Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1973 · 50th Convention › Page 87
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 87

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

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 87

Similar:
2-134B

Grace Lutheran Church, Bakersfield, Calif., L. W. Faul-
stick, Pastor; C. F. Billingsley, Secretary.

2-134C

St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church, Brookfield, Ill, Warren
E. Fletter, Secretary.

2-135A

To Discontinue Fellowship with American
Lutheran Church

Wuereas, The ALC fellowship declared in 1969 has not
changed the practice of the ALC concerning the Lodge: and

Wuereas, The ALC has adopted the practice of the ordi-
nation of women contrary to 1 Cor. 14:26-37 and 1 Tim.
2:11-14; and

Wuereas, It is quite evident from the writings and prac-
tice of professors and pastors within the ALC that there is
no firm conviction that the Holy Scriptures are the only
source and norm of teaching in the ALC; and

Wuereas. The Missouri Synod can give a stronger witness
for the truth of Jesus Christ by discontinuing fellowship
with the ALC; therefore be it

Resolved, That Synod in convention at New Orleans dis-
continue fellowship with the ALC: and be it further

Resolved, That pastors and congregations of Synod who
are now practicing fellowship with the ALC. out of love for
the truth, desist from any further expression of fellowship;
and be it finally

Resolved. That Synod initiate discussions with other Lu-
theran church bodies where it seems possible that a God-
pleasing fellowship may be consummated.

St. Paut LuTHERAN CHURCH
Sanford, Mich.

Earnest Sutton. President
Lynn Robinette, Secretary

Similar:
2-135B

Trinity Lutheran Church. Easthampton. Mass., Francis
Bell, President; Glenmore Carr, Secretary.

2-136A

To Rescind Altar and Pulpit Fellowship
with ALC

Wuereas. The American Lutheran Church (ALC) allows
its professors to teach that the Bible contains crrors and
myths; and

THeREAS, The ALC allows its pastors and professors to
teach that some of the words of Jesus recorded in the New
Testament were not actually said by Jesus; and

Wuereas, The ALC ordains women, and the ordination of
women is contrary to Holy Scripture: and

Whereas, The ALC is a member of the World Council of
Churches, and

Wuereas, The ALC’s church council has supported abor-
tion upon demand, the murder of unborn infants: and

Wuereas, The ALC is in altar and pulpit fellowship with
the LCA: therefore be it

Resolved. That we petition The Lutheran Church — Mis-
souri Synod at its 1973 convention to rescind its declaration
of altar and pulpit fellowship with the ALC.

Trinity LUTHERAN CHURCH
New Haven, Mo.
Larry Scheer, Secretary

Identical or Similar:
2-136B

St. Peters Lutheran Church, Delhi, Ontario, Henry Puhr,
Secretary; John S, Obeda, Pastor.

2-136C

Trinity Lutheran Church, Hobart, Ind., Clifford Fackler,
President; Eugene Weller, Secretary.

2-136D

Emmaus Evangelical Lutheran Church, Brooklyn, N.Y.,
Joseph C. Weber, Secretary.

2-137

To Discontinue Fellowship with ALC

Whereas. The LCMS in convention in 1969 voted by a
narrow margin to approve Res. 3-11 which commits our
Synod to church fellowship with the American Lutheran
Church; and

Wuereas. The question of fellowship with the ALC must
be answered on a doctrinal and confessional basis; and

Wuereas. The Formula of Concord Thor. Decl. X of
Church Rites. stresses the necessity of confession:

We believe. teach, and confess also that at the time of con-
fession (when a confession of the heavenly truth is required),
when the enemies of God's Word desire to suppress the pure
doctrine of the Holy Gospel. the entire congregation of God.
yea, every Christian, but especially the ministers of the Word,
as the leaders of the congregation of God (as those whom God
has appointed to rule His Church). are bound by God's Word
to confess freely and openly the igodly) doctrine, and what
belongs to the whole of (pure) religion. .... But it is to be
especially remembered what Christ says: Whosoever therefore
shall confess Me before men, him will 1 confess also before My
Father which is in heaven, Matthew 10:32;

and

Wuereas. The ALC officially approved at its 1964 conven-
tion The Bible: Book of Faith which states, “The infallibility
of the Scriptures is the infallibility of Jesus Christ and not
the infallibility of the written text” (p. 148, 8): and

Wuereas, In 1969. in a public address, Dr. Frederick
Schiotz. President of the ALC, quoted from the ALC consti-
tution: “The American Lutheran Church accepts all the
canonical books of the Old and New Testament as a whole
and in all their parts as the divinely inspired, revealed and
inerrant Word of God, and submits to this as the only in-
fallible authority in all matters of life.” He showed how the
ALC really looks at Scripture when he further stated: “The
ALC holds that the inerrancy referred to here does not apply
to the text but to the truths revealed for our faith, doctrine
and life’; and

Wuereas. A poll in a study, The Lutheran Ethic, by Dr.
Lawrence Kersten. revealed that only 19% of the clergy of
the ALC accepted the statement “The Bible is God’s Word
and all it says is true.’ The same poll showed that 74% of
the Missouri Synod's clergy accepted this statement: and

Wuereas. The ALC permits those within her fellowship
to remain members of Christ-denying organizations which
teach that Jesus is not God and that a man must work his
own way to heaven; and

Wuereas, The 1970 general convention of the ALC contra-
dicted Holy Scripture (1 Cor. 14:34 and 1 Tim. 2:11-12)
when it voted to ordain women for the holy ministry; and

Wuereas, We should not knowingly become partakers of
other men’s sins but witness clearly to them the truth of
God's holy Word by our lives and words and clinging stead-
fastly to it and not allowing ourselves to be tossed to and
fro: and

Wuereas, The personal faith of no individual of the ALC
is being judged: therefore be it

Resolved. That we at St. John’s request that the LCMS
join us in confessing that we should discontinue fellowship
with the ALC.

Sr. Joun’s Evy. LuTHeraN CHURCH
Clinton. Iowa
Clifford Lahann. Secretary