Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1973 · 50th Convention › Page 126
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 126

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

126 SEMINARY ISSUES

tion assembled of other statements which the Synod deems
to be correct expositions of Scripture and necessary clarifi-
cations of its position relative to and required by contem-
porary circumstances; and

WuerEas, The Lutheran Confessions to which the Synod
is committed do not forbid the preparation, acceptance, and
use of such statements since the Formula of Concord itself
(1) provides that neither the recognition of the Augsburg
Confession, the Apology, the Smalcald Articles, and Luther’s
Catechisms as “publicly and generally accepted documents”
nor the assertion that “the Word of God is and should re-
main the sole rule and norm of all doctrine, and that no
human being’s writing dare be put on a par with it” is to
be construed to mean “that other good, useful, and pure
books, such as interpretations of the Holy Scriptures, refuta-
tions of errors, and expositions of doctrinal articles, should
be rejected,” and (2) expressly urges that “they are to be
accepted and used as helpful expositions and explanations”
providing that “they are in accord with the aforementioned
pattern of doctrine” (Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration,
Comprehensive Summary, 9-10); and

Wuereas, The Synod’s constitutional commitment to the
Lutheran Symbols as correct expositions of Scriptures can-
not, either on the basis of the Constitution itself or on the
basis of the Scriptures or the Symbols, be construed to mean
that never in her whole history dare the Synod prepare,
accept, and use other helpful expositions and explanations
providing they are in accord with the confessional pattern
of doctrine; and

Wueneas, The document titled A Statement of Scriptural
and Confessional Principles issued by the President of the
Synod has been widely acclaimed throughout the Synod as
a helpful and correct exposition and explanation of Scrip-
tural and Confessional teachings relative to controversies
that are disturbing the Synod, and the Commission on The-
ology and Church Relations has found the doctrinal content
of said Statement “to be in accord with the Scriptures and
the Lutheran Confessions and to contain nothing contrary
to them”; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod recognize and accept A State-
ment of Scriptural and Confessional Principles as a helpful
exposition and explanation of and response to the issues that
are troubling our church today, and as representing the
position of the Synod with regard to the issues in contro-
versy.

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF Ovr REDEEMER
Overland, Mo.

Oreon Wesche, President

Raymond Singer, Secretary

Similar:
3-37B

All Nations Lutheran Church, Rock Lake, N. Dak., Har-
old Pantsari, Chairman: Leila Kaleva, Secretary.

3-37C

Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Cleveland, Ohio, Andrew
Smerek, Secretary.

3-37D

St. John’s Lutheran Church. St. Johns, Mich., Richard D.
Wells, President; Charles A. Stachel, Secretary.

3-38A
To Approve “A Statement”

Wuereas, Every member of the LCMS is to accept with-
out reservation the written Word of God and the Lutheran
Confessions (Art. II, Constitution), and congregations have
joined the Synod for the conservation and promotion of the
unity of the true faith and a united defense against schism
and sectarianism (Art. III, Constitution); and

Wuereas, The President and Vice-Presidents of the
LCMS under date of March 3, 1972, issued A Statement of
Scriptural and Confessional Principles, the purpose of which

is to provide Biblical and Lutheran guidelines for identifying
theological viewpoints that are irreconcilable with the Syn-
od’s position (Art. II c, Articles of Incorporation), and for
determining whether a doctrinal position is “in complete
accord with the Bible and the confessional position of our
church as we have been taught it” (President’s accompany-
ing letter); and

WHEREAS, These guidelines are soundly Biblical and in
full agreement with the Lutheran Confessions and the his-
toric doctrinal position the LCMS has expressed repeatedly
in documents and resolutions addressed to current theologi-
cal problems; and

WHEREAS, These guidelines are a clear and forthright
statement of basic principles to which the LCMS must ad-
here not only to preserve her doctrinal heritage, but to settle
theological disputes and restore concord and harmony; and

Wuereas, The Synod has a right as a Synod to apply
Biblical and confessional principles to debated theological
issues to determine what must be accepted as right and true
and what must be rejected as false and injurious to the Gos-
pel; (Art. III and IV, Constitution); therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
in convention assembled declare that it wholeheartedly ac-
cepts, approves, and endorses the Statement of Scriptural
and Confessional Principles as a basis for determining
whether a doctrinal position is in accord with the Bible and
the confessional position of our church as we have been
taught it; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
in convention assembled declare its intention to adhere to
the principles enunciated in said document as valid and
necessary guidelines for preserving theological concord
within Synod.

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH
Riverton, Wyo.

Jim Luers, Chairman
Jared Rosburg, Secretary
R. C. Oberhau, Pastor

Identical or Similar:

3-38B

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, R. 2, Shawano, Wis., Orris
Kroenke, President; Vendor Eggert, Secretary, with the

added provision that “it become binding on all pastors and
teachers of the LCMS.”

3-38C

St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.,
J. E. Murray, Pastor; Ronald Stowell, Secretary, with the
addition of the following Resolveds:

3. That the Administration and Faculty of Concordia
Seminary of St. Louis, Missouri, declare its need for an
apology to Synod and its leaders and to also adhere to the
same principles of said document as truly valid and neces-
sary guidelines for preserving theological concord;

4. That this congregation submit this overture to the
LCMS in convention assembled at New Orleans requesting
the Synod itself to take such action.

3-38D

Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church, Mellen, Wis., Donald
Koosmann, President: Robert Kretzschmar.

3-38E

St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church, Mellen, Wis., Ken Lind-
quist, President; Donald L. Kulbachi, Secretary.
3-38F

Trinity Lutheran Church, Ironwood, Mich., Leonard
Korpi, President; R. W. Heikkinen, Pastor.
3-38G

Zion Ev. Lutheran Church, Atlantic, Iowa, Allen Fann,
Chairman; Richard Kanning, Secretary.