LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 194

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194 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

WuerEAS, The theological basis of the World Council of
Churches identifies this inter-Christian organization as “a fellow-
ship of churches which confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and
Savior according to the Scriptures and therefore seek to fulfill to-
gether their common calling to the glory of the one God, Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit” (Constitution of the WCC); and

WHEREAS, The Faith and Order Commission of the World
Council of Churches seeks doctrinal agreement among Christians
of all persuasions, and is committed to “conduct its work in such a
way that all are invited to share reciprocally in giving and receiving
and no one is asked to be disloyal to his convictions nor to com-
promise them; differences are to be clarified and recorded as hon-
estly as agreements” (Bylaws of the Faith and Order Commission):
therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod make
use of the “Delegated Observer” category that is open to nonmem-
ber denominations, in order to send an official representative to the
Harare Assembly; and be it further

Resolved, That, in light of the Christocentric, trinitarian, and
biblical theological basis of the World Council of Churches, The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod consider the possibility of
membership in this organization, giving priority to participation in
its Faith and Order Commission which seeks doctrinal agreement
without compromise.

Resurrection
Coronado, CA

3-137

To Join Lutheran World Federation

WHEREAS, Some churches overseas which were initiated by the
mission outreach of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod are
members of the Lutheran World Federation, such as Lutheran
Church in Nigeria, India Evangelical Lutheran Church, Gutnius
Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea, and Lutheran Church in
the Philippines; and

WHEREAS, The mission challenge of the Missouri Synod and the
need for Lutheran cooperation is just as urgent in the United States
as it is abroad; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS join the LWF.

Resurrection
Coronado, CA

3-138

To Support Inter-Lutheran
and Inter-Christian Partnerships

Wuereas, The Atlantic District has historically enjoyed cordial
relationships with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and
with other Christian denominations and entities in accord with The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod guidelines for “cooperation in
externals”; and

WHEREAS, Many cooperative ventures continue to exist and
flourish among Lutherans in New York, including the Lutheran
Schools Association, Lutheran Social Services, Good Samaritan
Home, the Eger Home, The Wartburg, Wartburg Lutheran Ser-
vices, Lutheran Friends of the Deaf (Mill Neck Manor), Lutherans
for Life, campus and maritime ministry, chaplaincy, and the like;
and

WHEREAS, Many pastors and congregations in the Atlantic Dis-
trict are interacting on a regular basis in areas productive of mission
and ministry with other Lutherans and Christians; and

WHEREAS, There continues to be a need for a clear articulation
of LCMS positions on doctrine and practice as regards inter-
Lutheran and inter-Christian relationships; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS assembled in convention thank God
for the areas of combined service which it has historically con-
ducted with other Lutherans; and be it further

Resolved, That the congregations of the LCMS be encouraged
to work to expand appropriate areas of “cooperation in externals”
with fellow Christians and especially with fellow Lutherans; and
be it further

Resolved, That theological points of departure with other Chris-
tians and especially Lutherans be articulated firmly and in a spirit
of loving concern, using appropriate forums and materials, remem-
bering the command to “speak the truth in love”; and be it finally

Resolved, That the synodical President be empowered by the
convention to conduct thorough ongoing dialog with the Bishop of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in conjunction with
COP and Council of Bishops during the next triennium as pertains
to both theological and practical matters, reporting to the next con-
vention of the Synod.

Board of Directors
Atlantic District

3-139

To Appoint Ethnic Doctrinal Review Panels

Wuereas, The third vision of the Synod is “People Sensitive,
People Centered”; and

WHEREAS, The Synod in convention, through the “Mission
Blueprint for the Nineties” committed itself to “Reach out from
congregations with culture-specific ministry”; and

WHEREAS, All materials published in The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod are required to be reviewed doctrinally; and

Wuereas, Enculturation is a critical component of the doctri-
nal review process for ethnic-specific materials; and

WuereAsS, The doctrinal review process for the African Ameri-
can hymnal highlighted the need for sensitivity to the cultural nu-
ances of Lutheran Theology; and

WHEREAS, Luther has demonstrated “cultural nuances” with the
translation of the Scriptures into German and with the development
of a theology rooted in the Scriptures and applied to the German
culture; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention empower and encour-
age the President of the Synod to appoint an Ethnic Doctrinal Re-
view Panel for ethnic-specific materials; and be it further

Resolved, That this panel take care to be “faithful to the Scrip-
ture and the Lutheran Confessions.”

Board for Black Ministry Services

3-140

To Remove Certification for The Goal of the Gospel

Wuereas, The book, The Goal of the Gospel, was declared to
be “deeply flawed” in its doctrinal presentation of justification and
sanctification by the Doctrinal Review Commission in its Aug. 8,
1997, decision; and

WHEREAS, The Concordia Journal, October 1993, published by
the Synod’s St. Louis seminary included a book review of The
Goal of the Gospel by Dr. Graudin, in which he explains a number
of reasons for his serious warning that “the reviewer cannot rec-
ommend the book for general use in the church”; and

WuerEAS, At least three other theologians likewise not con-
nected with the Doctrinal Review Commission joined Dr. Graudin
in pointing out that the book, The Goal of the Gospel, promotes a
doctrine and practice contrary to the Scriptures and the Lutheran
Confessions; and

WHEREAS, The Doctrinal Review Commission in their decision,
in answer to the challenge of the book’s certification, stated that
the book, The Goal of the Gospel, was “deeply flawed,” again “the
basic flaw is the muddling of justification and sanctification [and
between] Law and Gospel,” again “obedience is spoken of ina way
more at home in the Reformed tradition than the Lutheran,” again
“there are times when the actual exposition of Scripture and the