Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 80
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 80

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

80 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

and all the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church as a true and unadulterated statement of the Word of
God: and

WHEREAS. Article III of the Constitution of the Synod lists
objects of the Synod:
1. 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
8. The protection of pastors, teachers. and congregations in the
performance of their duties and the maintenance of their rights: and
WHEREAS, A Statement has been accepted by the Synod as
a ‘‘more formal comprehensive statement of belief” in the sense
of Resolution 5:24 (Milwaukee, 1971); and

WHEREAS, A Statement has been declared “‘in all its parts
to be Scriptural and in accord with the Lutheran Confessions”
(Resolution 3-01, New Orleans, 1973): and

WHEREAS. Many are not prepared to recognize the claims
for A Statement by Resolution 3-01, and as interpreted by the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations’ “Guiding
Principles” for its use: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Southeastern District petition the 1975
convention of the Synod to declare Resolution 3-01 (New
Orleans) null and void: and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod declare that A Statement not be
used as a standard for judging the orthodoxy of any member
of the Synod.

Southeastern District
Ralph Wiechmann. Secretary

Identical or similar:

3-57B to 3-57F

Eastern District

Our Redeemer, Scotia, N. Y.
Atlantic District

Board of Directors, New Jersey Dist.
Riverbend, Edmonton, Alta.

Herman Frincke
Otto Spurgat

R. Ressmeyer
Walter Zeile

P. H. Schmidt

3-58A
To Return to Article II

WHEREAS. Resolution 3-01 of the New Orleans convention
of the LCMS declared ‘“‘A Statement of Scriptural and Confes-
sional Principles. in all its parts, to be Scriptural and in accord
with the Lutheran Confessions, and therefore a formulation
which derives its authority from the Word of God’; and

WHEREAS. A Statement in Section III, ‘The Mission of the
Church,” distinguishes “the primary mission . .. preaching the
Gospel and administering the sacraments” from ‘‘other neces-
sary activities ... such as ministering to men’s physical needs,”
contrary to our Lord’s entire ministry, which unifies both as-
pects of the mission, as do His last words to His disciples: ‘Love
one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12), and as is also
taught in Ephesians 2:10; and

WHEREAS. A Statement gives a description of the Scriptures
that is incompatible with Scripture itself, especially in regard
to the inspiration of Scripture and the relation of the Gospel to
the Scriptures, as is manifest in IV C, when it rejects using the
Gospel as a norm for deciding the permissibility of changes in
church practice and tradition, which is in clear contradiction
to the entire Book of Galatians, where St. Paul decides against
circumcision and other questions of church practice entirely on
the logic of the Gospel and repudiates attempts to apply only the
explicit statements of the Old Testament law regarding the prac-
tices; therefore be it

Resolved. That Resolution 3-01 of the New Orleans conven-
tion be rescinded and that we return to Article II of the Con-
stitution as an adequate doctrinal standard.

Bethel Lutheran Church
University City, Mo.

James C. Flowers, President
Virginia E. Burmeister, Secretary

Identical or similar:

3-58B to 3-58F

Grace, Boulder, Colo.

Good Shepherd, Marshall, Minn.
Bethlehem, Minnetonka, Minn.
Pastoral Conference, Oklahoma District
Zion, Westwood. N. J.

N. E. Hattendorf
R. C. Leckband
Arden Malotky
F. Schumacher

N. Brinkmann

3-59A

To Declare “A Statement” Inadequate

WHEREAS, The confusion and controversy over the status,
contents, and use of A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional
Principles have reached epidemic proportions in The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod: and

WHEREAS. The controversy threatens to divide our fellowship
and destroy the unity of our Christian confession: and

WHEREAS. Dissension and division are spread further when
punitive or intimidating action is taken against brothers who
have made known their dissent to A Statement or to its use as a
standard of orthodox Lutheranism or as an adequate expres-
sion of our Synod’s evangelical witness: and

WHEREAS, The Synod’s Commission on Constitutional Mat-
ters has ruled that (1) the status of A Statement is in need of
definition; (2) A Statement is not binding on conscience as is the
Word of God: (3) it is not an alteration of Article II of the Synod's
Constitution, which alone defines our doctrinal standard and
confessional commitment: and (4) assent to A Statement is not
a requirement for membership in the Synod; therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod declares its lament over the con-
troversy and division caused by A Statement: and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod declare its judgment that A State-
ment is inadequate as an expression of or as a witness to our
common faith and the Gospel we joyously proclaim: and be it
further

Resolved. That. in the light of the confusion and dissent
it has caused among brothers, the Synod rescind the judgment
that A Statement is ‘in all its parts... Scriptural and in accord
with the Lutheran Confessions”; and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod prohibit any intimidating ad-
ministrative or disciplinary use of A Statement or action based
on the alleged confessional and binding status of A Statement;
and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod, through its appropriate officers
and ministries, enjoin and reject any use of A Statement to
determine a person's public teaching and confession or as a
test for or standard of orthodoxy; and be it finally

Resolved. That the Synod enjoin the use of any and all
theological judgments expressed in synodical documents as
standards for judging orthodoxy or faith, wherever and when-
ever such judgments go beyond the standard laid down in Arti-
cle II of the Synod’s Constitution.

English District
Robert L. Landeck, Secretary

Identical or similar:

3-59B

Salem, Affton, Mo. Arno Krentz

3-60

To Rescind Res. 3-01 or Revise
‘A Statement”

WHEREAS, The synodical adoption of A Statement of Scrip-
tural and Confessional Principles (New Orleans convention
Resolution 3-01) has created greater unrest in the Synod be-
cause laity and pastors frequently differ as to the use of this
resolution: and

WHEREAS, The synodical President, both in synodical pub-
lications and other publications, has warned against the misuse
of this resolution: and