LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 30

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30 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

ment, see the Appendix of this WORKBOOK.) The commission
recommends that:

2. The Synod commend the study document entitled A Com-
parative Study of Varying Contemporary Approaches to Bibli-
cal Interpretation to its members for information and study.

Resolution 2-52 of the 1971 synodical convention also directed
the commission to make a recommendation to the 1973 conven-
tion concerning the use of the historical-critical method within
The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. The commission there-
fore recommends:

3. WHEREAS, The historical-critical method makes decisions
about the origin, nature. and interpretation of the biblical
literature on the basis of a historical reasoning which by defini-
tion is a procedure unable to deal with supernatural intervention
and operations: and

WHEREAS, The use of such historical reasoning in accounting
for the origin of the Biblical literature tends to minimize the
“connection between the Spirit and history” (Revelation.
Inspiration. and Inerrancy.” p.3. par.9. and fails to take into
account that in history the Spirit creates that which is not of this
world: and

WHEREAS, The use of such historical reasoning not only ob-
secures the Spirit's connection with the history of the Bible's
origin but at the same time emphasizes the human factors in the
production of the sacred literature in such a way that the Bible is
virtually reduced to a product of merely human thought and ex-
perience: and

WHEREAS, Such historical reasoning. by accounting for the
production of the Biblical literature chiefly in terms of merely
human historically conditioned responses to a series of needs and
situations among God's people in the Old and New Testament
eras. and by regarding the Biblical literature as only human
beings’ writings. so tenuates the Spirit's authorship as to evapo-
rate the unity of the Bible and to make inoperative the basic
principle that the Bible interprets itself: and

WHEREAS, Such historical reasoning which proposes that each
constituent unit of the Biblical literature must be understood
wholly in the light of its use through various states of oral and
written transmission negates also the principle that a Biblical
text has only one meaning: and

WHEREAS. A view of the origin and nature of the Biblical
literature which denies the unity of the holy writings and ascribes
multiple meanings to a sacred text in effect renders the Bible
useless as the absolute and final authority for all that the church
does and teaches in God's name: therefore be it

Resolved. That the CTCR recommend to the Synod:

1) That it reject and repudiate as opposed to sound Lutheran
theology and as injurious to the Gospel any view of the Bible and
method of interpreting it which relates history to the production
of the sacred writings in such a way as to diminish their “not-of-
this-world” character and to deprive them of their divine au-
thority:

2) That it reassure the members of the Synod that the Synod
still adheres faithfully to its historic position that the Scriptures
are God's very own inspired. inerrant. and authoritative Word
for all matters of doctrine and practice:

3) That it call upon its responsible officers to implement
evangelically the provisions of the Synod’s Constitution and
Bylaws which were intended to assure that in all institutions
under the Synod’s control this position will be upheld and pre-
served:

4) That it beseech the pastors. teachers. and congregations of
the Synod. by the mercies of God. to continue to uphold the Synod’s
position.

“Studies in Biblical Interpretation”

In an effort to provide study materials for pastors concerning
important features of contemporary Biblical interpretation, the
commission requested certain scholars from within the Synod
to produce exegetical studies of Biblical pericopes. Studies
in this series do not necessarily represent the official position
of the commission, but are rather provided in the interest of
helping the church to study and understand important features
of contemporary Biblical interpretation. To date, the following
studies have been completed and authorized for distribution to
the church:

“Form and Redaction Critical Analysis of the Gospel Accounts of
the Feeding of the Five Thousand,” Dr. Walter A. Maier

“The Baptism of Jesus, Critically Considered,” Dr. Paul G.
Bretscher

“Critical Study and the Exodus Pericope,” Dr. Horace Hummel!

“Just What Did Jesus Himself Say? Paradigm: Matthew 20:1-16:
The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard,” Dr. Martin H. Scharle-
mann

“A Case Study in Contemporary Biblical Interpretation: The
Exodus Account,” Dr. Erich H. Kiehl

Other Studies

The Commission is continuing to explore other aspects of
Biblical interpretation and authority. These include questions
pertaining to the authorship of Biblical books (referred to the
commission by previous conventions) and the nature and mean-
ing of Biblical inerrancy.

B. Charismatic Movement

The commission began its study of the charismatic movement
in 1968. This study received additional impetus after the 1969
synodical convention requested the commission to make ‘a
comprehensive study’ of this movement and encouraged the
commission “to involve in its study brethren who claim to have
received the baptism of the spirit and related gifts” (1969 Res.
2-23). After considerable study and consultation, the commis-
sion released its document to the church in early 1972. (For the
text of this document, see the Appendix of this WORKBOOK.)
Since that time, the commission has been in consultation with
a committee of District presidents concerning the practical
implications of the charismatic movement for the life of the
church. The commission intends to keep the Synod informed
of new developments and emphases in the charismatic move-
ment. The commission recommends:

4. That the Synod commend the position paper entitled “The
Charismatic Morement and Lutheran Theology” to its members
for reference and guidance.

C. Mission of the Church

The commission reported to the 1971 synodical convention
that it was studying the Synod’s 1965 Mission Affirmations in
connection with the assignment given the commission by 1969
Resolution 1-15 A. Resolutions 2-33 and 2-34 of the 1971 synodical
convention, not adopted by the convention but referred to the
commission by the Board of Directors, asked the commission to
clarify the Mission Affirmations and to continue its study of
them. The President of the Synod also requested the commission
to give attention to various questions and concerns that have
been raised about the Synod’s 1971 Social Ministry Affirmations
(cf. Res. 9-07). Because of developments in theology since the
adoption of the Mission Affirmations in 1965 and because of
a great deal of interest and concern about the proper under-
standing of the mission of the church in the 1970s, the commis-
sion has begun the preparation of a new and comprehensive
statement on the mission of the church.

D. Ordination and Ministry

The past four conventions of the Synod have directed the
commission to study various questions pertaining to the ministry.
The 1971 convention encouraged the commission to give a high
priority to the early completion of its assignments in this area
(Res. 2-05). In response to its assignments in this area, the com-
mission has reviewed a number of studies on ministry that have
been undertaken in our own church body and by other Lutheran
groups. The commission has also prepared a document entitled
“The Ministry in Its Relation to the Christian Church as Seen on
the Basis of Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.” (For
the text of this document, see the Appendix of this WORKBOOK.)
This document deals with the commission’s findings to date on
the ordination of called male teachers, the establishment of
a task force to examine the question of ordaining called wom-
an teachers, deacons and deaconesses, evangelists, and other
special ministers of the church. At the commission’s request,
the President of the Synod has convened a special commit-
tee to consider the practical implications of the commission’s
recommendations in these areas. It is hoped that a progress
report from this task force will be available for the 1973 con-
vention. The commission recommends: