Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1973 · 50th Convention › Page 89
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 89

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

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 89

word of St. Paul in 1 Cor. 14:37-38, regarding nonrecognition
of those who hold a false position: “If any one thinks that
he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that
what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord. If any
one does not recognize this, he is not recognized”; and

Wuereas, Subsequent to our 1969 convention declaration
of altar and pulpit fellowship with the American Lutheran
Church that church not only ordained women, thus straining
our relations with them, but also took an incorrect doctrinal
position opposite to ours, and after urging from us restudied
their position, but still refused to change theirs into har-
mony with the clear words of the apostle Paul; therefore

e it

Resolved. That we reaffirm again in this convention our
position of 1969 and 1971, that Scripture forbids women to
hold the pastoral office: and be it further

Resolved, That lest we prove unfaithful to our Lord Jesus
and His clear Word, and thus arouse His anger, we, at this
convention, break fellowship with the American Lutheran
Church, which is adamant in its false position; and be it
further

Resolved, That we require all our congregations who
have entered into fellowship with ALC parishes to now
discontinue that fellowship: and be it finally

Resolved, That any Synod pastors, congregations, or mem-
bers that refuse to do this and to recognize the correct
Scriptural doctrine as affirmed by our Synod on this subject,
be dismissed from membership in Synod.

St. Perer’s LUTHERAN CHURCH
Spanish Lake, Mo.

Norman A. Schneider, Pastor
Kenneth Kreitner, Secretary

2-142
To Ask Public Apology of ALC

Wuersas, The principle of fellowship and Christian love
between church bodies in fellowship indicates the exercise
of respect and Christian love toward the officers of a fellow
church body; and

Wuereas, The Lutheran Standard, official publication of
the ALC, carried as a news item quotations from a strong
attack on President J. A. O. Preus (Lutheran Standard,
July 18, 1972 —a report of a speech by Dr. William Lazareth,
dean of Gettysburg, Pa., Seminary, in which Dr. Lazareth is
quoted as “Terming Dr. Preus’ statement a biblicistic and
confessional perversion of the truth entrusted to evangelical
Lutherans and professed by 95% of them throughout the
world”; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS in convention assembled ex-
press to the ALC its deep concern over this publication of
a slanderous attack on the theological position of the Presi-
dent of the LCMS; and be it further

Resolved, That the LCMS call upon the officials of the
ALC to make a proper public apology to President J. A. O.
Preus for the widespread publicity given to the Lazareth
quotation pertaining to the theology of President Preus.

First Ev. LUTHERAN CHURCH
Clearwater, Fla.

Donald R. Drung, President
Duane L. Hubbard, Secretary
David V. Dissen, Pastor

2-143
To Object to “Lutheran Standard” Articles

Wuereas, The Lutheran Standard (official publication of
the ALC) has published articles which demean the historic
theological position of the LCMS (e.g. Lutheran Standard.
Jan. 16, 1973, p.12); and

Whereas, This position and the leaders who uphold it in
the LCMS are pictured as “resorting to legalistic regula-
tions to keep people in line”; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
object to the publication of such articles and request the

Lutheran Standard to discontinue this practice on the
grounds that such articles are unethical, unbrotherly, and
injurious to the fellowship which exists between the LCMS

and the ALC. Our Savior LUTHERAN CHURCH

Janesville, Wis.

Ralph Bobzien, President
Elmer Benash, Secretary
Theodore Gundlach, Pastor

LCA
2-144A

To Declare Fellowship with LCA

Wuereas, The ALC, the LCA, and the LCMS subscribe to
the Unaltered Augsburg Confession and the Confessions
say ... “it is sufficient that the Gospel be preached in con-
formity with a pure understanding of it and that the sacra-
ments be administered in accordance with the divine Word”
(Article VII, Augsburg Confession); and

Wuereas, It is a grievous matter to deny a unity which
the Holy Spirit has created among the LCMS, the ALC, and
the LCA; therefore be it

Resolved, That this convention memorialize The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod convention in New Orleans in
1973 that we declare pulpit and altar fellowship with the
Lutheran Church in America and implement such fellow-
ship with the American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran
Church in America to the greatest extent possible and to
the greatest benefit of the whole church of Jesus Christ.

FLoRIpA-GeEorGIA DISTRICT
Theodore W. Eisold, Secretary

Similar:
2-144B

New York State Pastoral Conference, Atlantic District,
Daniel Aho, Secretary.

2-145A

To Establish Pulpit and Altar Fellowship
with Lutheran Church in America

Wuereas, The Lord of our church exhorts us as Chris-
tians to live in unity with one another (John 17); and

Whereas, Our church has shown its willingness to estab-
lish pulpit and altar fellowship with the American Lutheran
Church because doctrinal agreement exists; and

Wuereas, Doctrinal agreement exists between the LCMS
and the Lutheran Church in America on the basis of our
acceptance of the historic Lutheran Confessions and Holy
Scripture; and

Whereas, The LCA has made it explicitly clear that they
would be willing to join in pulpit and altar fellowship on the
basis of Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions; and

Wuereas, In many parts of our church de facto altar fel-
lowship exists because of our system of transferring mem-
bers and receiving other Lutherans at our altars; and

Wuereas, Agreement on the basis of Scripture and the
Lutheran Confessions is sufficient basis of agreement as out-
lined in those Confessions themselves; and

Wuereas, The California and Nevada District in conven-
tion in 1970 has already memorialized the LCMS to take this
action; and

Wuenreas, No positive action was taken by the Milwaukee
convention of LCMS; and

Whereas, The California and Nevada District has re-
affirmed its stand by adopting this memorial to Synod; be it
therefore

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
in convention in New Orleans proceed with establishing
pulpit and altar fellowship with the Lutheran Church in

America. CALIFORNIA AND NEvabDA DISTRICT

Theo. A. Iverson, Secretary