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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 36

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

NE _ _—"—

36 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

December 1972 assembly of the National Council of Churches,
and, with the approval of the commission, recently accepted an
appointment to serve on the Faith and Order Commission of that
group.

I. Ecumenical Dialogs

Lutheran-Reformed

After an interval of approximately 6 years, a new series of
theological conversations is currently taking place between

of Theological Studies of LCUSA and the North American Area
of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.

he previous series of Lutheran-Reformed conversations,
held between 1962 and 1966, sought to evaluate existing differ-
ences between the two confessional 8roups. The essays and
statements produced at these meetings were subsequently

The report concluded with the judgment of the representatives
that they saw “no insuperable obstacles to pulpit and altar
fellowship”: they therefore recommended to their parent bodies
“that they encourage their constituent churches to enter into
discussions looking forward to intercommunion and a fuller
recognition of one another’s ministries.” Previous synodical
conventions have urged the members of our Synod to give care-
ful attention to the essays and statements from this dialog series.

in the current situation.” Discussions have been held on the
acceptability of Marburg Revisited. the basis for fellowship,

Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialog

The Roman Catholic-Lutheran Consultation, begun in 1965
and continued thereafter with two meetings annually, were
held regularly during the past biennium. The representatives

Lutheran-E Piscopal Dialog

The series of discussions between Lutherans and Episcopa-
lians held during recent years was recently concluded. The
representatives of the LCMS in these conversations were Drs.

20. That the Synod encourage its members to continue their
interest and participation in all ecumenical dialogs. on every
level. that permit a clear and unambiguous witness to the Gospel
of Jesus Christ as set forth in Holy Scripture and explicated by
the Lutheran Confessions.

J. Opinions on Church Relations Matters

The commission's opinion has been requested on a number
of church relations matters during the past biennium.

time to full membership.

2. The Oklahoma District requested the commission's opinion
with regard to District membership in the Oklahoma Conference
of Churches. The commission's opinion, which is included with
this report as Appendix G, recommended that the Oklahoma
District refrain at the present time from full membership in
this multi-denominational association.

3. The Commission on Constitutional Matters, faced with the

K. Lutheran-Non-Lutheran Marriage Ceremonies

At the request of the Board of Theology of the Kansas Dis-
trict, the commission has studied the meaning of the term
“heterodox” in Article VI of the synodical Constitution and its

L. Church Relations Principles
Selective Fellowship

Resolution 3-11 of the 1971 synodical convention requested
the President, the CTCR, the Commission on Mission and
Ministry, and the Commission on Constitutional Matters “to
make a thorough study of selective fellowship, that is, the pos-
sibilities of its member congregations practicing fellowship with

with them, and to make recommendations to the 1973 convention
regarding such fellowship.” The commission also received a
recommendation on this matter adopted by the Northwest
District.

21. That the Synod defer any reconsideration of its present
policy on selective fellowship until its members have had suf-
ficient opportunity to study the report of the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations and other commissions on this
matter.

Lutheran Stance on Ecumenism

It has become increasingly clear in recent years that the
Synod needs a clear statement of its church relations policies
and priorities. The document entitled Theology of Fellowship
prepared some years ago by the CTCR has proved to be very
helpful in dealing with a number of Biblical and historical
questions pertaining to the Synod’s attitude toward certain
fellowship questions. But it does not provide the kind of direct
help needed to deal with a number of current questions, such
as those raised, for example, in the aforementioned requests