LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 7

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72 MEMORIAL ADDRESS

Jegal rights, take no drastic action that might further

polarize or even fragmentize the Christian church and
thus add to the scandal already prominent because of the
division in Christendom”? Can’t you hear them saying,
“Brothers and sisters, talk to one another, discuss the
true meaning of God’s Word and the Lutheran Con-
fessions. It doesn’t matter how long this takes. We agree
with the laypersons and parish pastors speaking to the
recent theological convocation in the statement of the
desire that nothing be done at this convention that would
undo what was done at the convocation”?

Holding fast to the profession of our faith and honor-

ing the consciences of all our fellow Christians in the
Synod, let us listen to them and following Jesus’ loving
“Come to Me,” say: “Just as I am, without one plea, But
that Thy blood was shed for me, and that Thou bidst me
come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.”

“O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the
sin of the world, have mercy upon us.”

“O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the
sin of the world, have mercy upon us.”

“O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the
sin of the world, grant us Thy peace. Amen.”

’ Dr. Otiver R. Harms

Address of the President of The American Lutheran Church

Dear FRIENDS IN CurIsrT:

The people of The American Lutheran Church greet
you in the name of our crucified and risen Lord Jesus
Christ. Amen.

The American Lutheran Church is glad for fellowship
with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and the
Lutheran Church in America. We are glad for the many
ways our Lord has linked us together in the life and
mission of His church. We are glad for the unity of faith
that has led thousands of our mobile members to find
their church home in the LCMS just as thousands of
Missouri Synod people have found their church homes
with us.

We have anguished with you in these recent years.
Concern for you has been widened at every ALC
gathering I have attended these past two years. We have
longed for the reconciling word that would enable The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to move its great
strength more fully into the central mission tasks of the
church. You have been in the prayers of millions of ALC
people again and again.

We in the ALC believe that God has prepared His
Lutheran churches for this day. We believe the tasks He
has set before us demand our individual, unfettered
faith, strength, and enthusiasm. The days ahead call for
the best efforts we Lutherans can put together. We
believe it imperative that we march together in accept-
ing God’s challenge for this day.

Let me briefly spotlight a few of the central tasks God
has set before us. These are fronts on which the ALC
believes God wants us to be active in the years ahead.
We intend to be there. We hope and pray we will be
marching with all Lutherans in America as we go to our
posts.

We intend to be devoted to evangelical outreach. Our
current United Mission Appeal declares the ALC’s intent
to be constant, concerned Gospel proclaimers. We believe
this is the generation in which Lutheran congregations
in the U.S. must prove themselves as carriers of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people. Our congregations
cannot stay strong, in most instances, as ethnic preser -
vers, German and Scandinavian background ghettos. God
has not given us His Christ to keep culture pockets

Or. David Preus, President of the ALC

intact. Neither can we be God’s outreaching witnesses if
we are preoccupied with inspecting ourselves for faults.
The Lutheran emphasis on God’s grace needs to be heard,
and it needs to be seen as applied in our own lives. This
is the day for outspoken, aggressive, congregational ori-
ented, catechetically sound Lutheran Christian evangel-
ism. Our ALC Church Council just two weeks ago de-
clared that our primary ALC emphasis for the days
ahead will be “evangelical outreach.” That is where we
are headed. We ask you to join us.

We intend to be devoted to “doing justice.” God’s
Word calls us to be diligent in helping create a just
human society where half the people do not have to go to
bed hungry tonight and where half the people do not
have to live under tyranny. God calls us in the churches
to keep battling the demon of racism no matter how
weary of the battle the rest of the society becomes. God
calls us to hear the cry of all oppressed people and help
free all from hunger, poverty, and tyranny as well as
from sin, death, and the power of the devil. Lutherans
have been justifiably accused of sitting quietly by while
injustice occurs unchallenged. We hear God’s Word that
calls us to “do justice.” We intend to plug away at it.
That is where we are headed. We ask you to join us.