Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1973 · 50th Convention › Page 154
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 154

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

154 SEMINARY ISSUES

the Promise. We begin by listening to the Promise and
hearing the message ‘Jesus died and rose for me.’ If we keep
asking. ‘Did Jesus really rise?’ we will never hear the
Promise”: and

Wuereas, Pages 131—132 of the Report contains the letter
of 30 students of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, which says
“we feel any student who has been on campus for only a
few weeks is well aware of the fact that there are ‘basic
theological differences among members of the faculty’ and
that any attempt to deny this is either sheer Nnaivete or out-
right falsehood.” Then page 132 lists various false teachings;
an

Whereas, Dr. Jacob Preus, President of Synod, stated “I
am convinced that there has been teaching which is at vari-
ance with the way in which our Synod understands the
Word of God and its confessional stand,” p. 152; and

Wuereas, Dr. John Tietjen, president of the seminary,
wrote (p. 160): “I have ascertained the positions of indj-
vidual faculty members and have assured myself through
personal discussion that members of the faculty are not
teaching contrary to their confessional commitment”; and

Wuereas, Pages 133 to 143 show that the Board of Con-

Resolved. That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
close down Concordia Seminary, St. Louis: dismiss its presi-
dent and Board of Control and completely reorganize it
from top to bottom, employing faculty members, administra-
tators, and board members who are totally and in fact
really committed to the Scriptural and confessional prin-
ciples as laid down in Article IT of our Constitution. (Hand-

book, p. 11) TRINITY LuTHERAN CHURCH
Easthampton, Mass.
Francis R. LaBell, President
Glenmore R, Carr, Secretary
Louis G. Elgert, Pastor
3-154A

To Close and Reopen a Seminary
in St. Louis

Wuereas, It is evident that our beloved Concordia Semi-
nary, St. Louis, is in great need of complete revision and re-
newal in its theological task because the great majority of
its faculty members are in substantial disagreement with
their own church body's stance on a number of basic issues
(ef. “Discussions of issues” in Part I of Faithful To Our
Calling, Faithful To Our Lord, and Part II of the same; and
also Report of the Synodical President to The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod and “Fact Finding or Fault Find-
ing?”); and

WHEREAS, The long continuation of this disagreement has
given great offense both within our Synod and outside it;
and

WHEREAS, The synodical Handbook does not really set
forth adequate procedures for resolving a doctrinal dispute
which encompasses not only the large majority of a semi-
nary faculty and its administration but also a very large
Proportion of the pastors, teachers, and congregations of the
Synod; and

Whereas, Christian witness and Christian love make it
extremely urgent that this matter be settled decisively and
without delay; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod herewith in convention as-
sembled acknowledge that a genuine and wide-spread emer-
Sency exists in its revered seminary in St. Louis; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Synod now declare Concordia Semi-
nary, St. Louis, to be officially closed, together with all its
professorships, teaching posts, administrative positions, and
Board of Control; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Higher Education be in-
structed to take charge of all entering and present students
of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in order that they may not
lose their status as theological students; and be it further

ers, and administrators for up to one year after the official
closing of the seminary; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod, through its Board for Higher
Education reopen a seminary using the campus and facilities
of the present Concordia Seminary, St.Louis; and be it
further

Resolved, That the faculty and administrators for this

new seminary be nominated by the congregations of the

Resolved, That each member of the faculty of the new
seminary be asked to make public his stance toward all

A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles, a
document prepared by President J. A. O. Preus in 1972; and
be it finally

Resolved. That members of the present Concordia Semi-
nary, St. Louis, faculty and administration be given first
consideration for positions in the new seminary, providing
that they show clearly that they are in full agreement with
the resolution of the Synod’s Commission on Theology and
Church Relations approving of President Preus’ A State-
ment of Scriptural and Confessional Principles,

St. Paut Lurneran Cuurcu
Bremen, Ind.
Raymond Mueller, Pastor

Similar:

3-154B

Trinity Lutheran Church, Rock Springs, Wyo., Maynard
Suhr, Secretary; Clarence E, Sorenson, Elder.

3-155A

To Give Synodical President Power to Act

Wuereas, The constitution of the Synod in Article XI
8ives the President of the Synod wide powers of supervision;
and

Wuereas, The St. Louis seminary situation is extraordi-
nary and difficult, if not impossible. to resolve by working
through the Board of Control and the Board for Higher
Education; and

WHEREAS, It is in the best interest of the Synod to swiftly
bring the controversy concerning the St. Louis seminary to
a close: therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod recognize this emergency situa-
tion and ask its President to take a direct hand in the situa-
tion, assure himself that the seminary teaches and acts in ac-
cord with its confessional commitment, and if necessary

procedures under section five of the synodical Handbook,
and finally take Steps, together with the Board for Higher
Education and the seminary Board of Control to obtain ade-
quate teaching help to continue the seminary in operation.
Curist Lutweran Cuurcy
Norfolk, Nebr.
Clarence Brueggemann, Chairman
Val Riedel, Secretary

Identical, except for omission of words “from their po-
Sitions at the seminary”:
3-155B

St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Shawano, Wis.,
Kroenke, President; Vendor Eggert, Secretary.

3-155C

First Ev, Lutheran Church, Clearwater, Fla., Donald
Drung. President: David V. Dissen, Pastor.

Orris