LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 78

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78 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

WHEREAS, In Synod “all matters of doctrine and con-
science shall be decided only by the Word of God. All other
matters shall be decided by majority vote” (Art. VIII Cc),
thereby recognizing that doctrine is not determined by the
will of the majority; and

Wuereas, Insisting that members of Synod be bound to
preach and teach only in accord with Synod’s formulation of
doctrine would contradict the second article of Synod's
Constitution; and

Wuereas, Insisting that members of Synod be bound to
preach and teach only in accord with Synod’s formulation
of doctrine does in effect establish doctrine by majority
vote, contrary to Art. VIII of the Constitution, by saying,
“This is right; this you may teach,” and “This is wrong:
this you may not teach,” statements to the effect that Synod’s
doctrinal resolutions are only confessing doctrine not estab-
lishing it to the contrary not withstanding (Preamble, Res.
2-21, Milwaukee convention, 1971); and

Wuereas. Insisting that members of Synod be bound to
preach and teach only in accord with Synod’s formulation
of doctrine beyond the Lutheran Confessions would make
us a sect set apart from the rest of Lutheranism; and

Wuereas, Insisting that members of Synod be bound to
preach and teach only in accord with Synod’s formulation
of doctrine could bind consciences, prevent a new Martin
Luther from accomplishing his God-given task in our midst,
rend the body of Christ, and frustrate the Spirit of God
who seeks to lead us into all truth (John 16:13); therefore
be it

Resolved. That the Synod steadfastly refuse to make any
formulation of doctrine beyond the Lutheran Confessions
binding on its members: and be it further

Resolved. That those who in conscience and under the
Word of God disagree with a synodical formulation of doc-
trine be respected, listened to, admonished, helped, but never
removed or asked to leave the Synod or a position in Synod
unless he denies what is specifically taught in the Lutheran
Confessions.

LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER
Philadelphia, Pa.

Frank Muhly, President

Suzanne G. Amt, Secretary
Richard O. Hoyer, Pastor

2-106A
To Accept Homophiles in the Church

Wuereas, There is no Scriptural basis for defining homo-
sexuality and the homophile life-style as intrinsically sin-
ful; and

Wuerras, This attitude within the church has been a
primary factor in the oppression of homophiles, making it
impossible for many to participate fully and openly in the
normal processes of church, business, and society; and

Whereas, There are possibilities for a more creative so-
ciety if homophiles are encouraged to participate rather than
being alienated and repressed; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Committee on Theology and Church
Relations of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod give
attention to the problems facing the homophile in the light
of the Scriptures; and be it further

Resolved, That the LCMS encourage men and women
who are homophiles to openly take their places as full par-
ticipants in the life of the church and society including the
ordained ministry; and be it further

Resolved, That congregations be encouraged to set up
discussion groups which will include homophiles to discuss
the problems which they endure and their relationship to
other members of the congregation; and be it further

Resolved, That the church recognize the homophile as
a part of God’s creation and redemption, and that homo-
sexuality be accepted by the church as a viable life-style.

Hype Park LutHeran Cuurcu
Chicago, III.

William A. Grunow, President
Susan Shemitis, Secretary

Similar:

2-106B

Hyde Park Lutheran Church, Chicago, IIl., O. Grunow,
President,

2-107

To Adopt and Make Worldwide Use
of Document “Gospel and Scripture”

WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Rela-
tions has produced the document entitled, “Gospel and Scrip-
ture: The Interrelationship of the Material and Formal Prin-
ciples in Lutheran Theology”: and

Wuereas, This document successfully charts “a course
that avoids the pitfall of biblicism on the one hand and of
Gospel reductionism on the other” (page 5 of the docu-
ment); and

Wuereas, This document cuts a clear path through the
theological jungle which has grown up around Lutheranism
and Christendom during the past century and specifically
around our own Synod in the past several decades; and

Wuereas, This document firmly rejects both the evil of
“dead orthodoxy” on the one hand and also the dangers
of modern critical abuse of the Scriptures on the other; and

Whereas, The level of precise theological definition, dis-
cernment, and decision in this document is of such height
that it can indeed be compared with the level of the Formula
of Concord of 1578: and

Wuereas, The use of this document could well settle the
controversies among Lutherans of today as did the use of the
Formula of Concord in its days; therefore be it

Resolved. That Synod in convention in New Orleans
adopt this document as its own declaration on the issues
in controversy among us; and be it further

Resolved. That Synod ask all its congregations, pastors,
teachers, professors, and officials to sign the document as

an indication of their agreement with its contents and their
intention to teach according to it; and be it further

Resolved, That Synod present an invitation to all church
bodies in the world which identify themselves with Lu-
theranism to send representatives to a conference to discuss
the contents of this document and their implications with
a view toward the possible adoption of the document as a
20th century “Formula of Concord”; and be it finaly

Resolved, That, in case such a worldwide Lutheran con-
ference should end in a stalemate, Synod should invite all
those church bodies which seem inclined to accept the con-
tents of this document to join in forming a new worldwide
“Lutheran Synodical Conference” somewhat along the lines
of the late “Lutheran Synodical Conference of North Amer-
ica,”

ST. Paut’s LUTHERAN CHURCH
Bremen, Ind.

Henry W. Kiefer, President
Dan L. Miller Secretary
Raymond A. Mueller, Pastor

2-108

To Support and Use Diversity of Cultures
in LCMS for Mission

WHEREAS. God. our Father, has created al] men, Jesus
Christ, our Lord, came to redeem all men, and the Holy
Spirit has endowed all men with special gifts to serve God's
total mission to the world; and

Wuereas, God has created human beings with distinct
racial, cultural, and national characteristics as part of His
total economy: and

Wuereas, He has brought together in the LCMS a great
diversity of cultural communities, such as German, Japanese,
Jewish, Scandinavian, black, and Spanish, Finnish, Slovak,
Indian, Chinese, etc.: to carry out His mission to the whole
world: and