LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 104

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104 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

so orthodox Lutheranism today is in danger of being subverted
by various new forms of false doctrine; and

WHEREAS, The above-mentioned controversies were re-
solved and harmony restored to the church by the adoption of
first the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds and later by the Formula
of Concord in 1577; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church is now dependent on con-
fessional formulations of previous generations which do not
correspond fully to contemporary errors: and

WHEREAS, A comprehensive document of confessional rank
is now needed to apply the truth of the Scriptures to the errors
of our day in order to bring an end to the scandalous divisions
among us and to provide an international basis and rallying point
for fellowship among true Lutherans everywhere; and

WHEREAS, The first steps toward such a confessional docu-
ment have already been taken by godly, orthodox theologians
wrestling with the issues of our day in such documents as A
Brief Statement of 1932, A Statement of Scriptural and Confes-
sional Principles (adopted in 1973), various CTCR study docu-
ments, and other studies by many theologians in many areas of
the world in recent years; therefore be it

Resolved. That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod show
its commitment to end the controversy that threatens to tear it
apart by taking appropriate steps to join with confessional
Lutherans at home and abroad to produce a ‘‘20th-century
Formula of Concord”’ that will deal precisely, in thesis and an-
tithesis, with the errors of our time and will establish the truth
in accordance with the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Con-
fessions; and be it further

Resolved. That the President of the Synod in consultation
with the Vice-Presidents appoint a committee of theologians
from our midst to begin work on such a confessional document,
inviting other orthodox theologians at home and abroad to join
the project on the basis of their unqualified subscription to the
Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions (‘‘according to the plain,
clear, and pure meaning of [their] words”), and A Statement of
Scriptural and Confessional Principles as a Biblical application
of the Scriptures and Confessions to many of the doctrinal
problems of our day; and be it further

Resolved. That as a way of thanking God on the 400th anni-
versary of the signing of the Formula of Concord at least a
rough draft and progress report be presented to the 1977 con-
vention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and be it
finally

Resolved. That this committee of theologians, after affixing
their signatures to their work, submit the document to theolo-
gians of the world for their signatures (by 1980, if feasible, as
an appropriate way of celebrating the 400th anniversary of the
Book of Concord) and then make it available for adoption by
our Synod and whichever other church bodies and groups or
individuals would wish to join us in subscribing to its doctrinal
content.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Rock Falls, Il.

John Harden, Secretary

Curtis A. Peterson, Pastor

Identical or similar:

3-134B to 3-134F

Trinity, New Haven, Mo. Orville Meyer

Emmanuel, Kingfisher, Okla. V.H. Mickow
Trinity, Easthampton, Mass. Louis Elgert
St. Peter’s, Brownstown, Ind. J. V. Moyer

St. Paul’s, Harvard, IIl. David Behling

3-135

To Call Evangelical Council to Establish
“Formula of Concord IT’

WHEREAS. The kingdom of God and of Christ is the kingdom
of the Word of God, that is, the kingdom wherein God rules
within the heart of man alone by His Word as revealed alone in
the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures of the Old and New
Testaments; and

WHEREAS, It is the unyielding desire of every true believer
on earth to desist from any defamation of the name of our holy
God, Father, Son, and Spirit, by holding fast to, and teaching,
the Word of God in its truth and purity, and by the power of the
Spirit living according to it; and

WHEREAS, It is equally the unyielding desire of every true
believer (the church) on earth to “speak the same thing” (1 Cor.
1:10) because the preaching and teaching of God’s pure Word is
her central activity (‘The true adornment of the churches is
godly, useful, and clear doctrine” (Triglot. p. 401); and

WHEREAS, More than ever before in the history of the past
20 centuries, since our dear Lord’s ascension into heaven, have
“doctrines of devils” (1 Tim. 4:1) been given free reign on earth
because the churches (and synods) everywhere have “given
heed to seducing spirits”; and

WHEREAS, It is still a ‘“‘time of grace” in which by true con-
trition and faith God will grant true believers on earth ‘with
one voice” and ‘unity of Spirit” to teach and preach His Word.
all of His Word. and only His Word for their salvation and for
the salvation of those that hear them (1 Tim. 4:16): therefore be it

Resolved. That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
gratefully, penitently, confidently, and determinately acknowl-
edge the need for a 20th-century “Formula of Concord II” so
that true answers may be given, on the basis of clear testimony
from Scripture, for the sake of the sanctity and peace of the
church, to such false doctrines and heresies and movements
which destroy the very foundation of the church, which is the
Spirit-breathed, written Word of “the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone’ (Eph. 2:20:
2 Tim. 3:16); and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod, through the office of the President
of the Synod, take immediate steps, by means of all available
20th-century communications media (especially the Lutheran
Witness), to invite all orthodox, evangelical Lutherans to assist
in convening an international council so that a united confes-
sion of faith through pure doctrine may be given to the world
in a ‘Formula of Concord II” by the year 1980—God willing.
We ask this question: What more intense God-pleasing “evange-
lism program” could anyone participate in than a formula for
the peace of the church?

Grace Lutheran Church
Lancaster, Calif.

George Hartwig, Secretary
Luther P. J. Steiner, Pastor

3-136A
To Study Doctrine of Divine Call

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church-— Missouri Synod has from
its inception regarded with special seriousness the Biblical
doctrine of the divine call; and

WHEREAS, In recent years it has become increasingly evident
that there is growing confusion concerning the doctrine of the
divine call and its application in both the preaching and the
teaching ministries of the church; and

WHEREAS, There is within the synodical structure a variety
of procedures followed when applying this Biblical teaching
to various situations in the church, such as calling pastors and
teachers to serve congregations; filling synodical offices; filling
positions at educational institutions—seminaries, colleges, high
schools; and

WHEREAS, Confusion over this matter can soon lead to mini-
mizing the importance of the divine call and to distorting the
Biblical teaching concerning the office of the ministry; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations prepare a study document on the subject of the doc-
trine of the divine call; and be it further

Resolved, That this document be published and distributed
throughout the Synod.
St. Thomas Lutheran Church
Rocky River, Ohio
Edgar H. Krause, President
James P. Walker, Secretary
Phillip B. Giessler, Pastor