Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1973 · 50th Convention › Page 164
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 164

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

164 SEMINARY ISSUES

Our REDEEMER LurHeran Cyurcy
Huntington, W. Va.

C. A. Rantala, Pastor

George Reiske, Secretary

3-1938A

To Support Efforts of Synod President
and Fact Finding Committee in St. Louis
Seminary Investigation

WHEREAS, The President of Synod acted in conformity
with the synodical Constitution by appointing a Fact Finding
Committee; and

WHEREAS, The Report of the Fact Finding Committee
clearly shows a weak doctrinal stance on the Part of some
professors; and

WHEREas, The Report brought out clearly how the true
Scriptural theology held by our Synod is being supplanted
by a nebulous and unsound “Gospelism”; and

WHEREAS, Doctrinal uncertainty is evidenced by some of
the professors interviewed and the seeds of doctrinal uncer-
tainty must surely be sown in the minds of the seminary
students being instructed by such professors; and

WHEREAS, Students graduating from St. Louis will cer-
tainly be affected by this nebulous “Gospelism” and thus
give an uncertain witness to the inerrancy of the Scriptures
from the Book of Genesis to the Book of Revelation; and

Wuereas, The salvation of souls will be in jeopardy by
such a weak and uncertain theology; therefore be it

Resolved, That Synod in convention at New Orleans sup-
port the efforts of the synodical President to correct the doc-
trinal aberrations; and be it further

Resolved, That Synod in convention ask all delegates to
arise at an appropriate time designated by the synodical
President as a gesture of thanks to the Fact Finding Com-
mittee for many hours, weeks, and months spent by this
committee in performance of its duty; and be it finally

Resolved. That all members of Synod be urged to pray
for the synodical President that he may be strengthened in
the exercise of his duty to maintain purity of doctrine and
practice within Synod.

St. Paut LurHeran CHURCH
Sanford, Mich,

Earnest Sutton, President
Lynn Robinette, Secretary

Similar:

3-193B

St. Peter Lutheran Church, Hilbert, Wis., C. A, Rathjen,
Pastor; Arthur Krueger, Chairman,

3-194

To Express Appreciation for Work
of Fact Finding Committee

Wuereas, The Fact Finding Committee has responsibly
completed its assignment; and

WHEREAS, The members of the Fact Finding Committee
have been the target for repeated verbal and printed abuse
as well as character assassination at the hands of the secular
Press by false information fed to the media by some in our
own Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention give a hearty
Standing ovation of thanks for a task responsibly and hon-
estly completed: and be it further

Resolved, That all those who have sinned against these

brethren be called upon to make public their apologies for
the innuendos and suspicions cast upon the persons of the
Fact Finding Committee.
TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH
Sturgis, Mich.
Bruce Schaeffer, Chairman
Albert Bumann, Secretary
H. M. Heidenreich, Pastor

3-195A

To Lend Full Support to Dr. J. A. O. Preus
in His Confessional Stand and Program

Wueneas, The Constitution of the Synod (Art, XI, B—
Duties of the President) specifically requires the President
of the Synod to supervise the doctrine of the Synod and its
officers and employees, and to see that “the resolutions of
the Synod are carried out”; and

WHEREAS, President J, A. O. Preus and the presidium of
Synod in fulfillment of that responsibility, have submitted
A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles as
“Guidelines,” the Purpose of which “is not to serve as a new
standard of orthodoxy, but rather to assist the Board of

(2-28, Milwaukee convention); and

WuHereas, The inquiry into teachings of the St. Louis sem-
inary faculty has been made a divisive issue by many both
within and without our Synod, including the public press,
challenging the authority of the President to carry out such
an investigation; and

WHEREAS, Such investigations can be helpful to either
clear up false charges or to bring discipline to those who
refuse to teach according to Scripture and the Confessions;
therefore be it

Resolved, That we give wholehearted support to our syn-
odical President in his effort to preserve doctrinal integrity
within our Synod based upon the confessional position of

ynod as outlined in Article II of the synodical Constitution;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod ask that those who refuse to
abide by the clear teachings of Scriptures, our Confessions,
and the doctrinal resolutions drawn from and correctly based
on the Scriptures and the Confessions, be removed from
their positions and in accordance with the Procedure out-
lined in the Constitution; and be it finally

Resolved, That the President of the Synod be encouraged
to conduct similar investigations of the other institutions of
higher learning of our Synod to the end that doctrinal agree-
ment may once again be restored to our Synod.

St. Paut’s LuTHERAN CHURCH
Sheboygan, Wis.

Gordon Bonnet, President
Elroy Begalke, Secretary
Arnold E. Wenger, Pastor

Similar:

3-195B

Nazareth Lutheran Church, Buffalo, N, Y., Donald Samp-
son, Secretary; Paul G. Barth, Pastor,

3-196

To Investigate Administrative Decisions
of the Seminary

Whereas, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, had been placed
on probation by the American Association of Theological
Schools, thus arousing concern over the administration,
policies, and achievements of the seminary; and

WHEREAS, A great deal of concern in the Synod _ has
centered in the competence of the president of the semi-
nary and his chief personnel in terms of principles of ad-
ministration and their application; and