LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 68

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68 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

for His renewed gift of the Spirit of unity and peace: and be it
further

Resolved. That the members of the Northwest District of the
LCMS recognize the variety of members, gifts, abilities. perspec-
tives, and functions as a gift of the Spirit to be thankfully re-
ceived and faithfully used in mission and ministry: and be it
further

Resolved. That the members of the Northwest District of the
LCMS recommit themselves to the task of joyfully proclaiming
the Gospel of Jesus Christ and energetically engaging in His
mission of ministry to the world: and be it finally

Resolved. That the Northwest District of the LCMS call upon
the entire Synod to do likewise.
Northwest District
Emil G. Jaech, President
D. C. Schroeder. Secretary

3-17

To Guard Against Emotionalism

WHEREAS. The controversy in the Synod is alleged by some
to be a matter of “power politics”: and

WHEREAS. Some allege that certain persons are being
persecuted by those in positions of power in the Synod; and

WHEREAS. Such allegations inevitably play on the emotions
and sympathy of those in the Synod who hear or read them: and

WHEREAS. Such allegations divert attention from the divisive
issues (arising from the false historical-critical approach to the
Scriptures with its resultant conclusions) to a focus on personali-
ties and procedures: and

WHEREAS. The First Commandment and Meaning (Luther’s
Small Catechism) obligate us to “fear, love. and trust in God
above all things,” including intellect, human reason, and love
of persons (Matt. 10:37): and

WHEREAS. God is worshiped and God's name is hallowed
among us “when the Word of God is taught in its truth and
purity and we as the children of God also lead a holy life accord-
ing to it” (Small Catechism, First Petition): therefore be it

Resolved. That all within the Synod, especially delegates to
this convention, keep themselves above and be not swayed by
appeals to emotionalism and sympathy: and be it further

Resolved. That all within the Synod dedicate themselves
rather “to fear, love. and trust in God above all things’: and be
it further

Resolved. That all within the Synod dedicate themselves to
the preservation of all truths of God as He has revealed them in
His holy, inerrant, and authoritative Word: and be it further

Resolved. That all within the Synod dedicate themselves to
the Lutheran Confessions as contained in The Book of Concord
and also dedicate themselves to honor and uphold all doctrinal
convention resolutions under the Scriptures and Confessions
as true and proper expositions and applications of God's Word
and the Confessions to contemporary problems: and be it finally

Resolved. That all deliberations and decisions be directed

to the unity and singleness of faith and confession with which
the Synod was blessed from its inception until some 20 years ago.

St. John’s Lutheran Church
Ellisville, Mo.

Kenneth Smith, President
Eugene Rusert, Chairman
Paul V. Schnelle, Pastor

3-18

To Urge Synod to Use Divine Word
Evangelically in Dealing with
Theological Matters

WHEREAS. The Lutheran Confessions state that “the pro-
phetic and apostolic writings of the Old and New Testaments
are the only rule and norm according to which all doctrines
and teachers alike must be appraised and judged...” (Formula

of Concord, Epitome, p. 464 par. 1 [Tappert edition]; ef., p. 465
par. 7, and Formula of Concord. Solid Declaration. p. 503 par. 2):
and

WHEREAS. The Synod has the continuing opportunity and
responsibility to study its teachings and its teachers according
to the norm and rule of the divine Word, a precious possession
which has been given to the church by Almighty God: and

WHEREAS. The divine Word provides the Synod with general
and specific guidance for the consideration of all doctrinal and
theological matters in the life of the church, namely in Eph. 4:1-7,
11-16, 25-27, 29-32: 2 Tim. 4:1-2: Matt. 18:15-18: and

WHEREAS. The doctrinal and theological matters that grip
the Synod's attention demand thoughtful and careful analysis
in an atmosphere of love for God and for the brother if the
purposes of God and His church are to be served: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod affirm its intention— God helping
it—to continue the discussion and study of the various doctrinal
and theological matters that grip the Synod’s attention accord-
ing to the principles of fellowship, unity, and mutual love that
pertain to the body of Christ: and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod encourage its congregations and
Districts, its pastors. teachers. and professors, to take and make
opportunity for mutual discussion and study of various theo-
logical matters so that the various viewpoints and positions are
thoroughly understood, not in an atmosphere of clamor, rancor,
bitterness, and slander, but in an atmosphere that is informed
by the overwhelming purpose of God for His church as the body
of Christ: and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod commit itself—God helping it—to
a course of unfailing patience motivated by the love of God in
Christ for the edifying of the whole body of Christ, as the Synod
Strives joyously, purposefully. and lovingly to correct and
eliminate all offense in these matters. both the offense of false
teaching and the offense of false accusation: and be it finally

Resolved. That the Synod beseech Almighty God to
strengthen it with the power of the Holy Spirit so that the
Synod can deal evangelically with various doctrinal and theo-
logical matters.

Faculty

Concordia Teachers College
Seward. Nebr.

W. Th. Janzow, President
James Nelesen, Secretary

3-19A

To Encourage Greater Manifestation
of Unity of the Spirit

WHEREAS, St. Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians
(4:3, 5): “Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit
gives, by the peace that binds you together”: and “There is one
Lord, one faith, and one Baptism. . .”: and

WHEREAS. St. Paul writes in the letter to the Romans (1:16):
“I have complete confidence in the Gospel: it is the power of
God to save all who believe .. .": and

WHEREAS, Our Confessions state that ‘it is sufficient for the
true unity of the Christian church that the Gospel be preached
in conformity with a pure understanding of it and that the
sacraments be administered in accordance with the divine
Word” (AC VII 2): and

WHEREAS, It is the hope and prayer of all members of the
Synod that a reconciliation take place between members of dif.
fering opinions and that brothers and sisters show love to one
another as Christ showed love to His church on earth: therefore
be it

Resolved. That the members and pastors of the Synod be
encouraged to keep the lines of communication open between
one another with the peace of forgiveness which binds us
together: and be it further

Resolved. That the pastors of the congregations of the Synod
be encouraged to express the unity of the Spirit which is ours to
share as they preach the Gospel in conformity with a pure
understanding thereof and administer the sacraments according
to the divine Word of our Lord: and be it further