LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 98

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98 RESOLUTIONS

(Note that Bylaw 2.85 c 2, “Financial Duties,” states:
“The Board of Directors [of the Synod] alone may author-
ize the solicitation of funds by any person, board, com-
mission, or agency in the Synod at large and shall have
‘the authority to regulate the collection of funds from
congregations and the Synod at large beyond the confines
of any one District in accordance with policies adopted by
the delegate convention of the Synod. There shall be no
such solicitation of funds by any person, board, commis-
sion, agency, or corporation without the approval of the
Board of Directors, provided that nothing herein con-
tained shall be construed to interfere with District or
local financial undertakings where the collection of funds
is confined to the District or a local area.”)

6. Even more recent developments in ELIM include
the announcement of the possibility of providing “for the
exploration of a possible alternate form of teacher educa-
tion in the Synod” (Missouri in Perspective, May 26,
1975).

The actions taken by ELIM during the past several
years have been justified by that organization as being
necessary expressions of their dissent against the actions
of the Synod. Yet it should be noted that nowhere does
the Synod condemn proper dissent, but rather makes
adequate provisions for the same. Bylaw 1.09, “Relations
of the Synod to Its Members,” states that “While retain-
ing the right of brotherly dissent, members of the Synod
are expected as part of the life together within the
synodical fellowship to honor and to uphold the resolu-
tions of the Synod. If such resolutions are of a doctrinal
nature, dissent is to be expressed first within the fellow-
ship of peers, then brought to the attention of the Com-
mission on Theology and Church Relations before finding
expression as an overture to the convention calling for
revision or recision. While the conscience of the dissenter
shall be respected, the consciences of others, as well as
the collective will of the Synod, shall also be respected.”

In view of these developments within our beloved
Synod, the following resolution is herewith proposed.

Wuereas, A democratic organization must always be
open to responsible comment and criticism with respect
to how it functions in carrying out its objectives; and

WuHerEas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is
not only a democratic organization which adopts the
principle set forth above but, of much greater importance,
it is an organization of God’s people, carrying out God’s
mission, and is therefore bound by the love of God to be
open to responsible comment and criticism; and

Wuereas, There may have been times in the past and
there may be times in the future when those who would
level responsible criticism within the Synod feel a need
to gather together in an organization, the purpose of
which is to coordinate many voices into one and to
express their comment and criticism in a meaningful
way; and

Wuereas, An organization such as is described above
must be dedicated to the principle that in its functioning,
indeed in its very being, it must not become a com-
peting organization, with competing or alternate pro-

grams to those of the Synod to which its members belong
and which it seeks to strengthen and improve, for in
such competition is the seed not of strengthening and -
improving but of weakening and of replacing; and

Wuereas, Although the organization known as ELIM
(Evangelical Lutherans in Mission) is not, per se, an
organization to be condemned in that the opportunity for
such an organization to be of service to God and His
church is indeed great, nevertheless, the way in which
ELIM has functioned since its creation has, in significant
part, been in violation of the precepts set forth above,
especially in its support of a competing seminary, its
establishment of a competing mission program, its en-
couragement of congregations to withhold financial sup-
port from the Synod and to call uncertified men as
pastors, and its announcement that it is interested in
initiating an alternate system of teacher education:
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod, with great anguish and
regret, declare that the way in which ELIM functions is
schismatic and therefore in violation of the first object of
the Synod: “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 sectarianism (Rom. 16:17)”;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod declare that those members
of the Synod (congregations, pastors, and teachers) who
play active roles in planning and/or carrying out the
schismatic functions referred to above are, by such active
roles, acting inconsistently with their membership in the
Synod, are failing to cooperate with the Synod, and are
giving offense in their conduct; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod declare that individuals
who hold positions with the Synod, with a District of the
Synod, or with other organizations owned and controlled
by the Synod who play active roles in planning, publiciz-
ing, and/or carrying out the schismatic functions re-
ferred to above are by such active roles failing to cooper-
ate with the Synod and are giving offense in their
conduct; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod request its congregations,
officers, and boards to minister evangelically and pastor-
ally with those under their supervision who play active
roles in planning and/or carrying out the schismatic
functions referred to above to the end that by such
admonition they (i) cease such roles, or (ii) disassociate
themselves from ELIM so long as it continues those
schismatic functions, or (iii) in conscience terminate
their membership in the Synod rather than to continue
to act so as to divide and weaken it; and be it further

Resolved, That in the case of those officers of the
Synod and members of the faculties of synodical institu-
tions with whom patient and pastoral admonition has
proven futile, appropriate action be taken on the basis
of the synodical Handbook; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod, for itself and for all its
officers and boards, does again pledge that it is still
willing to listen and discuss issues and grievances at all
appropriate levels, that its actions and decisions shall be