Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 112
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 112

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

112 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

3-165

To Provide for Continuing Theological
Education of Professors and Lay Persons

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod has by
the grace of God been given the opportunity to reaffirm its stance
of steadfast adherence to Scripture and the Confessions; and

WHEREAS. Maximum benefits from this undeserved blessing
can be creatively derived only by a concerted effort of offering
to all professionally trained personnel (pastors and teachers) as
well as to all interested and perceptive laypersons the central
ingredients of that theological concord which was once the
hallmark of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod: therefore
be it

Resolved. That the faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis,
Mo., petition The Lutheran Church~ Missouri Synod to direct
the CTCR to serve as the coordinating agency in conjunction
with the faculties of Concordia Theological Seminary, Spring-
field, and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, to develop a unified
program of continuing education (a) for the professionally
trained church personnel of the Synod and (b) for all interested
laypersons; and be it further

Resolved. That for this program the CTCR be urged to make
use of properly qualified individuals not only from the theo-
logical faculties of the two seminaries but from the departments
of religion (theology) at the Synod’s other educational institu-
tions as well as from among the ranks of persons in the parish
and teaching ministries who have done disciplined academic
work in theology on the graduate level; and be it further

Resolved. That the CTCR be directed to use the regular
pastor and teacher conferences in implementing such a unified
program of continuing education for professionally trained
personnel: and be it further

Resolved. That special assemblies and conferences be ar-
ranged on a regional or District basis as occasions for concen-
trated theological training in the instance of laypersons inter-
ested in such matters: and be it finally

Resolved. That such layperson training conferences be
directed particularly to the need of developing competent lay
leadership for the specific tasks confronting the congregations
of the Synod.

Faculty

Concordia Seminary

St. Louis, Mo.

Ralph Bohlmann, Acting President

3-166

To Request CTCR to Initiate Study
in Various Areas of Concern

WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Rela-
tions (CTCR) has been created to produce study statements
on various issues; and

WHEREAS. A number of issues need updating, clarification,
and study: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod in convention request the CTCR
to make a study of the areas of infant baptism, millennialism,
and creationism with special reference to the existent authors
and books on the subject that take an opposing position to the
official stance of The Lutheran Church -— Missouri Synod.

St. James Lutheran Church
University City, Mo.

John Essen, President

Carl Meinecke, Secretary
Tom Baker, Pastor

3-167

To Publicize Synod’s Scriptural
Positions

WHEREAS. Great harm is being wrought on many people
because of anti-Scriptural practices: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod’s Scriptural position regarding
such issues as abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, etc., be
stated clearly and publicly.

Trinity Lutheran Church
Easthampton, Mass.

Charles F. Rockey Jr., President
Francis R. LaBelle, Secretary
Louis G. Elgert, Pastor

3-168

To Designate “Concordia Journal”
as Synod’s Official Theological Journal

WHEREAS, Dr. Walther’s experience with Der Lutheraner
soon made it obvious to him that a dynamic church body needed,
in addition, to have an official theological journal devoted to the
discussion of doctrinal matters in depth; and

WHEREAS. The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod profited
from Dr. Walther's insight to the extent that it lived at its theolog-
ical best during those many decades when it had both an official
magazine and an official theological journal; and

WHEREAS, The recent demise of the Concordia Theological
Monthly has created a serious vacuum in the matter of providing
a competent doctrinal norm for evaluating in depth some of the
many developments taking place within Lutheranism and
throughout Christendom: and

WHEREAS, The Concordia Journal. as presently edited and
published by the faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, is
specifically committed to the competence required to serve as
the professional supplement to the Lutheran Witness Reporter
in terms of doctrinal evaluation and guidance on behalf of The
Lutheran Church -— Missouri Synod; and

WHEREAS, The faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, as
part of its responsibility of serving as teachers of the church,
has by tradition served as the instrument for editing and pub-
lishing the Synod's official theological journal: therefore be it

Resolved. That we the faculty of Concordia Seminary,
St. Louis, petition The Lutheran Church-— Missouri Synod in
convention assembled to designate the Concordia Journal as
its official theological journal; and be it further

Resolved. That we petition the Synod to provide the neces-
sary financial and personne! resources to carry on this work at
the level and with the quality of the old Lehre und Wehre and
of the first issues of the Concordia Journal: and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod indi-
cate its conviction that all pastors, teachers, and congregational
lay leaders ought to subscribe to this journal as a means of
mutual edification and of returning to that doctrinal consensus
which in the past has given The Lutheran Church-— Missouri
Synod its distinctive character; and be it finally

Resolved. That the concern for such general subscription
and use of the Concordia Journal. as an instrument for doctrinal
cohesion, be made part of the responsibilities adhering to the
office of the Circuit Counselor and be so listed in the synodical
Handbook under the appropriate paragraphs.

Faculty
Concordia Seminary
St. Louis, Mo.

Ralph Bohlmann, Acting President
3-169

To Subsidize ‘‘Concordia Journal”

WHEREAS, A theological journal is important as an agent of
in-service training and for the continuing education of the
clergy of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, This need has been supplied in the past by Lehre
und Wehre and the Concordia Theological Monthly: and

WHEREAS, There is demonstrated need in the Synod today
for a theological journal of unswerving commitment to Scripture
and the Lutheran Confessions; and

WHEREAS, The Concordia Journal has been well received
and supplies that need; therefore be it