LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 88

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Ee At ESE EO Cae Cae aN eT

88 RESOLUTIONS

due consultation and coordination with other Christians
in this area; and be it further

Resolved, That in consultation with the Brazil Dis-
trict and the LCMS Board for Missions, the Board of
Directors be authorized to decide, on the basis of such in-
depth study, whether or not The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod should enter one or both fields; and be it
finally ©

Resolved, That, if such authorization is granted, the
Board for Missions and the Brazil District, in mutual
consultation, determine what form such mission activity
might take (e.g., Bible translation, mass communica-
tions, medical missions, educational missions, second-
ment, support to already existing mission efforts, direct
evangelism, or a combination of these in a team minis-
try, etc.)

Action: Adopted (7).

(The committee replaced its tentative Res. 2-04 with Res.

2-04A.)

To Enlarge North American
Indian Ministry

RESOLUTION 2-05

Overture 2-20 (CW, p. 35)

Wuereas, We are commissioned to reach all people
with the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and

Wuereas, We recognize that we have failed to reach
the North American Indian in any significant way; and

Wuereas, Such failure is largely due to our neglect to
recognize the different cultural forms and styles of ex-
pression of the North American Indian; and

WuHereas, Our witness is not to our form of life and

worship, but only to the Word that is Jesus Christ;
therefore be it

Resolved, That we foster a more evangelical rather
than a paternalistic approach toward the North Ameri-
can Indian; and be it further

Resolved, That we seek to equip our congregations for
a more effective witness to North American Indians in
their own communities; and be it further

Resolved, That Concordia College, Seward, be com-
mended for initiating specialized training for Indian
ministry; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Board for Missions be directed to
seek out additional means by which people can be pre-
pared for this ministry, and that progress be reported to
the 1977 synodical convention.

Action: Adopted (7).

To Ratify CCM Campus
Ministry Opinion
RESOLUTION 2-06

Overtures 2-29A—2-30B (CW, p. 37) (CCM “Constitu-
tional Opinion re Campus Ministries,” CW, p. 484)

Wuereas, The Commission on Constitutional Mat-

ters, after having studied the various actions taken by
recent conventions of the Synod with regard to campus
ministries, after having reviewed the instruments which
some of the joint enterprises have developed in several
Districts of the Synod to carry on campus ministry, and

‘after having sought the guidance of the Commission on

Theology and Church Relations with reference to the
“theological” and “church relations” aspects of these
matters, ruled the following:

During recent years several joint enterprises for carry-
ing on campus ministry have been developed in several of
the Districts of the Synod. Descriptions of these ventures
have ranged from “purely administrative” to “joint ministry
in Word and Sacrament.” From several different directions,
specifically from those involved in the work and from the
Board for Missions and its staff, the Commission on Consti-
tutional Matters has been asked to render a constitutional
opinion.

The Commission has studied the various actions taken
by recent conventions of the Synod. It has received volumi-
nous documentation from various sources in support of
varying points of view. It has reviewed the instruments by
which some of these joint enterprises are governed. It has
sought the guidance of the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations with reference to the “theological” and
“church relations” aspects of these matters.

The Commission on Constitutional Matters has arrived
at the following conclusions:

1. The Synod has indeed entrusted campus work to its
Districts.

2. The Synod, however, retains at all times to itself
jurisdiction with respect to everything which is adminis-
tered by or for the entire Synod, including “conduct of
negotiations and affiliations with other church bodies” (By-
laws 1.21, 3.07).

3. The Commission on Constitutional Matters rules that
joint campus worship communities and joint campus minis-
tries of Word and Sacrament with church groups with which
the Synod has not as yet established fellowship relations are
improper in the light of Article HI, 1; Article VI, 2; Bylaws
1.21, 3.07.

4. The Commission also rules that it is improper for a
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod congregation to hold
membership also in another church body or to be under the
ecclesiastical supervision of another church body.

5. Districts are free to deal with representatives of other
church bodies in purely administrative matters (e.g., comity
arrangements, sharing of facilities, publicity, etc.) which do
not involve joint ministry of Word and Sacrament.

6. Whether special administrative units need to be
called into being for such purely administrative purposes
may be left to the discretion of the Districts. In many
instances these may well prove to be superfluous.

Therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod ratify these rulings of the
CCM.

Action: Adopted (12).
(This resolution was discussed also in Session 7. The conven-
tion declined to consider overture 2-30A as a substitute. Resolu-

tion 2-06 was adopted by a standing vote of 556 to 439 after
extended debate.)

To Reaffirm the Synod’s Position
On Campus Ministry

RESOLUTION 2-074
(Replacing Res. 2-07)

Overtures 2-21, 2-23A—B, 2-25A—2-28B (CW, pp. 35-
37)

Wuereas, The Synod has expressly stated that college