LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 154

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154 RESOLUTIONS

“the circumstances which called forth the protest are
not corrected in due time, the implication is that the
protest will lead to the severance of fellowship
relations.”

In 1979 the Synod resolved to continue fellowship in
protest, urged its members to continue studying the
meaning and implications of fellowship, and stated its
intention to reconsider its relationship to the ALC in the
1981 synodical convention.

The 1979 synodical convention also asked its repre-
sentatives to the ALC/LCMS Commission on Fellow-
ship to “distribute in the coming biennium a clear and
documented statement on the existing areas of doctrinal
disagreement between the two church bodies” (1979
Res. 3-03). That document, entitled “The American
Lutheran Church and The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod: A Statement of Doctrinal Differences” (see 1981
CW, pp. 397 ff.), was distributed to all LCMS pastors
and congregations in January 1981 and subsequently
has received wide distribution throughout the ALC.

This document illustrates the profound doctrinal
differences that exist in three major areas: the authority
and interpretation of Holy Scripture, the meaning of
confessional subscription, and the limits of diversity
and the nature and basis of church fellowship. “The
Statement of Doctrinal Differences” document corrob-
orates what the CTCR reported to the 1977 synodical
convention when it stated: “The CTCR regretfully
concludes that at the church body level agreement in
doctrine and practice does not exist today between the
ALC and the LCMS” (1977 CW, p. 48).

The 1981 report of the LCMS representatives on the
Commission on Fellowship (see 1981 CW, p. 159 ff.)
makes it clear that discussions during the past biennium
have not effected a resolution or modification of the
doctrinal differences that led the LCMS to initiate
“fellowship in protest” in 1977 and to continue it in
1979. If anything, the report of the commissioners gives
evidence that the position of the ALC on the con-
troverted issues is very firm and not likely to change.

The decision facing the LCMS is complicated by the
fact that the two church bodies have quite different
convictions about the implications of our doctrinal
differences for church fellowship. For the ALC, fellow-
ship between Lutheran church bodies is a rather basic
relationship reflecting a somewhat minimal agreement
in the Gospel and the Sacraments (CW, p. 401 E 6); in
this view, doctrinal differences are to be tolerated both
within and between Lutheran church bodies, and are
therefore not divisive or disruptive of altar and pulpit
fellowship. However, for the LCMS (and traditionally,
for other Lutheran church bodies as well) altar and
pulpit fellowship between church bodies is the deepest
and closest possible relationship precisely because it is
based on comprehensive agreement in the Biblical and
confessional doctrine of the Gospel and in all its articles,
and in the right administration of the holy sacraments.
In the LCMS view doctrinal differences cannot be
tolerated either within or between church bodies and are

by their very nature disruptive and divisive of altar and
pulpit fellowship.

The essential facts, then, are these: (1) both the ALC
and the LCMS acknowledge that they have doctrinal
disagreements; (2) the church bodies have been u
successful in resolving their doctrinal differences in
spite of 12 years of doctrinal discussion, including 4
years of fellowship in protest; and (3), for the LCMS:
such doctrinal differences are disruptive of altar and
pulpit fellowship.

I. Church Body Relationships

WHEREAS, Both the ALC and the LCMS recognize
that doctrinal differences exist between the two church
bodies; and :

WHEREAS, Twelve years of doctrinal discussion
between the ALC and the LCMS, including four years of
fellowship in protest, have neither resolved existi
doctrinal differences, nor offered any basis for assuming
that they will soon be resolved; and ,

WHEREAS, The LCMS understands “altar and pulpi
fellowship” to be an official relationship between two
church bodies based on their agreement in doctrine and
practice; and .

WHEREAS, The doctrinal differences between the *
ALC and the LCMS have become increasingly pro-
nounced during the past 12 years; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri *
Synod with deep sorrow herewith declare that itis notin »
altar and pulpit fellowship with The American Lutheran:
Church; and 3

II. Reexamination of Joint Efforts

WHEREAS, Some congregations and pastors of
LCMS are presently involved in joint fellowship effort
with their counterparts in the ALC; and

WHEREAS, The abrupt discontinuation of such efforts
may in some cases be disruptive to the ministry of the
Gospel; and

WHEREAS, The prolonged continuation of such j
efforts, when the church bodies themselves are not
altar and pulpit fellowship, may cause harm to the
ministry of the Gospel; therefore be it

Resolved, That congregations and pastors reexamin
such joint efforts in order to determine their Christiat
responsibility both to their fellow members in the LCMS.
and to those members of the ALC who are involved with:
them in these efforts; and be it os

Resolved, That the members of the LCMS pledge te
one another and to the members of the ALC their
mutual trust and understanding in resolving such cases
with both patience and love; and

IlI. Pastoral Care

WHEREAS, The LCMS has long encouraged its con
gregations and pastors in extraordinary circumstances
to provide responsible pastoral care, including the}
administration of Holy Communion to Christians wh