LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 84

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84 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

convention Resolution 3-01 and (2) instruct the Synod's Commis-
sion on Theology and Church Relations to include in future
reprints of A Statement such additional sentences as will appro-
priately reflect the suggestions expressed in the four recom-
mendations offered in the “Conclusion” to the Commission's
September 1974 Report on Dissent.

Trinity Lutheran Church
Sawyer. Mich.

Carl Gnodtke. Chairman
Warren Strefling, Secretary
A. W. Pankratz, Pastor

Identical! or similar:

3-67B to 3-67Q

Trinity, Corona, S. Dak. Dennis Brech

Emmanuel, Kingfisher, Okla. V. H. Mickow
Trinity, Scarsdale, N. Y. Merlin Meyer
Trinity, Enid, Okla. Harry Soper
Zion, Big Springs, Nebr. F. K. Kwirant

John Rische
L. W. Faulstick
H. M. Sorensen
H. M. Sorensen

Our Savior’s, Pacifica, Calif.
Grace, Bakersfield, Calif.
First, Dinuba, Calif.

St. Paul’s, Selma, Calif.

Trinity, Paso Robles, Calif. L. L. Brack
Zion, San Luis Obispo, Calif. D. Poganski
Our Savior, Pinole, Calif. Conrad Coyner
Shepherd, Kernville, Calif. A. T. Lewis
Our Savior, San Jose, Calif. T. W. Polster

St. Luke, Santa Rosa, Calif.
Trinity, Indianapolis, Ind.

C. W. Keturakat
Walter Maas

3-68

To Deal with Faltering Ministers

WHEREAS. The Holy Spirit in Scripture speaks reprovingly
in Ezekiel 34 to ministers as shepherds who are not feeding the
flock; and

WHEREAS. In Acts 20 St. Paul speaks to the Ephesian pastors
to take heed to feed the flock of God; and

WHEREAS. The Kersten Report, in part subsidized by Synod
money, reveals the following alarming statistics pertinent to
our subject:

1. 74° of the Missouri Synod clergy accepted the statement, “The

Bible is God's Word and all it says is true.”

2. 84° of Missouri Synod clergy accepted the statement. “Only those

who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior can go to heaven."

3. 99° of Missouri Synod clergy accepted the statement. ‘A child is

already sinful at birth.”

4. Of the Missouri Synod clergy polled. 79% accepted the Bible

teaching. ‘Whosoever takes the sword shall perish by the sword.”

5. 8° of Missouri Synod clergy would accept women into ordination

of the holy ministry

6. 27° of Missouri Synod clergy do not accept the total inability of

man to participate in his salvation: and

WHEREAS. The Synod exists for mutual admonition and work-
ing together: and

WHEREAS. The Synod exists to protect the doctrine and life
of its constituent congregations: therefore be it

Resolved. That District Presidents and Circuit Counselors
take up their obligations for the maintenance of orthodoxy
among the clergy and the protection of congregations against
false teachers by sending questionnaires to all pastors of their
Districts similar to the questions asked in the Kersten Report
and that the statistics be gathered and published in the District
periodicals: and be it further

Resolred. That we repeat our acceptance of The Statement
adopted at our last convention in New Orleans, which deals
with most of the false doctrine uncovered in the six points above.

God's Word is our great heritage
And shail be ours forever:

To spread its light from age to age
Shall be our chief endeavor.
Through life it guides our way.

In death it is our stay.

Lord, grant, while worlds endure,

We keep its teachings pure
Throughout all generations. Amen.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Evanston, Il.

Eugene Koch. Chairman
James Harbke, Secretary

F. A. Hertwig, Pastor

3-69A
To Uphold Adoption of “A Statement”

WHEREAS. The Lutherans ever since Augsburg 1530 have set
forth statements defending their confessional position over
against unscriptural doctrines and anti-Scriptural practices
of their day (e. g., the Apology of 1531: the Formula of Concord
of 1580: etc.): and

WHEREAS, Our Synod ever since its organization has re-
peatedly done the same, adopting as it has Dr. C. F. W. Walther’s
10 theses on “Church and Ministry” and again his 13 theses
during the Predestinarian Controversy, adding, particularly in
the latter case, the caution that departure from the same would
mean being “expelled from the synodical fellowship” (cp. also
the Synod’s repeated declarations concerning a Brief Statement
and other doctrinal resolutions in more recent years): and

WHEREAS, Precedent accordingly reveals that the Lutheran
and the synodical understanding of Article II in Synod’s Con-
stitution is to the effect that this Article actually calls for theses
and antitheses with reference to the crucial doctrinal con-
troversy and other pressing problems troubling the Synod today
(ep. Resolution 2-12 adopted in 1973); and

WHEREAS. The Synod. already in its 1973 convention at New
Orleans, adopted A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional
Principles. many congregations and pastors, synodical boards
and committees (e. g., the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations: the Springfield seminary’s Board of Control: the
Board for Higher Education) having discovered in it nothing
contrary to the Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions but
rather a formulation that derives its authority from the same and
so an excellent voice for the Synod’s time-tried stand still
eminently relevant for current doctrinal issues: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod here and now go on record as
firmly resisting any effort to rescind its action in 1973 (Proceed-
ings. Res. 2-12 and 3-01) and/or its action at Milwaukee in 1971
(Proceedings. Res. 2-21 and 5-24) concerning the status to be
accorded such doctrinal statement in our midst: and be it further

Resolved. That such statements. more specifically also A
Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles. inasmuch
and insofar as they are in accord with the Holy Scriptures and
our precious Lutheran Confessions, are to be looked upon. be it
said once more, as binding on all members of the Synod on pain
of suspension and final expulsion: and be it finally

Resolved. That our esteemed President be sincerely thanked
anew for A Statement and that all members of the Synod be
importuned to pray for him and for all who compose the Synod
that we with one heart and one mind continue to strive to abide
by the unerring Word of God, the Lutheran Confessions, and
the synodically adopted formulations drawn from that Word and
called for by the content and the pattern of those Confessions.

Calvary Ev. Lutheran Church
Seattle, Wash.

Carroll E. Cooper. President
Karl J. Jaech, Secretary
John F. Falk, Pastor

Identical or similar:

3-69B to 3-69D

Immanuel, Albany, Oreg.
St. Andrew, Rockton, II].
Good Shepherd, Panama City, Fla.

Herbert Boehne
Lyle Baker
G. L. Waterman

3-70
To Reaffirm Adoption of “A Statement”’

WHEREAS. The Lutheran Church-— Missouri Synod in con-