LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 222

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-45B

To Reassign Responsibility
for Suggesting Persons
for Doctrinal Review

(The Board of Parish Education submitted an overture on

E.. this subject. Later it withdrew the overture for submission of a
: gubsequent overture. This replacement was received later but

failed to find its way into the Workbook. In fairness we are
herewith printing the whereases. The resolved is identical to
the resolved of Overture 3-45.)

WHEREAS, The primary concern of Synod’s process
of doctrinal review is that the doctrine set forth in public
materials which speak for our Synod should “be in
accord with the Scriptures and the Lutheran Con-
fessions” (Handbook, 11.151b, page 215); and

WHEREAS, There have been occasions when this
objective has not been achieved, even though the publica-
tions in question had gone through the entire present
process of doctrinal review (e.g., cases in which the
Board of Parish Education has felt compelled to instruct
its staff to withdraw certain publications from the
market even after some copies had already been sold,
along with other cases in which either the sharpness of
the Law or the sweetness of the Gospel were lacking in
publications already on the market); and

WHEREAS, In the present system names for the
position of doctrinal reviewer are now suggested by
many whose field of expertise is not in the area of
Christian doctrine (cf. Handbook, 11.155a, page 216) but
rather in education, youth work, cross-cultural matters,
journalism, etc.; and

WHEREAS, In establishing a process for doctrinal
review the Synod was not concerning itself. with the
quality of its publications from the standpoints of these
other areas of expertise essential as they may be, but
from the standpoint of whether their doctrinal content
was in agreement with the Scriptures and the Lutheran
Confessions; and _

WHEREAS, There are within the Synod three official
groups whose area of expertise is Christian doctrine
itself, namely, the faculties of our two synodical sem-
inaries and the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations; therefore be it

Resolved, ...
Board of Parish Education
Raymond A. Mueller, Secretary

L4-39

To Transfer Salem, Westland, Mich.,
from English to Michigan District

Salem National Evangelical Church at its quarterly
meeting on April 26, 1981, voted unanimously to request

LATE REPORTS AND OVERTURES

(Bylaw 1.27b)

transfer of its membership from the English District to
the Michigan District.

This action was taken after both President Borne-
mann and President Schlecht had met with the Church
Council. Letters are being sent requesting transfer
and acceptance to both District Presidents.

Salem National Ev. Lutheran Church
Westland, Mich.

Norbert C. Leppanen, President
Orval McKnight, Secretary

Paavo J. Frusti, Pastor

L5-07

__ To Not Receive Messiah
Lutheran Church, Pittsburg, Kans.,
into Synodical Membership

WHEREAS, Scripture declares (Romans 16:17), “Mark
them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the
doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them”; and

WHEREAS, The synodical Handbook, page 94, para-
graph 3.109, Principles of Division, is violated in that
the division that occurred in Zion Congregation in
February of 1979 was not the result of outgrowing a
facility, nor was it under amiable circumstances, neither
was there a need for a mission congregation in Pitts-
burg, Kans., and such division does disturb the church;
and ‘

WHEREAS, Zion and Messiah Congregations are not
in doctrinal agreement in such areas as unionistic
practices, communing nonmembers, the use of the
Lutheran Book of Worship; and

WHEREAS, It is the belief also of the ALC pastor, Rev.
Conrad Ide, that there is no need for another Lutheran
altar in Pittsburg, in view of the numerous churches
already represented here; therefore be it

Resolved, That membership in the LCMS be declined
to Messiah Lutheran Church of Pittsburg, Kans.

Zion Lutheran Church
Pittsburg, Kans.

William Grotheer, Chairman
Henry G. Ludeke, Secretary

L5-08
To Receive Trinity Lutheran Church
of Litchfield Park, Ariz.,
into Membership

WHEREAS, Trinity Lutheran Church of Litchfield
Park, Ariz., is a newly organized congregation and is

‘incorporated under the laws of the State of Arizona; and

WHEREAS, The Constitution Committee of the South-
ern California District has reviewed the constitution