Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1973 · 50th Convention › Page 162
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 162

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

CO  IESXVW OO  —X—ZAA Ricans.

162 SEMINARY ISSUES

leans to adopt the District Presidents’ guidelines for evan-
gelical supervision; and be it further

Resolved, That we memorialize Synod to encourage all
of its members to follow these same procedures.

SIERRA~NEvaba Pastorat CONFERENCE
CaLirORNIA AND NEvapa District
Oren Geiger, Chairman

James A. Kabel, Secretary

Similar:

3-187B

Golden Gate Pastoral Conference. California and Nevada
District, Louis C. Marting, Secretary.

3-187C

Zion Lutheran Church, Decatur, Ind.. Morris Kruecke-
berg, President: Raymond Thieme, Secretary.

3-188

To Seek Reconciliation Through Fraternal
Discussion

WuereaS, The Board of Control of Concordia Seminary,
St. Louis, has now completed its special assignment from the
1971 Milwaukee convention (Res. 2-28) and, after thoroughly
examining members of the seminary faculty, has concluded
that they believe and confess in accord with the Scriptures
and the Confessions; and

Wuereas, On the other hand, the Board of Control has
acknowledged that there are theological issues both at the
seminary and throughout the Synod which must be dealt
with in fraternal discussion: and

WHEREAS, Misunderstanding, polarization, and controversy
over theological issues stil] continue in many places through-
out the Synod, not only between a few prominent individ-
uals or agencies but within many of the Synod's Districts
and circuits and sometimes within one and the same con-
gregation: and

Wuerras, The only hope for a genuine solution of our
present problems at any level is through frank and fraternal
discussion of the issues on the basis of Scripture and the
Confessions under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who alone
leads us into all truth and makes us one: and

Whereas, The Council of Presidents has offered the help
of its members to function in a pastoral Capacity in dealing
with controversies; and

WuHereas, The faculty of Concordia Seminary is likewise
eager to be a part of the solution rather than of the problem
and therefore to participate in discussions, wherever these
may occur, for the purpose of resolving the conflicts and
reconciling the Synod: an

going reconciliation throughout the Synod: therefore be it

Resolved, That the 50th regular convention of The Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod seek to alleviate the pres-
ent polarization and controversy over theological issues by
means of regional and local fraternal discussion of the issues
on the basis of the Scripture and the Confessions under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit: and be it further

Resolved, That a special commission consisting of the
President of the Synod, six district presidents elected by
the Council of Presidents, and the presidents of the Synod’s
six terminal schools be charged with the task of identifying
those issues which are of concern to the people of the Synod;
and be it further

Resolved, That each District President arrange for pas-
toral conferences, circuit meetings, and open forums in
which the issues identified by the special commission can
be dealt with in fraternal discussion involving laity as well
as clergy and a fair representation of all sides of the issues:
and be it further

Resolved. That the presidents of our seminaries and col-
leges in cooperation with individual District presidents ar-
range for members of the faculties of our seminaries and
of the religion departments of our colleges to participate in
the discussions; and be it finally

Resolved. That our congregations be urged to offer up

Boarp or ControL AND Facutty
ConcorDIA SEMINARY

St. Louis, Mo.

George A. Loose, Chairman
John H. Tietjen, President

3-189

To Provide Additional Channel for Resolving
Present Differences

WHEREAS, The unity of the church is pleasing to our Lord,
Jesus Christ, and

Wuereas, The holy apostles exhort the church to agree
among themselves and to avoid divisions (1 Cor. 1:10); and

WHEREAS, The party spirit in our Synod has caused dis-
ruption to the work of Christ’s kingdom of grace; and

Whereas, Such party spirit has diminished the efficiency
of our stewardship of all things temporal and eternal; and

WHEREAS, We have within our Synod the adequate means
to resolve such differences if we are willing to negotiate
seriously; therefore be it

Resolved, That all churches in our Synod pray earnestly
for this unity: and be it further

Resolved, That the Council of Presidents be the authorized
forum for debate and negotiation of the differences between
those who subscribe to the Statement of Scriptural and Con-
fessional Principles and those who identify with the “Re-
sponse of the Faculty of Concordia Seminary”; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Council of Presidents be authorized by
the convention of Synod to adopt and publish a document
of agreement negotiated before it by members or represen-
tatives of both parties with a view to incorporating the
agreement into a future confession of faith which would
reflect the deliberate sense of the entire Synod in this cen-
tury in regard to all areas of disagreement: and be it finally

Resolved. That the Synod express its appreciation to the
many people who do not understand the nature of these
ifferences and yet have stood by the Synod in spite of the
offenses caused and the party spirit among the acknowl-
edged leaders, and that the Synod encourage these people
to remain steadfast and trust the Lord, Jesus Christ, to
sanctify His church through His truth.

EMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
Van Wert, Ohio

Lloyd E. Gross, Pastor

Glen C. Rager, President
Hugo Etzler, Secretary

3-190

To Take Various Steps Regarding St. Louis
Seminary and Colleges Generally

WHEREAS, In our opinion the St. Louis seminary has
caused great distress and grief in Synod by its patently
recalcitrant attitude towards Synod's President and Synod’s
clear-cut hermeneutic and doctrinal position; therefore be it

Resolved, That Synod in convention assembled (1) in
brotherly love censure the St. Louis faculty for its essentially
refractory spirit over against the supervisory responsibility
of Synod's presidential office;

(2) provide for a gradual change of seminary leadership
So as to assure a more cooperative relationship with Synod
and the synodical presidential office;