Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1973 · 50th Convention › Page 58
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 58

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

SSIS TEP" EGS

58 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

2-32

To Establish Informal Procedures
for Individuals Charging Doctrinal
Aberrations

Wuereas, God is the author of peace and the creator of
harmony among brothers: and

WHEREAS, God uses both Law and Gospel to reestablish
harmony where it has been disrupted (Rom. 15:1-6: 1 Cor. 4:
16-21), and endorses rules of procedure as a framework
within which unity may be restored (1 Cor. 5:2-5) and hu-
man organizations best serve the interests of the group (Rom.
13:4-10: 1 Peter 2: 13); and

WHEREAS, Current doctrinal controversies within the Syn-
od have bred confusion and have alerted conscientious be-
lievers to be critical of the statements of professional church
leaders (e. g., St. Louis faculty criticism of Jesus as “sec.
tarian” because He used “the inerrancy of the Scriptures”
to give “support to our faith” (ef. “Joint Statement” p. 21,
and John 10: 33-37): and

WHEREAS, Many laymen do not know how to proceed
when they hear falsehood publicized, with the resulting
scandal that they become frustrated, lose confidence in those
elected to “supervise the doctrine, the life, and the official
administration on the part of the pastors and teachers” (By-
laws 3.45), and tend to become bitter: and

WHEREAS, The Synod was organized to serve its congre-
gations and does so most nobly when it gives doctrinal prob-
lems precedence over other adininistrative matters (Acts 6:
1-6); therefore be it

Resolved. That when a communicant member of the
Synod finds it impractical to deal directly with an offending
pastor, teacher, or professor, he shall be urged to discuss
his misgivings with his own pastor, Upon his determination
that the issue still deserves prosecution, he shall be requested
to put the offending statement in writing together with the

congregation agrees that the 8rievance has merit it shall be
forwarded to the President of the District in which the of-
fense occurred: and be it further

Resolved. That upon receipt of the grievance the District
President shall]

A. Within one week acknowledge his role as representa-
tive of the congregation which brought the charge and give
his preliminary opinion on its merits:

B. Within 15 days report back to the congregation what
progress he has made in securing a clarification from the
alleged offender: and

C. Continue to make similar reports to the congregation
every 2 weeks with the intent of resolving the issue within
3 months of the original complaint: and be it finally

Resolved, That if the congregation is not satisfied with
the response of the alleged offender or with the vigor of the
effort to prosecute the matter, it shall file formal charges
according to the Bylaws 5.11 and 5.13,

Hore Lutueran CHURCH
San Leandro, Calif.
Caroline Uhlig, Secretary

To Encourage Church Discipline
Throughout Missouri Synod

WHEREAS, The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Tes-
tament are the written Word of God and the only rule and
norm of faith and of practice: and

WHEREAS, In Matthew 18, our Savior’s own words are a
clear and direct command to practice church discipline: and

Wuereas. Whatever specific designation may be employed,
Whether it be loss of grace or loss of spiritual life, the terms
include trespasses of a twofold nature: (1) persistent ad-
herence to false doctrine and (2) manifest sins of the flesh:
and

WHEREas, Believing or teaching false doctrine is not a
light matter: and

Wurreas, It is a transgression of God's commandment
which tells us not to add to His Word nor to diminish from
it (Deut. 4:2: 12:32) lest one be found a liar (Prov. 30:6), a
sin upon which God has pronounced His curse (Jer, 23:25.
32; Gal. 1:8-9)- therefore be it

Resolved. That when a professed chureh member follows
is own perverted religious views or Philosophical speculation

bearance, yet with uncompromising firmness: and be it
further

Resolved. That a brother's adherence to false doctrine in-
dicates not only the presence of a spirit of pride and in-
subordination, but a defiance of God and refusal to accept
even the infallible Word of divine truth as the final author-
ity in matters of Christian faith, and be it finally

Resolved, That full admonition be given to our brother
according to God's Holy Word, and that our brother must
repent and be converted or we must sever our connection

with him, ST. James Lurueran Cuurcy

Lexington, Tex.
Theodore W. Schubkegel, Pastor

Grace LUTHERAN CHuRcH
Rockdale, Tex.
John E. Frock, Chairman

To Insist on Doctrinal Discipline

WHEREAS, Our church body has the right and the duty
to adopt doctrinal Statements which are in complete con-
formity with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions as our
church body has done in the past and will by the grace of
God continue to do in the future: and

WHEREAS, Our church body has the right and the duty,
then, to expect all of its teachers and professors besides her
pastors, out of faithfulness to Scripture and the Lutheran
Confessions, to believe, teach, and to confess according to
such statements: therefore be it

Resolved. That our church body clearly reiterates that
all of its pastors, teachers, and especially the professors at
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. and all of our schools teach
according to Synod's statements and Synod's historic Chris-
tian faith: and be it further

Resolved. That all officials in Synod. the synodical Pres-
ident, all of the District presidents, especially the president
of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, down to the circuit coun-
selors. maintain very strict doctrinal discipline so that the
historic Christian faith which our Synod has taught as it is
found in the Lutheran Confessions and Christian Dogmatics
by Francis Pieper be ever Maintained: and be it finally

Resolved. That Synod instruct those whose duty it is to
take whatever steps are required to bring seminaries, schools,
publications, and parishes into accord with unalterable Ar-
ticle II of our Constitution and into the largest possible
uniformity in church practice, church customs, and, in gen-

eral, in congregational affairs as called for in Article III 5 of
St. Peter's LUTHERAN CHURCH

our Constitution.
Delhi, Ontario
Carl Priester, President
John Obeda, Pastor

2-35

To Encourage Doctrinal Supervisors to Use
Also “A Statement” in Their Tasks

Wuereas, Christ's church faces the constant attempts of
Satan to pervert her Scriptural teachings: and