LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 14

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EVANGELISM 13

WHEREAS. This linking of evangelism and sound doctrine is
continued throughout the New Testament (for example, Acts
20:18-35, 2 Tim. 3:14 —4:5); and

WHEREAS. Evangelistic witnessing, preaching, and follow-up
involves not only those doctrines which all Christians hold in
common (the deity of Christ, the substitutionary atonement,
the Trinity, and the like) but also those articles of faith which are
most often disputed between denominations and church bodies
(for example, baptism, the work of the Holy Spirit, conversion,
election, the means of grace, the historicity of the resurrection,
etc.); and

WHEREAS. During the last few years a number of our pastors.
congregations, and individual members have been involved in
joint evangelistic rallies, services, and programs which involve
either joint worship with those with whom we are not in fellow-
ship or the uncritical use of sectarian and doctrinally ques-
tionable literature for evangelistic, follow-up, oF training pur-
poses in a way that is not only unconstitutional (Art. VI 2b. ¢)
but also unscriptural (Rom. 16:17: 1 Cor. 1:10): and

WHEREAS. This failure to observe proper Scriptural princi-
ples in evangelism is somewhat understandable because of the
urgency of Christ’s evangelistic commands and the necessity of
getting the Gospel out to a lost world under the judgment of God
and also because of the scarcity of good materials from a sound

Lutheran point of view: and

WHEREAS. We must recognize, since we teach that all those
who use the Word and sacraments include Christians among
whom the Holy Spirit is at work, that non-Lutherans are able to
produce material that is sound in whole or in part; and

WHEREAS. Unionistic mission and evangelistic endeavors and
the uncritical use of sectarian and unsound literature for evange-
listic purposes involve an indifference to doctrine that cannot
but finally subvert the mission outreach of the Gospel and intro-
duce a “Melanchthonian spirit’ which urges compromise and
“agreement on essentials” that could bring an end to orthodox
Lutheranism itself: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod urge its evangelism staff, pastors,
congregations, and members to refrain from using materials that
reflect Baptistic, Reformed, charismatic, or other false emphases
and teachings unless their errors be clearly pointed out: and be it
further

Resolved. That pastors, congregations, and individuals guilty
of unionism and the use of unsound materials in an uncritical
way be admonished by their doctrinal supervisors: and be it
further

Resolred. That all those involved in evangelistic work in any
form, for the sake of the Gospel and the continued existence of
confessional Lutheranism, observe the Synod’s fellowship prin-

ciples and avoid every form of unionistie activity in violation of

this position as stated in the Brief Statement (28, 29): and be
it finally

Resolved. That the Synod ask the Board for Evangelism to
redouble its efforts to produce, adapt, and develop materials for
evangelism, follow-up, and evangelism training that are attrac-
tive, functional, and fully in accord with sound Lutheran doc-
trine.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Rock Falls, Hl.

Curtis A. Peterson, Pastor

John Harden, Secretary

1-11

To Retain Balance of Bible Study
and Evangelism

WHEREAS. Some in our Synod are so concerned that the
Word of God be kept pure in our teaching and practice that
often the importance of continual evangelism is overlooked: and

WHEREAS. Some in our Synod are so concerned that evan-
gelism be the main and sole program of the church that often
the importanee of retaining the pure Word of God is overlooked:
an

WHEREAS. A good program of Bible study minus the oppor-

tunity to testify of the truths learned is as unfortunate as a zeal
for evangelism minus the concern for pure teaching: therefore
be it

Resolved. That the Synod assembled in convention urge the
church to retain the pure unadulterated Word of God in its
teaching and practice and couple that with zealous and continual
programs of evangelism.

St. James Lutheran Church
University City. Mo.

John Essen. President

Carl Meinecke, Secretary
Tom Baker. Pastor

1-12

To Call for Doctrinal Precision in
Personal Evangelism

WHEREAS, The proclamation of the Gospel by personal
witness, 1.€. personal evangelism, is basic to the ongoing
mission life of the church: and

WHEREAS, A person’s cultural background may unduly
influence his theological understanding: and

WHEREAS, Materials on personal evangelism are available
from numerous sources with considerable variation in theologi-
cal commitment, precision, and understanding: therefore be it

Resolved, On the one hand that we as a church body and as
individuals analyze all materials, so that we avoid moralism and
legalism, and on the other hand that we carefully use these
materials in accordance with Scripture and the distinctively
Lutheran Law/Gospel dialectical relationship: and be it finally

Resolved, That all of us renew our study of Scripture and the
Lutheran Confessions, so that we proclaim God’s Word in its
own fullness and truth in Jesus Christ.

Faculty

Concordia Teachers College
River Forest, Tl.

Merle L. Radke, Secretary

1-13

To Designate January 1976 as
Month of Mission to Ourselves

Wuereas. In the past few years the total number of members
in our church body has decreased; and

WueEREAS. A large portion of this decrease can be attributed
to attrition of membership, or “back-door losses”: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod declare the month of January
1976 a time of “mission to ourselves’ —a time to find and reac-
tivate those former members of our parishes who have left our
congregations’ rolls in past years, and be it further

Resolved. That the Boards for Missions, Evangelism, and
Stewardship, working in conjunction with whatever input
sources as may be helpful, devise a program for the calling
back of missing and misplaced former members of The Lutheran
Church-— Missouri Synod, including such things as a mechanism
for a Synodwide sharing of names and addresses of those who
have moved away without a transfer for appropriate establish-
ment of contact by parishes in their new area of residence, and

the like —all as part of this special month; and be it finally

Resolved. That the keeping of accurate records and the
accounting for all of our people be fully encouraged by the
continuation of methods implemented in this self-mission effort.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
Naugatuck, Conn.

Wallace Pflug. President
Emma Barbiero. Secretary
Gregory J. Wismar, Pastor