Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 100
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 100

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

100 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

WHEREAS, Walther. as late as 1879. said to Iowa Lutheran
congregations:
According to our Constitution no synodical resolution has binding
force upon any congregation. Note well: no resolution! The things
we decide here in this convention must be reported back home by
the preachers and the lay delegates. They must say that the Synod
has decided a certain thing. But they dare not add that therefore the
local congregation must obey it. Rather the congregation is to recog-
nize that it is such a matter that they as a congregation are free to
ignore without any official reprisal (CTM. XLIV (November 1973].
378):
and

WHEREAS. When the Synod in convention in 1857 and 1881.
as cited in New Orleans Resolutions 2-12, 3-01, 3-09, and 5-03.
did indeed pass a series of theses, the Synod did so with the
understanding that in adopting the doctrinal theses it was
putting into practice what was clearly taught in the norms of the
Synod (Art. II) and that it was not with the theses clarifying Bibli-
cal doctrines that were “set forth somewhat indirectly or
incidently” in the Confessions (Statement. Art. VI, 1) nor was it
attempting to clarify the faith for the current life of the church
‘Milwaukee Resolution 2-21): and

WHEREAS. New Orleans Resolution 3-01 had not been pre-
sented to the Synod merely to determine whether all understood
the teaching and were in agreement with it. for the vote (566 to
455) clearly showed that a large minority (44 percent plus) did
not regard A Statement as a correct exposition of the Word of
God that was to be “binding upon all its members” (Resolution
2-12): therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod return to the clear intent of its
Constitution and refrain from passing resolutions that are
binding on the conscience of its members: and be it further

Resolved. That with C. F. W. Walther the 1975 convention of
The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod declare its position to be
one in which the Synod stands at the side of its members “as
their counselor” in order that “we have a community of the
members of Christ who are bound together through an evan-
gelical. gentle. loving hand" (CTM [November 1973], 375), and
that we continue to operate in that spirit.

Eastern Pastoral Conference
English District
Amandus J. Derr. Secretary

Identical or similar:
3-120B and 3-120C

Board of Directors. Atlantic District
Redeemer. Corning, N. Y.

R. Ressmeyer
F. R. Jordan

3-121

To Deal with Heresy

WHEREAS. The Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament
clearly teach that the Triune God is almighty, that “with God
nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37): and

WHEREAS, The members of the holy Christian and apostolic
church firmly believe and confess that God is almighty ‘Apostles’
Creed, Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed): and

WHEREAS, David. the inspired prophet of God, writes: “One
generation shall declare the mighty acts of God to another...
His saints shall talk of His power and make known to the sons
of men His mighty acts” (Ps. 145): and

WHEREAS, In our generation some members of The Lutheran
Church~—Missouri Synod deny such mighty acts of God as the
creation of man, recorded in Gen. 1 and 2: the overflowing of
the world by a flood at the time of Noah, reported in Gen. 6 to 8:
the miraculous preservation of Jonah in the belly of the sea
monster, as it is written in the Book of Jonah: and

WHEREAS, The Lord Jesus Christ, Very God of Very God, by
whom all things were made (John 1:1-3: Col. 1:16), verified the
aforementioned mighty acts of God (Matt. 19:4-5: Mark 10:6:
Matt. 24:37-39: Luke 17:26-27: Matt. 12:39-41: Luke 11:29-32;
Matt. 16:4): and

WHEREAS, Christ assured His disciples that the Holy Spirit

would teach them all things and bring all things to their remem-
brance, whatsoever He said to them (John 14:25-26): and

WHEREAS, The followers of Christ believe and confess that
the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, spoke by the prophets and
apostles (2 Peter 1:21: 2 Sam. 23:2: Luke 1:70: Acts 1:16: 1 Cor.
2:13): therefore be it

Resolved. That the members of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod who deny the mighty acts of God recorded in
the Holy Scriptures, and who believe and teach that these
events are myths or fables, be found guilty of denying the
omnipotence of God, attributing error or falsehood to Christ,
questioning the credibility of the Holy Spirit, and casting doubt
on the trustworthiness of the Holy Scriptures: and be it further

Resolved. That such members be declared guilty of heresy,
that they be reproved, rebuked, and admonished with ail
patience and doctrine (2 Tim. 4:1-4), and, should they refuse to
repent, be expelled from the Synod (Titus 3:10: Constitution,
Art. XIII: Bylaws 5.11, 5.13, and 5.15).

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
Pacifica, Calif.

Bernard P. Calais, President
Lyle Bjerkhoel, Secretary
John H. Rische, Pastor

THEOLOGICAL CONCERNS

3-125A

To Reaffirm Our Belief that the Bible
Is the Inspired and Historically and
Factually Inerrant Word of God in All
Its Parts

Resolved. That the Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod
commend all church leaders, professors. and pastors who treat
the Bible as the inspired and historically and factually inerrant
Word of God in all its parts: and be it further

Resolved. That congregations within the Missouri Synod be
encouraged to call and ordain only those pastors and students
who declare their adherance to the historical and factual in-
errancy of Scripture in all its parts as well as uphold and main-
tain Christian doctrine which has been traditionally taught by
the Lutheran Church in all its Confessions, and who demonstrate
this doctrine in a Christian life: and be it finally

Resolved. That church officials, professors, and congregations
be encouraged to seek unity and reconciliation on the basis
of the Bible as the divinely inspired and historically and factually
inerrant Word of God in all its parts.

Trinity Lutheran Church
Harvel, IIl.

Charles Ray Manke, President
Olen Wernsing, Secretary
David J. Luhrs. Pastor

Identical or similar:

3-125B and 3-125C

Trinity. Sturgis. Mich.
Grace, Moses Lake. Wash.

Erwin Ruhlig
Vincent Larson. Jr.

3-126

To Publish Theses and Antitheses on
the Term “The Word of God”

WHEREAS. There is confusion, uncertainty, frustration within
the Synod, due to conflicting, compromising, and unclear in-
formation in both practical and doctrinal matters: and

WHEREAS, Statements of truth and statements of error are
allowed to stand side by side with no refutation of the error.
because the error is not clearly enunciated, nor the truth