LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 33

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 33

been taught historically and expressed in the official doctrinal state-
ments of the Synod.

5. The commission’s opinion was also requested on docu-
ments issued by the faculty of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis
entitled Faithful To Our Calling. Faithful To Our Lord. The
commission’s evaluation of Part I of these documents was
adopted in March 1973. It is included with this report as Appen-
dix D.

Il. CHURCH RELATIONS
A. Sister Churches

International Lutheran Theological Conference

The fourth International Lutheran Theological Conference
was held in Madras, India, in February 1973. This conference
brought together the presidents of sister churches for a dis-
cussion of vital issues pertaining to the mission of the church.
President Preus represented The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod. A fifth ILTC is tentatively planned for Brazil in 1974
or 1975. At that time, the conference plans to devote consider-
able time to a discussion of the proper relationship of sister
churches to each other. The commission believes that such con-
ferences provide an important opportunity for our sister
churches to develop a sense of international confessional Lu-
theran identity. The Commission therefore recommends:

10. That the Synod endorse plars to hold another Inter-
national Lutheran Theological Conference and encourage the
Board of Directors to provide funds for this purpose.

European Free Church Conference

In September 1971 the Seventh Conference of Lutheran
Free Churches in Europe was held in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The commission was represented by Dr. Ralph Bohlmann. The
major subject matter discussed at the conference was the
nature of Lutheran involvement in the contemporary ecumeni-
cal movement. The conference adopted the following statement:

The Seventh Conference of Lutheran Free churches in Europe,
assembled in Copenhagen, Sept. 14—16, 1971, expresses the con-
viction that the time has come when Lutherans from all over the
world who are faithful to the Lutheran Confessions should take such
measures as will both bear witness to, and strengthen, the bond which
exists between them.

Accordingly, it respectfully requests all the leaders of the
churches within their fellowship (i.e., the independent Lutheran
churches in Europe participating in the above mentioned conference
and the churches in fellowship with them) to regard it as an urgent
matter to use every means available to them to increase the oppor-
tunities for contact between them (such as per international Lutheran
theological conferences similar to those previously held in Oakland,
Cambridge, Frankfurt, and St. Louis), and thus to encourage and
foster a common attitude and action toward those who are outside
of this fellowship.

As one ongoing practical measure to aid the achievement of
these goals the Conference seriously recommends the publication of
an international journal which will bear this desired Lutheran witness
to one another, to others holding the same confessional position,
and to the world.

Task Force on Sister Churches

1971 Resolution 3-03 specifically assigned the commission
“the responsibility of assisting the President in carrying out the
Synod’s theological and church relations responsibilities toward
her sister churches.” The same resolution also stated that the
Board for Missions is to continue ‘to serve as administrative
liaison between these churches and the LCMS.” The commis-
sion is presently seeking to develop ways of discharging its
responsibilities in this area in a manner that is helpful to the
sister churches and is coordinated with the activities of the
Board of Missions. To that end, the commission asked the Presi-
dent of the Synod to appoint a special task force consisting of
board and staff representatives from the Board of Missions
and the CTCR together with men who have served or are serv-
ing in overseas mission churches. An initial action of this task
force has been to develop a brief questionnaire which it has
submitted to the sister churches. It is hoped that the work of this
task force will facilitate the development of guidelines for our
relationship with sister churches.

The Philippines

The commission's advice was sought with regard to possible

membership in the Lutheran World Federation on the part of
the Lutheran Church in the Philippines. In May 1972 the follow-
ing statement was adopted and communicated to the Philippine
brethren:
The CTCR expresses its appreciation for the fraternal spirit shown
by our sister church in the Philippines in soliciting our counsel in the
matter of membership in the LWF. We recognize the right of our
sister church in the Philippines to determine for herself. under the
Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. the church relations she
wishes to establish and maintain. However, since concern has been
expressed about the direction taken by the LWF at the 1970 Evian
Assembly, and since the LWF is presently receiving serious review by
the CTCR at the request of the Synod. it is our considered opinion
that we should respectfully and fraternally urge our sister church
in the Philippines not to take action at this time to become a member
of the LWF.

In its 1972 convention, after giving the matter careful considera-
tion, the Lutheran Church in the Philippines decided to make
application to become a member church of the Lutheran World
Federation. The leadership of our sister church has assured the
commission that this decision was made in good faith and with
continuing love and concern for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and
the members of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod.

Korea and Mexico

1971 Resolution 3-03 granted sister church status to a number
of churches that had formerly been mission churches of The
Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod. However, this resolution
requested that the constitution of the Korea Lutheran Church
be revised as earlier requested by the CTCR. The resolution
also asked appropriate agencies of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod to work with the Lutheran Synod of Mexico
for the inclusion of a constitutional paragraph more specifically
listing the creeds to which that Synod subscribes. The commis-
sion herewith reports that both churches have made the re-
quested changes, thereby fulfilling the provisions of 1971
Resolution 3-03. The commission therefore recommends:

11. That the Synod recognize with appreciation that its sister
churches in Korea and Mewico hare fulfilled the requests made
by the Synod in 1971 Resolution 3-03.

Brazil and Argentine Districts

1971 Resolution 3-08 called upon the commission, together
with the Board for Missions and the Brazil and Argentine Dis-
tricts, to study the question of sister church status for those Dis-
tricts. Consultations have been held between the Board for
Missions and a committee of the CTCR together with a repre-
sentative of the Brazil District. Since neither the Brazil nor
the Argentine District is currently requesting sister church
status, it is the commission's judgment that its recommendation
on this question should not be made until the aforementioned
task force has developed appropriate principles and guidelines
for our relationships with sister churches.

Lutheran Church — Canada

During the past biennium, the commission has been repre-
sented at a number of meetings dealing with Lutheran unity in
Canada. A significant development of the past biennium was
the invitation extended to The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod and the Lutheran Church in America— Canada Section
by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada to enter into
discussions with a view toward a merger of these three Lutheran
bodies. The inter-Lutheran situation in Canada is complicated
by the fact that The Lutheran Church -— Missouri Synod is in
fellowship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada,
but not with the Lutheran Church of America — Canada Section.
Furthermore. the Lutheran Church—Canada (an adminis-
trative unit comprising the three Canadian Districts of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod) is not autonomous and
therefore cannot declare fellowship with another church body.
Moreover, it is the constitutional practice of The Lutheran
Church— Missouri Synod to establish fellowship only with
church bodies, not with sections of church bodies (such as the
Lutheran Church in America—Canada Section). It should also
be noted that the practice of The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod is to achieve fellowship through doctrinal agreement
prior to discussions of merger or common organizational struc-
tures. (Cf. 1971 Res. 3-26)

The President of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod re-