Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 95
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 95

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

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 95

respect to the individual congregation’s right of self-government
it is but an advisory body. Accordingly, no resolution of the
Synod imposing anything upon the individual congregation is
of binding force if it is not in accordance with the Word of God
or if it appears to be inexpedient as far as the condition of a con-
gregation is concerned”; and

WHEREAS. It may be deemed necessary for the Synod from
time to time to state its doctrinal position in regard to current
theological issues; therefore we the Eastern District

1) encourage the Synod to delineate clearly the current doc-
trinal issues disturbing the church and to prepare statements
regarding these theological problems for study by the congrega-
tions of the Synod: and

2) recommend that when such statements are adopted ac-
cording to constitutionally determined procedures, they be
considered not binding but rather be considered the witness of
the Synod to the world at that time.

Eastern District.
Richard L. J. Hoemann., Secretary

3-108

To Exercise Care in Passing Binding
Resolutions
WHEREAS. The Synod's Constitution (Art. VII) states:

Article VII Relation of the Synod to its Members

In its relation to its members the Synod is not an
ecclesiastical government exercising legislative or
coercive powers, and with respect to the individual
congregation's right of self-government it is but an
advisory body. Accordingly, no resolution of the Synod
imposing anything upon the individual congregation
is of binding force if it is not in accordance with the
Word of God or if it appears to be inexpedient as far
as the condition of a congregation is concerned: and

WHEREAS. This is amplified by Bylaw 1.09 b (cf. all of 1.09)
which states:

b. The Synod expects every congregation to respect
its resolutions and to consider them of binding force if
they are in accordance with the Word of God and if
they appear expedient as far as the condition of the
congregation is concerned. The Synod, being an advi-
sory body. recognizes the right of the congregation to
be the judge of the expediency of the resolution as
applied to its local condition. However, in exercising
such judgment, a congregation must not act arbitrarily
but in accordance with the principles of Christian
love and charity”: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod reaffirm the clear intent of its
Constitution and exercise great care in passing resolutions that
are declared binding on its members.

Kansas District
Andrew Sabo, Secretary

3-109

To Reconsider Status and
Use of “A Statement”

WHEREAS. The adoption of A Statement at New Orleans by
a vote of 562-455 has been followed by great controversy as to
its content, constitutionality, procedure of adoption, and imple-
mentation: and

WHEREAS, The Synod’s President had stated (March 1972):
“These guidelines are not to serve as a new standard of ortho-
doxy. but rather to assist the Board of Control (of Concordia
Seminary, St. Louis) in identifying areas which need further
attention”: and

WHEREAS, The convention action has now elevated A State-
ment beyond its intended use: and

WHEREAS. Before its adoption, opportunity was not given to
the church to evaluate and to react to it as a formal doctrinal

statement for the whole church and as a standard for discipline:
and

WHEREAS. The Synod has often stated that even unanimous
votes cannot decide correctness of doctrine for the whole
church: and

WHEREAS. The Formula of Concord (in the Book of Concord.
our only constitutional norm for doctrinal interpretation) was
itself submitted for criticism for a period of 4 years prior to its
adoption:

It was sent to a considerable number of electors. princes and estates

adhering to the Augsburg Confession with the request that they

and their chief theologians peruse it with particular earnestness and

Christian zeal. consider it in all its aspects. have their opinions and

criticisms reduced to writing. and communicate to us without reserve

their considered judgment concerning every part of it... . The

Formula was completed with the help of such memoranda (Preface

p. 7); therefore be it

Resolved. That we request the Synod at Anaheim to recon-
sider the status and use of A Statement together with methods
and procedures required prior to convention action on formal
doctrinal statements.

Bethel Lutheran Church
Edmonton, Alta.

E. G. Ulmer. President
Elenora Ulmer. Secretary

3-110

To Clarify Status of Doctrinal
Resolutions

WHEREAS, The Synod in convention has adopted resolutions
which have served as a foundation for permitting doctrinal
statements of ambiguous origin and development to become
binding upon its members (Milwaukee Resolutions 2-21 and 5-24
and New Orleans 2-12 and 3-01): and

WHEREAS. These resolutions call upon the Formula of Con-
cord (FC, SD, Rule and Norm 10, Tappert: p. 506) to support the
binding nature of these doctrinal statements: and

WHEREAS. FC, SD, Rule and Norm 10 merely states that
“good, useful. and pure books” may be “accepted and used as
helpful expositions and explanations’’ but says nothing about
making extraconfessional writings or statements binding: and

WHEREAS. Article II of the synodical Constitution binds every
member of the Synod to “the Scriptures of the Old and New
Testament as the written Word of God and the only rule and
norm of faith and practice” and to “all the Symbolical Books
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as a true and unadulterated
statement and exposition of the Word of God”: and

WHEREAS. Article VIII. C. of the synodical Constitution also
states: “All matters of doctrine and of conscience shall be
decided only by the Word of God. All other matters shall be
decided by majority vote”: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Southern District of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod declare that the Synod has exceeded
its own confessional and constitutional bases in adopting these
resolutions; and be it further

Resolved. That the Southern District call upon the Synod to
return to the clear intent of its Confessions and Constitution and
refrain from passing resolutions which bind its members beyond
that binding which such members willingly and responsibly
impose upon themselves under the authority of the Word of
God (Constitution: Article VIII, C).

Southern District
John Ellermann, President

3-111

To Urge Synod to Make New Beginning
Concerning Adoption of Doctrinal
Resolutions

WHEREAS. The bonds of peace and unity within our congre-
gation are being tragically disturbed by the current strife in
our Synod: and