, much less be ex-
cused and defended” (Formula of Concord, SD, Pre-
face, 9); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod assert its continuing con-
cern for “the conservation and promotion of the unity
of the true faith” in accord with Holy Scripture and the
Lutheran Confessions; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod repudiate that attitude
toward Holy Scripture, particularly as regards its au-
thority and clarity, which reduces to theological opinion
or exegetical questions matters which are in fact clearly
taught in Scripture (e.g., facticity of miracle accounts
and their details; historicity of Adam and Eve as real
persons; the fall of Adam and Eve into sin as a real
event, to which original sin and its imputation upon all
succeeding generations of mankind must be traced; the
historicity of every detail in the life of Jesus as recorded
by the evangelists; predictive prophecies in the Old
Testament which are in fact Messianic; the doctrine of
angels; the Jonah account, etc.); and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod recognize that the matters
referred to in the second resolved are in fact false doc-
trine running counter to the Holy Scriptures, the Lu-
theran Confessions, and the synodical stance and for
that reason “cannot be tolerated in the church of God,
much less be excused and defended” (FC, SD, Preface,
9); and be it finally

Resolved, That these matters be turned over to the
Board of Control of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.

Action: Adopted as amended (13).

(Originally the resolution had contained only three re-
solveds, with the third reading: “That the Synod recognize

that the theological position defended by the faculty ma-
jority of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., is in fact false
doctrine... .” After the resolution had been discussed in
Sessions 11 and 12, the floor committee offered an amend-
ment rewording the third resolved as finally adopted and
adding the fourth resolved. Special rules introduced from
the floor and developed by a group including the chairman
of the floor committee and the president of the seminary
were followed. A motion to remove Resolution 3-09 from
consideration was defeated in Session 11, as was an amend-
ment in Session 12 “that these matters be decided by Sep-
tember 1, 1973.” After debate on the amendment proposed
by the floor committee had been concluded the amendment
was adopted, 646 to 366. The question on the resolveds as
now amended was called by a standing vote of 678 to 311.
After the preamble and whereases had been discussed the
question was called for and delegates agreed to close debate,
671 to 321. The entire resolution as amended was then
adopted, 574 to 451. Legal counsel for the Synod read a
statement into the record in view of a protest which had
been filed. For an extended report see Minutes for Sessions
11, 12, and 13.)

To Deal with the St. Louis Board of Control
RESOLUTION 3-10

Overtures 3-11A—C, 3-82, 3-141—3-150B
(CW, pp. 150—153)

Wuereas, The Constitution of The Lutheran Church
— Missouri Synod provides as the first object of the
Synod “the conservation and promotion of the unity of
the true faith” and as the third object of the Synod “the
training of ministers and teachers for service in the
Evangelical Lutheran Church”; and

Wuereas, The third object of the Synod must be
carried out in the light of the first object; and

Wuereas, The Board of Control has defined “com-
mending” as “the equivalent of stating that the pro-
fessor was not guilty of false doctrine but was teaching
in accord with the Scriptures and the Confessions”; and
has defined “to correct” as “the equivalent of saying
that the professor was not teaching in accord with Scrip-
tures and the Confessions and was therefore open to
the charge of false doctrine”; and

Wuereas, The Board of Control has failed to carry
out its responsibilities in protecting the doctrinal posi-
tion of the Synod as is evident from its “commending”
the entire faculty; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod express its grave concern
for the failure of the Board of Control to carry out its
responsibilities; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod call upon those board
members who have supported President Tietjen and
the faculty majority to repent; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod call on those board mem-
bers who cannot in good conscience carry out their
responsibilities under the synodical Handbook or who
are unwilling to do so to resign.

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