LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 191

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SYNODICAL ADMINISTRATION 191

and Church Relations in its study of “Gospel and Scripture”
have provided our church with excellent touchstones of
orthodoxy; and

Wuereas, Christ has told us (Luke 11:17) “If one part of
any kingdom fights against another part. it loses its people”
(Beck) and the apostle (2 Cor. 6:14 ff.) “Do not be mismated
with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness
and iniquity? ... Therefore come out from them, and be
separate from them, says the Lord’; therefore be it

Resolved, That all leaders and teachers in the church,
including all officers, members of boards. commissions and
committees, pastors, c.r.m., missionaries, parochial school
teachers, professors and instructors be required to publicly
profess full and unequivocal agreement with the Statement
of Scriptural and Confessional Principles and “Gospel and
Scripture” (Whereas 3) within 6 months of this convention,
and be it further

Resolved, That those who fail or decline to so subscribe
to these documents be hereby requested in all honesty and
equity to resign from their membership in The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod. and in the event of refusal to so
resign, that the praesidium proceed with excommunication
according to Matthew 18; and be it finally

Resolved, that the real property and tangible assets of
the Synod and its Districts. and where necessary, of individ-
ual congregations. be equitably distributed on the basis of
cemmunicant membership ivolved in such division, and
this division to be effected by synodical and District boards
of adjudication appointed by Synod's praesidium to obviate
any and all appeal to civil courts. All communicant mem-
bers shall have one year from the time of this convention
to file claims for their proportionate assets to be transferred
to a Lutheran synod of their choice.

Curist LUTHERAN CHURCH
Coos Bay. Oreg.

Ed Schwartz, President
Gary Tonn, Secretary

4-13
To Divide the Synod’s Property

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod is
theologically divided: and

Wuereas, Polls show that about 1,000 LCMS professors
and pastors no longer accept the inerrancy of the Bible;
therefore be it

Resolved, That we petition the LCMS to ask all members
of the LCMS who cannot accept the official doctrinal posi-
tion of the LCMS to withdraw from the LCMS; and be it
further

Resolved, That the LCMS grant those who leave the
LCMS their fair share of the per capita net assets of the

Synod. Trixity LUTHERAN CHURCH

New Haven, Mo.
Larry Scheer, Secretary

4-144

To Structure an Amicable Division

This memorial will shock and perhaps offend many in
our beloved church body. At first reading it may seem [to
betray a lack of faith in the omnipotent and gracious Lord
of the church, a lack of appreciation for the blessings of 125
years, a lack of love toward fellow believers. It is however
inspired only by a love for the truth, concern for the con-
sciences of many disturbed souls, and the fervent desire to
further the work of the Kingdom assigned by our ascended
Lord and Savior.

Wuereas, Our beloved church body is beset by theologi-
cal differences, particularly regarding the question of the
inerrancy and authority of the Holy Scriptures: and

Wuereas. These differences are openly acknowledged and
recognized by clergy and lay leaders alike in both “camps:
and

Wuereas. The resulting controversy, including unchari-

table attacks upon many individuals. has caused serious
offense both within and without the church; and

WHEREAS, This controversy represents seemingly irrecon-
cilable views and appears farther from God-pleasing solu-
tion every day: and

Wuereas, Both sides represent God-fearing Christian
people who love their Savior and claim adherence to the
Scriptures and Confessions and sincerely believe that they
are right; and

Wuereas, This controversy has blunted our witness to
a dying world and has kept us from fulfilling in greater
measure our glorious work of making disciples of all nations;
and

Wuereas, Many on either side who are disturbed hesitate
to sever their relations with our church for fear ot being
schismatic: therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention assembled ap-
prove a peaceful division of our church body; and be it
further

Resolved. That each congregation express itself by ballot
on its confessional stand, declaring itself on the theology
espoused by the President of our Synod in A Statement of
Scriptural and Confessional Principles. whether it considers
this as truly Scriptural and Lutheran or “unseriptural” and
“un-Lutheran”; and be it further

Resolved. That the properties and assets of our church
body be divided according to the result of the vote; and be
it further

Resolved. That the balloting be accomplished within 6
months of the final day of this convention and that the divi-
sion of the Synod be accomplished within one year of the
same: and be it further

Resolved. That the implementation of the division and
other attendant matters be handled by five representatives
selected by each side, in consultation with the Synod's
Board of Directors and its legal counsel; and be it further

Resolved. That a legal structure be established which
would continue uninterrupted the Concordia Pension and
Welfare benefits for the constituents of both groups; an
be it finally

Resolved, That the name The Lutheran Church — Mis-
souri Synod be retained by that group representing the
majority of the church body.

Messtan Ev. LUTHERAN CHURCH
Sterling, Ill.

Harold Nelson, Secretary
Eldor Mueller, Pastor

Similar:

4-14B

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Wauwatosa, Wis., Har-
old Mueller, Secretary.

4-15

To Dissolve Synod for Purposes
of Peaceful Division

This overture may seem to be a counsel of despair and
as expressing lack of faith in God Himself. However it is
submitted only because of the great theological division that
now scandalizes our church body and in the hope that, once
divided, all of those who now belong to the Missouri Synod
may get back to their primary mission of furthering the
Kingdom of our Lord and in order to truly confess the faith
that motivated our Synod's founding fathers over 125 years
ago. To this end may God alone have the glory:

Wuereas, The first object of Synod is “the conservation
and promotion of the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4:3-6,
1 Cor. 1:10) and a united defense against schism and sec~
tarianism (Rom. 16:17)": and

Wuereas, Our beloved church body is beset by theologi-
cal differences, particularly regarding the question of the
inerrancy and authority of the Holy Scriptures and on the
whole matter of what constitutes the basis of church fellow-
ship; and