Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1973 · 50th Convention › Page 34
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 34

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

NN  :— €(c ao a ]€ 4 7

34 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

quested the Lutheran Church—Canada to respond to the
merger invitation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Canada. In its February 1973 meeting, the Lutheran Church —

— Canada is willing to enter into discussions exploring the possi-
bility of merger, but that in any such discussions involving the
Lutheran Church in America—Canada Section, its first priority
would be doctrinal discussions with a view toward establishing
altar and pulpit fellowship with the Lutheran Church in America
— Canada Section. The commission recommends:

12 a. That the Synod endorse the action of the Lutheran
Church—Canada and pray that God will bless its efforts to
achieve a greater measure of Lutheran unity in Canada.

b. That the Synod ask its Commission on Constitutional
Matters to indicate which changes would be necessary in the
Bylaws of The Lutheran Church —Missouri Synod in order to
enable the Lutheran Church—~Canada to establish fellowship
with the Lutheran Church in America —Canada Section should
sufficient doctrinal consensus be discovered.

Protests

In its 1971 convention, The Lutheran Church— Missouri
Synod responded to letters of concern received from two sister
churches, namely, the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of
Germany and the Evangelical Lutheran Church—Synod of
France and Belgium. Both churches had expressed concern
about The Lutheran Church ~ Missouri Synod’s fellowship with
the American Lutheran Church as well as with alleged doctrinal
aberrations in our church body (cf. 1971 Res. 11-10: Res. 3-25:

B. Establishment of Fellowship
Germany

A significant event took place on June 25, 1972, when three
Lutheran Free Churches in Germany celebrated their merger
and the formation of the new Selbstindige Evangelisch-Lu-
therische Kirche (Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church).

14. That the Synod officially declare that it is in altar and
pulpit fellowship with the Selbstindige Evangelisch-Lutherische
Kirche, thereby continuing the fellowship it has enjoyed for
many years with the member bodies of the new church.

Australia

pulpit fellowship” (Res. 3-03, 1969 Proceedings. p. 94). Con-
versations in 1970 indicated that the Lutheran Church of Aus-
tralia was not yet ready to proceed with such discussions.

In October 1972 the convention of the Lutheran Church of
Australia adopted statements on some of the matters which had
been Occupying its attention, namely, the inerrancy of Holy
Scripture and the meaning of Genesis 1—3. When a letter from
former President Max Lohe indicated that the Lutheran Church
of Australia might now be ready to begin discussions looking
forward to fellowship, the commission adopted the following
resolution and sent it to President-elect Leslie Grope:

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church of Australia has expressed its
desire “to enter into discussions with Lutheran Churches at home
and abroad to determine with which of these fellowship in Word and
Sacrament exists or can be reached” (‘Document of Union,” 13): and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod feels a close
kinship with fellow Lutherans in Australia: and

WHEREAS, Our synodical President will be meeting the leaders
of the Lutheran Church of Australia in the near future; therefore be it

Resolved. That the CTCR act upon the Resolution 3-03 of the
Denver convention, expressing the desire of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod to enter into discussions leading to altar and pulpit
fellowship with the Lutheran Church of Australia: and be it further

Resolved. That the President of Synod convey the fraternal
greetings of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations to
the Lutheran Church of Australia as he visits there.

President Preus personally presented this resolution to the
Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations of the
Lutheran Church of Australia in connection with his visit to
Australia in February 1973. So that The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod might have an Opportunity to review the docu-
ments most recently adopted by the Lutheran Church of Aus-
tralia, the commission has sent them to the pastors of the Synod.
Although the Lutheran Church of Australia has not had an
opportunity to respond officially to our request to begin doctrinal
discussions, President Grope has indicated that the invitation
was received with great appreciation. The commission recom.
mends:

15. That the Synod express its continued desire to establish
altar and pulpit fellowship with the Lutheran Church of Australia
and pray that God will richly bless our mutual efforts to that end.

C. The American Lutheran Church

The 1971 convention of The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod asked the synodical representatives on the Commission

report to the 1973 convention (cf. Res. 3-21). The CTCR has not
been directly involved in discussions with the American Lu-
theran Church because the primary responsibility for such
discussions has been given to the Commission on Fellowship
(whose report appears elsewhere in this WORKBOOK). The
CTCR has heard regular reports on the activities of the Com-
mission on Fellowship from its three members who are also
members of that commission (Drs. Nickel, Schultz, and Bohl-
mann). With the recognition that the results of another meeting
of the Commission on Fellowship scheduled prior to the 1973
convention may necessitate our supplying the convention with
additional information or suggestions, the commission recom-
mends:

16. That the Synod

a. Extend its deepest sympathy and the comfort of the Gospel
to the Knutson family and to the American Lutheran Church at
the tragic death of President Kent Knutson.

b. Express its appreciation for every evidence of growth in
the understanding and practice of fellowship in both The Lu-
theran Church—Missouri Synod and the American Lutheran
Church.

¢. State its deep regret that 4 years of discussions in the
Commission on Fellowship have not produced evidence that
“serious differences in the doctrine of the authority of Scripture”
(1971 Res. 3-21, Fourth Whereas’) have been resolved, or that
our two church bodies hare achieved a common understanding
“on what fellowship involves’ (Res. 3-21, Third “Whereas”)).

d. Register its deep concern over the 1972 decision of the