LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 68

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68

the Lutheran Church in America, and every other
church body that I know of that a pastor, teacher, or
congregation can hold membeship only in one church
body. This is very clearly stipulated in the constitutions
of the ALC and LCA. It has been so decided by the
Commission on Constitutional Matters of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod in several opinions. Therefore,
when the request was made that those holding dual
membership be removed from the rosters of the Synod,
we faced something that, to my knowledge, is univers-
ally upheld. The only church that I know of that seems
to take the position that dual membership is good and
proper is the AELC. This issue had arisen in Missouri
on several occasions prior to the AELC difficulties, and
it had always been maintained that congregations
could only hold membership in one church. In addition
to a small number of congregations still within Missouri
and holding AELC membership, there are a couple of
others holding membership in other Lutheran denomi-
nations. We have precise figures on the number of
pastors and teachers also involved. Many of these
people are retired, and their pension rights and things of
this kind would in no way be affected by the removal
from our roster. Likewise, we hold reciprocity with other
church bodies relative to pension and welfare rights, so
that no legal problems presently would impede the
passage of this resolution.

I have been in touch with all District Presidents to
my knowledge who have such situations within their
District. The District Presidents have been working
slowly and patiently with this matter, but several cases
do still remain.

I see no other solution to the problem than the
passage of Resolution 5-11, realizing that it will prob-
ably result in the loss to our church of almost all of the
congregations, pastors, and teachers, who are involved.
We have given these people four years in which to make
this decision, and it does not appear that those who are
still remaining in this situation will make a decision,
unless forced to do so. It will result in the loss of several
congregations, some of them of significant size, but this
is perhaps the price we have to pay for what I hope will
be the final close-down on our tragic and shattering
controversy of the middle ’70s.

Overture 5-12A, “To Broaden ‘Ministers of the
Gospel’ Definition Before the Law,” should be very
carefully considered in the light of the material pre-
sented by the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations and in consultation also with the Synod’s
legal counsel. These are matters that require our very
careful attention. Overture 5-14 also comes under this
concern.

Overture 5-20, which requests that the Board of
Directors of CPH be given access to manuscripts prior to
publication on the face of it seems to be quite innocent
and expected. I would counsel Committee No. 5 to note
the opinion rendered on this matter by the Commission
on Constitutional Matters and also to point out the fact
that we have here a serious possibility of conflict
between the office of synodical President who is in

PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

charge of doctrinal review and the Board of Directors of
CPH. The whole doctrinal review process is a very
delicate one, involving confidentiality both of the author
and of the reviewer, and to tamper with this process in
the interest of one board or another can have disastrous
effects on the entire review process. .

Overtures 5-21, “To Provide for the Election of a
District Committee on Nominations” is a good one, and
it would be well for the convention to resolve that all
Districts conform to the synodical Constitution with
regard to the election of the Committee on Nominations
rather than leave this in the hands of one individual or
office.

I agree with the sentiments of Overture 5-23, To
Forbid the LCMS President to be an Elim or Seminex
Supporter. I think it would be well also to add that the
President shall be expected to carry on his doctrinal
supervision in keeping with the official and publicly
known doctrinal position of the Synod, and to belong to
no group, neither ELIM or any on the left extremity, or
Affirm, or DCP groups, on the other end of the spectrum.
The President is expected to exercise doctrinal super-
vision with impartiality and without any taint of
political involvement. I think it would be an excellent
idea that all officers of the Synod be asked to disasso-
ciate themselves not only from ELIM but from groups
like Affirm, DCP, and other politically oriented groups.

6. Higher Education

This committee will have the interesting and ch
lenging task of studying and evaluating the reports of
all of our institutions of higher learning and trying ta;
make appropriate recommendations to the convention:
These schools are a great treasure for the church and
deserve our wholehearted support. For 12 years I have:
fought against all who have attempted to close some
these institutions, but unless the financial support of
them increases, as our Treasurer notes, this may havet0s
be the direction that we take. In the light of the wh
Forward in Remembrance endeavor, I do not believé
that the closing of schools is necessary. It will come 0
because of apathy and neglect. In that spirit, therefor
recommend to the convention that four-year status
granted to Winfield. We have an excellent presiden'
faculty, and board of control, and some fine things ha
been going on at this institution.

With reference to those overtures having to do wi
the colloquy program for Seminex graduates, no one
the Synod has suffered more than I have from the sco!
and unkindness of Seminex personnel. Yet I do
believe that it would be wise on the part of the Synod
adopt a colloquy program for the men who have attend
this institution which is at variance with the progr
which we have for Roman Catholics, Baptists, or ot
churches. Every effort has been made and apparen
continues to be made by the Seminex faculty to k
Seminex graduates from applying for certification
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. The very f
that a man makes application and wants to join«
Synod is proof enough of the fact that he knows