LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 41

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THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 41

of this document see the Appendix of the 1973 Convention Work-
book. pp. 449 f.) Since that time the commission has been in
consultation with a committee of District Presidents concerning
the practical implications of the charismatic movement for the
life of the church. Dr. Howard Tepker represented the commis-
sion as an official observer at the Charismatic Renewal Confer-
ence held in Ann Arbor, Mich., Feb. 12—14, 1974.

In response to the Board of Directors’ referral of 1973 resolu-
tion 2-15 to the CTCR, the commission is presently developing
guidelines for ministry to members of the Synod who are in-
volved in and/or dealing with the charismatic movement. The
commission furthermore recommends:

10. That the Synod commend the position paper titled “The
Charismatic Movement and Lutheran Theology” to its members
for reference and guidance.

Ordination and Ministry

Several past conventions of the Synod have directed the
commission to study various questions pertaining to the ministry.
In response to its assignments in this area and after reviewing
a number of studies on ministry that have been undertaken in
our church body and by other Lutheran groups, the commission
in March 1973 adopted a report titled ‘The Ministry in Its Rela-
tion to the Christian Church as Seen on the Basis of Holy Scrip-
ture and the Lutheran Confessions.” This document was sent
to all pastors and teachers in the Synod. (For the text of this
document see the Appendix of the 1973 Convention Workbook.
pp. 468 f.)

After the 1973 convention the Board of Directors referred
Resolution 2-07 ‘‘To Reaffirm Synod’s Position on Women with
Reference to the Pastoral Office” to the CTCR for “report to
next convention.”” While the commission continues to uphold
previous resolutions of the Synod relative to the ordination of
women to the office of pastor, it has not completed its study of
the role of women in the church. In this connection the commis-
sion notes that the task force appointed to study the role of
women in The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod has not yet
completed its study. Therefore the commission is of the opinion
that it would be advisable to give the report of the Task Force
(see Appendix I of this Workbook) careful study before finalizing
its recommendations to the synod regarding the ordination of
teachers and directors of Christian education. The commission
recommends:

11. That the Synod reaffirm its position “that the Word of God
does not permit women to hold the pastoral office.” (1971 Resolu-
tion 2-04)

12. That the Synod encourage the CTCR to give careful study
to the report of the Task Force on women and to submit its con-
clusions regarding the ordination of teachers and DCEs to the
1977 convention.

“True” in Catechism

In accordance with a request of the Board of Directors the
CTCR prepared a report for the 1973 convention on 1971 Resolu-
tion 2-35, which called for the inclusion of the word “true” in
the intersynodical translation of Luther’s Small Catechism in the
section on the Lord’s Supper (“it is the true body and blood of
our Lord Jesus Christ’). However, because of the press of time
the 1973 convention failed to act on the CTCR’s recommenda-
tion. Since that time this matter has received further considera-
tion by the commission. It is now the opinion of the CTCR that
this question merits further study. The commission recommends:

13. That the Synod encourage the CTCR to complete its study
regarding the inclusion of the word “true” in the intersynodical
translation of Luther's Small Catechism and report to the 1977
convention.

What Is a Doctrine?

1971 Resolution 2-48 asked the commission to consider
whether it had used the word “doctrine” correctly in the
commission’s document titled ““A Review of the Question ‘What
Is a Doctrine?’” After reviewing this matter the commission
concluded that its document uses the term “doctrine” in a man-
ner consistent with its usage in the Formula of Concord. The
statement adopted by the CTCR in May 1971 was included in its
1973 report in Appendix B, 1973 Convention Workbook. pp. 38—
39. The commission recommends:

14. That this statement be received by the Synod as a further
explication of the question “What Is a Doctrine?” and be com-
mended to the membership of the Synod for reference and
guidance.

B. Theological Opinions

1, At its January 1974 meeting the Board of Control of Con-
cordia Seminary, St. Louis, resolved in accordance with the
provisions of Bylaw 6.79 d to submit the theological questions
at issue in the charges that had been lodged against a member
of its faculty to the CTCR for ‘“‘an advisory theological opinion.”’
In its March 1974 meeting the Board of Control formulated the
questions concerning which it desired an opinion and sub-
mitted the questions to the CTCR. The CTCR prepared an opin-
ion which was adopted at its meeting in May 1974 and thereupon
submitted it to the Board of Control.

2. Upon inquiry from the Lutheran Laymen’s League about
the propriety of the issuance of a call by an auxiliary agency
of the Synod, the commission submitted the following opinion:

In response to a request from the LLL regarding the propriety of an

auxiliary agency issuing a call, it is the opinion of the CTCR that an

auxiliary agency of the church, for the sake of good order, should
not extend a call to a clergyman. We note that Section VIII of Resolu-
tion 31, Committee 6, adopted at the 1959 synodical convention,
expressly directs that in the interest of desirable and uniform practice,

“all executive secretaries and all other salaried personnel attached

to any and all agencies of the Synod, as well as al! general administra-

tive personnel of the Synod not subject to election, be placed in their
positions only by appointment." (1959 Proceedings. p. 258) Adopted

by the CTCR. January 1974

3. The commission was requested by the President and
Board of Theology of a synodical District to render an opinion
about the propriety of interdenominational marriage cere-
monies. In March 1973 the commission adopted a response, the
text of which is found in Appendix H of the 1973 Convention
Workbook. pp. 43 f. Upon a request for clarification of some
points in its response, the commission in January 1974 adopted
a statement which is attached to this report as Appendix A.

4. In January 1974 the Board for Evangelism repeated an
earlier request for an opinion from the commission regarding
ecumenical involvement in evangelism and the commitment
approach. The commission’s opinion is attached to this report
as Appendix B.

5. In March 1974 Dr. Manfred Berndt, president of Concordia
Seminary, Hong Kong, submitted a request through Rev. Paul
Strege, Board for Missions Secretary for East Asia, to the CTCR
for an opinion regarding membership in the Asian Theological
Association. This request was repeated again in December 1974.
The commission’s response is attached to this report as Ap-
pendix C.

C. Review of LCUSA Document
“Peace, War. and Conscience."

In March 1973 the standing committee of the Division of
Theological Studies of LCUSA adopted a document titled ‘The
Witness of U.S. Lutherans on Peace, War, and Conscience.”
This document was given to the presidents of the constituent
church bodies for distribution, study, and testing at their discre-
tion. The President of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod
requested the Commission on Theology and Church Relations
and other agencies of the Synod to review the document and
make recommendations to him concerning its use. The CTCR
studied the document and in November 1973 adopted the follow-
ing resolution:

The Commission on Theology and Church Relations recommends
that the Missouri Synod participate in the dissemination of the
LCUSA document (‘‘The Witness of U.S. Lutherans on Peace, War,
and Conscience") for study, but urges that a clear statement be
provided by President Preus that this is a LCUSA release rather
than a CTCR document, and calling attention to the following areas
which seem to need further attention:

(1) The amnesty question.

(2) The Christian who does serve in the military.

(3) What to some may seem to be a pacifist orientation of the
document.

This document has subsequently been included in the Studies
series and distributed for study and discussion by the Division
of Theological Studies, LCUSA.