LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 157

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WHEREAS, This association recognizes that the
participating church bodies share a common confes-
sional heritage; and

WHEREAS, The Council was established for the
primary purpose of providing a forum for theological
discussions, with the hope and prayer that the partici-
pants would arrive at a doctrinal consensus; and

WHEREAS, The Council is an agency through which
the member bodies can cooperate in other areas of
mutual concern; and

WHEREAS, If the Synod were to terminate its par-
ticipation in the Council, other avenues would have to
be found for the purpose of conferring with one another
and working together on matters of common interest;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod assure the church bodies
with whom it is associated in the Lutheran Council in
the U.S.A. that it values the opportunity provided by the
Council to work toward doctrinal consensus and to
engage in joint efforts to meet human needs; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Synod urge its representatives on
the Council to continue providing courageous Scriptural
and confessional witness to the doctrinal and ethical
issues confronting Lutheranism in America; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Board of Directors continue to
evaluate the cost of the Synod’s membership in the
Council in relation to the benefits received and avenues
for services provided; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod continue to pray that the
Lord of the church will bless the Synod’s association in
the Lutheran Council.

Action: Adopted (5).

To Seek Agreement with Lutherans
Involved in Merger Discussions

RESOLUTION 3-06

Report 3-01, II, B, Rec. V (CW, p. 154); Overtures
3-72—3-73E, 3-75A—3-76G, 3-80 (CW, pp.
182—185)

WHEREAS, The Scripture (Eph. 4:3 and 1 Cor. 1:10)
and the Confessions require of us that we constantly
strive toward agreement in the confessional doctrine
and practice; and

WHEREAS, The ALC, the LCA, and the AELC are
currently involved in unity discussions; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod assure The American
Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Church in America,
and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches
of its continuing desire to seek agreement in Biblical
and confessional doctrine and practice, whether those
church bodies continue to exist as individual denomi-
nations or in a new organizational structure.

Action: Adopted (9).

RESOLUTIONS ; 157

( A lengthy amendment was introduced in Session 5 and
ruled out of order in Session 9. Another amendment would have
substituted several sections of Overture 3-80; this failed to
carry.)

To Continue Fellowship Discussion
with the ELCC

RESOLUTION 3-07

Report 3-01, II, B, Rec. VI (CW, p. 154); Overtures
3-83—3-84 (CW, p. 185)

WHEREAS, A committee was appointed by the Pres-
ident of the Synod (1977 Res. 3-14) to hold discussions
with the official representatives of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Canada on the doctrine of Scripture,
the ordination of women, and other possible differences;
and

WHEREAS, The committee was not able to meet
during the past biennium with the representatives of
the ELCC; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod encourage its official
representatives to meet regularly with the representa-
tives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
during the coming biennium in order to reexamine the
relationship between these two church bodies, par-
ticularly in view of the ELCC and the LCA-Canada
union discussions; and be it finally

Resolved, That appropriate recommendations be
made to the next synodical convention through the
CTCR.

Action: Adopted (9).

To Develop Closer Bonds
with WELS, ELS, and ELF

RESOLUTION 3-08

Report 3-01, II, B, Rec. VII (CW, p. 154) Overtures
3-73 A—3-74, 3-82 (CW, pp. 182—183, 185)

WHEREAS, The Scriptures (Eph. 4:3 and 1 Cor. 1:10)
and the Confessions (AC, Preface 3—4) require that we
constantly strive toward agreement in the confessional
doctrine and practice; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
has shared a long history of confessional unity and
cooperation together with the Wisconsin Evangelical
Lutheran Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Synod
in the Synodical Conference; and

WHEREAS, The Evangelical Lutheran Federation
has expressed a desire to enter into altar and pulpit
fellowship with the LCMS; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod invite the Wisconsin
Evangelical Lutheran Synod, the Evangelical Lutheran
Synod, and the Evangelical Lutheran Federation to
engage in doctrinal discussions intended to lead toward
declarations of altar and pulpit fellowship.

Action: Adopted (9).