Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 111
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 111

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

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 111

WHEREAS. Martin Luther wrote: ‘“Zwingli has recently de-
clared that Numa Pompilius, Hector, Scipio, and Hercules will
enjoy the eternal bliss in Paradise with Peter and Paul and the
other saints. He thereby publicly declares that faith and Christ
mean nothing. For if Scipio and Numa Pompilius, who were
idolators, have been saved, what need was there for Christ to
suffer and die? Or why should it be necessary that the Christian
should be baptized or that Christ be preached and men directed
to Him? ... The Enthusiasts know nothing of the Christian faith
and teach and believe exactly what has been taught in popedom,
viz.: If a man does what lies in his power, he will thereby be
saved. ... Tell me, you who are a Christian, what need is there
of Baptism, the Sacrament, Christ, the Gospel, the Prophets,
and the Holy Scripture if such wicked heathen, Socrates,
Aristides .. . and Scipio, the Epicurean, are holy and blessed,
are with the Patriarchs, the Prophets, and Apostles in heaven,
though they knew nothing of God, Scripture, Gospel, Christ,
Baptism, Sacrament, or of the Christian faith?” (Saemmtliche
Schriften. St. Louis: CPH, 1883, II, 1828: XX, 1767): theretore
be it

Resolved. That the study course ‘From Out of the Desert”
be removed from the market until such time as it has been
brought into agreement with sound Biblical doctrine: and be it
further

Resolved. That once the study course has been revised it
then be submitted to the proper Board or Committee of the
Synod for final approval before being released to the public.

St. Paul Lutheran Church
Williamsburg, Iowa

Milford G. Heitman, Chairman
Allan Doehrmann, Secretary

Identical or similar:

3-161B and 3-161C

Trinity, New Haven, Mo.
Messiah, Detroit, Mich.

Orville Meyer
C. Hoffmeyer

3-162

To Insist That ‘‘Almah” in Is. 7:14
Means Virgin

WHEREAS. Faithful to Our Calling. Faithful to Our Lord by
the former faculty majority of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
(most of these professors are now at Seminex), says that Isaiah
“spoke of a young woman of his day giving birth to a child
named Immanuel and of a future royal figure with throne names
like ‘Mighty God’ and ‘Prince of Peace’ "; and

WHEREAS. The Seminex faculty has repeatedly indicated it
is still backing the theological position of Faithful toOur Calling.
Faithful to Our Lord even though the 1973 convention of the
LCMS found this document to be contrary to Holy Scripture:
and

WHEREAS. God the Holy Spirit in the New Testament (Matt.
1:23) declares that the Hebrew almah in Is. 7:14 must be trans-
lated ‘‘virgin” and not “young woman”: and

WHEREAS. Martin Luther. Walter Maier Sr., George Stoeck-
hardt, William Beck, Robert Dick Wilson, John E. Steinmueller,
and all orthodox Lutheran scholars have always insisted that
almah must be translated “virgin” (see A Christian Handbook,
pp. 537—554, available from Christian News. Box 168. New
Haven, Mo.); and

WHEREAS, Isaiah could not have been referring to the birth
of any child at his time since there has been only one virgin
birth: therefore be it

Resolved. That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod insist
that all of its pastors and professors teach that almah should
be translated virgin in Is. 7:14 and that almah in Is. 7:14 refers
to the virgin mother of Jesus Christ and not to any woman living
at the time of Isaiah.

Trinity Lutheran Church
New Haven, Mo.
Orville Meyer, Secretary

3-163A

To Retain Synodical Position on
Abortion

WHEREAS. Life is a gift of God and human beings are created
for eternal life: and

WHEREAS. Resolution 2-39 passed at the Milwaukee conven-
tion stated “that the Synod regard willful abortion as contrary
to the will of God”: and

WHEREAS. The CTCR has prepared the document “Abortion:
Theological. Legal, and Medical Aspects’: and

WHEREAS. The CTCR intends to continue to review the issue
of abortion and produce additional materials on the subject,
giving attention to provisions for pastoral guidance. taking into
account the continually changing situations in society and law,
and including women and representatives of the Commission
on Social Concerns in the production of these materials: there-
fore be it

Resolved. That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
reaffirm its position regarding willful abortion (‘abortion on
demand) as contrary to the will of God: and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod receive the document “Abortion:
Theological. Legal, and Medical Aspects’ and commend it to
the membership of the Synod for reference and guidance: and
be it finally

Resolved. That the Synod make its position with respect to
abortion known publicly and that this resolution be given to
proper federal officials for their consideration.

Mount Hope Lutheran Church
Casper. Wyo.
Richard Means, President
Dennis Burwell. Secretary
J.B. Brown, Pastor

Identical or similar:

3-163B and 3-163C

Immanuel, Haxtun, Colo.
Messiah, Detriot, Mich.

3-164

Albert Quess
Car! Hoffmeyer

To Oppose Churches and Pastors
Backing Abortion

WHEREAS. Abortion (except where the life of the mother is
involved) is contrary to the Fifth Commandment (see section
on Abortion in A Christian Handbook. pp. 225—253, available
from Christian News. Box 168. New Haven. Mo.): and

WHEREAS. Both The American Lutheran Church and the
Lutheran Church in America have adopted statements support-
ing sinful abortion.

The American Lutheran Church at its 1974 convention
adopted a statement that says in part:

The American Lutheran Church accepts the possibility that an

induced abortion may be a necessary option in individual human

situations. Each person needs to be free to make this choice in light
of each individual situation. .. . It allows the judgment that. all perti-
nent factors responsibly considered. the developing life may need
to be terminated in order to defend the health and wholeness of
persons already present and already participating in the relationships
and responsibilities of life. (Entire statement published in Oct. 28, 1974
Christian News. p. 13); and

WHEREAS. Some pastors and professors in The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod are supporting abortion upon demand:
therefore be it

Resolved. That the LCMS ask all LCMS pastors and profes-
sors who are supporting abortion upon demand to withdraw
from the LCMS: and be it further

Resolved. That the LCMS show that it is serious when it
opposes sinful abortion by refusing to remain in altar and pulpit
fellowship with any church body which allows its pastors to

romote abortion upon demand. _
P P a Trinity Lutheran Church

New Haven. Mo.
Orville Meyer. Secretary