LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 56

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56 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

and Confessions together for joint study, by which alone our
heavenly Father can restore us in the one Body of Christ
through the one Spirit; and be it further

Resolved, That we work through our differences with one
another first hand, not only vicariously in summit meetings
but in those face-to-face communities which we all still
enjoy, District and circuits and congregations, giving to all
the viewpoints represented in our midst a fair hearing; and
be it finally

Resolved, That each District of the Synod, through its
respective President, promote such opportunities for local
face-to-face discussions as will encourage all of our mem-
bers who are concerned to share their differences with one
another freely and without fear, through mutual study of
the Biblical and confessional Gospel of Christ, to the end
that peace may be restored among us at every level of the

Synod, Nort Recion PasTORAL CONFERENCE

NEw Encianp District
John Lemkul

2-27A

To Permit Varying Opinions

Wuereas, God has gifted the church with people of widely
diversified talents and abilities; and

WHEREAS, Such diversity allows for a rich variety of
Opinons which can benefit the church, but can also lead to
conflict and confrontation; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
in convention praise God for the diversity of gifts among us,
and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod recommend evangelical ways
of dealing with varying theological Opinions and positions;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod urge all of its members to fol-
low such ways, in the bond of peace.

ZION LUTHERAN Cuurcu
Decatur, Ind.

Morris Krueckeberg, President
Raymond Thieme, Secretary

Similar:
2-27B

The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Philadelphia, Pa,,
Frank Muhly, President; Suzanne Amt, Secretary,

2-28
To Deal with Varying Theological Positions

Whereas, In the present situation in Synod we are ex-
periencing varying theological positions; and

WHEREAS, Unless or except evangelical dealing is main-
tained a serious dysfunction in the area of love and concern
for our brother may result; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod affirm the sufficiency of Ar-
ticle II of the synodical Constitution as the basis of our con-
fession and pastoral care of one another,

The Synod, and every member of Synod, accepts without
reservation:

1. The Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament as the
written Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and
of practice:

2. All the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church as a true and unadulterated Statement and exposition
of the Word of God, to wit, the three Ecumenical Creeds (the
Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed. the Athanasian Creed), the
Unaltered Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg
Confession, the Smalcald Articles, the Large Catechism of Lu-
ther, the Small Catechism of Luther, and the Formula of Con-
cord;

and be it further

Resolved, That in the light of Synod’s present theolog-
ical climate the Synod urge its membership to approach
and bear with one another in an evangelical spirit of care
and concern (1 Peter 2:1-13) “So put away all malice

and all guile and insincerity and envy and all slander.
Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, that
by it you may grow up to salvation: for you have tasted
the kindness of the LORD” (1 Peter 4:7-11); “The end of
all things is at hand: therefore, keep sane and sober for
your prayers. Above all hold unfailing your love for one
another, since love covers a multitude of sins. Practice
hospitality ungrudgingly to one another. As each has re-
ceived a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards
of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who utters
oracles of God: whoever renders service, as one who
renders it by the strength which God supplies: in order
that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus
Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion for ever and
ever. Amen”: and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod_ instruct synodical officials
to undertake a cooperative study which will develop and
implement ways and means of: (1) carrying out their re-
sponsibilities primarily as ministers of Christ who serve
the membership of the Synod pastorally, and (2) which
will serve to deemphasize the use of political and admin-
istrative procedures in their service to the people of God
in Synod, and (3) defining the issues which are disturb-
ing our Synod: and finally be it

Resolved, That the Synod review appropriately at its
next synodical convention all actions and proceedings
affecting supervision of doctrine and administration as
required by the Constitution, to the end that the spirit
of these resolves may he attained, that ministerial edu-
cation be maintained at the optimum level, and that doc-
trinal conflicts be resolved.

Eastern District
R.L. J. Hoemann, Secretary

2-29

To Urge Synod and Its Members to Deal
with Various Doctrinal and Theological
Matters According to Evangelical
Directives of Holy Scriptures

WHEREAS, Article VIII. Section C. of the Synod's Consti-
tution prescribes that “All matters of doctrine and of con-
science shall be decided only by the Word of God. All other
matters shall be decided by a majority vote (of the Synod
in convention)” (Synodical Handbook, p.18); and

Wuereas, C. F. W. Walther, the first President of the
Synod, stated the relationship between voting on doc-
trinal or theological matters and the role of the Word of
God in such matters:

If when matters of this kind are under consideration, a vote is

taken, this dare not be done in order to let the majority of votes

decide but to leam by way of the vote whether all have recog-
nized what is right and are in agreement with it (Pastoraltheolo-

gie, 1872, p. 372: cf. Milwaukee Resolution 5-24);

and Franz Pieper, the fourth President of the Synod, clarified
that relationship further:

The only purpose of voting in matters of doctrine is to see
whether all now understand the teaching of the divine Word
and agree to it: the purpose of the vote is not to decide the cor-

and settled in Scripture” (Christian Dogmatics, Vol. III, p. 430;
cf. Milwaukee Resolution 5-24):

and

Wuereas, The Lutheran Confessions state that “the pro-
phetic and apostolic writings of the Old and New Testaments

p. 503.3): and

Whereas, The Synod has been blessed with the oOppor-
tunity at the present time to study its teachings and its
teachers according to the norm and rule of the divine Word,
a precious possession which has been given to the church
by almighty God; and