Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 123
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 123

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

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 123

WHEREAS, The initially moderate financial costs involved in
LCUSA have skyrocketed to more than 3/4 million dollars per
year since the decision to become involved was reached in
Detroit in 1965; and

WHEREAS, The Synod finds itself increasingly distressed
financially to the point of having to curtail its missionary program
by slashing budgets essential to the primary function and
purpose of the Synod (Art. of Incorp. II, e); and

WHEREAS, The Board of Directors of the LCMS was com-
pelled to slash the 1975 budget to ‘‘about $2,000,000 less than was
expended in 1974” (cf. Board of Directors, Jan. 31, 1975, Budget
Reduction Report); and

WHEREAS, This budget still allocates $493,000 for LCUSA; and

WHEREAS, LCUSA has produced and published Who Can
This Be? and The Ordination of Women. both of which position
themselves against clear teaching of Scripture in matters
involving the deity of Christ and the ordination of women clergy,
and we have been made unwilling partners in such promotion
through LCUSA membership; therefore be it

Resolved. That The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod at
its Anaheim convention take the necessary steps to sever her
connection with the Lutheran Council in the U.S. A. without
delay.

Messiah Ev. Lutheran Church
Sterling, Ill.

Harold Nelson, Secretary
Eldor Mueller, Pastor

Identical or similar:

3-204B to 3-204D

St. John’s, Clinton, Iowa Eugene Rall
St. Paul, Rochelle, Ill. Theo. Weiss
St. Paul, Williamsburg, Iowa L. H. Aurich

3-205
To Terminate Membership in LCUSA

WHEREAS, Membership of The Lutheran Church -— Missouri
Synod in the Lutheran Council in the U.S.A. continues to
involve our Synod, its congregations, and their members in
unionistic practices, worship, and fellowship with other Lu-
theran bodies whose doctrines and practices in many respects
are at variance with those of our Synod (e. g., close Communion,
fellowship, ordination of women, lodge membership, etc.); and

WHEREAS, LCUSA has continued to involve itself in political
action, which is not the business of the church and is not repre-
sentative of all members which it presumes to represent; and

WHEREAS, LCUSA has plainly shown itself to be in sympathy
with and supportive of the ELIM and Seminex faction of the
Missouri Synod and that faction’s theological stance and is
therefore a strong influence in opposition to the historical
and well-known theological position of the LCMS; therefore be it

Resolved. That in the interest of oneness of spirit and unity of
purpose and in accord with admonitions of Scripture (Amos 3:3;
1 Cor. 1:10; Rom. 16:17; 1 Tim. 5:22; etc.) the LCMS hereby
declare its membership in LCUSA to be terminated; and be it
further

Resolved, That the necessary steps be taken to dissolve
financial and other legal obligations in a decent and orderly way
within 3 months of the closing of this convention.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
Fairmont, Minn.

Willis Hinz, Chairman
Charles Backstrom, Secretary

3-206A

To Withdraw from LCUSA or Make
Participation on Nonbudget Basis
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church in the U.S.A. was estab-

lished for the purpose of working together in areas where we
find agreements with other participating Lutherans and for the
purpose of entering into doctrinal discussions in order to pave
the way for pulpit and altar fellowship: and

WHEREAS, At our Detroit convention the presentation of the
purpose and goals of LCUSA were defined along with an
estimated cost to our church body of less than $100,000; and

WHEREAS, LCUSA has not given much evidence of an effort
to work together since it has made public pronouncements
which in effect bring disrespect on the heads of our church body
and our purposes; and

WHEREAS, This cost of LCUSA has skyrocketed to the point
that we are sharing in it as a Synod to the extent of above
$700,000; and

WHEREAS, There has been little evidence of doctrinal dis-
cussions; and

WHEREAS, Our people are giving funds for missions for the
purpose of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ prayerfully
and faithfully; and

WHEREAS, Use of these funds for something other than this
goal is improper diversion of funds; and

WHEREAS, LCUSA has entered into many activities in our
behalf without instruction from us: therefore be it

Resolved. That we withdraw our support from the Lutheran
Council in the U.S.A. and that we participate in doctrinal
discussions as the opportunity is offered to us; and be it further

Resolved. That should the convention feel that this is too
severe a financial blow for the fair handling of the business at
LCUSA, we allow participation as a nonbudget item such as
when congregations specifically designate funds for LCUSA
in the same manner as is done for the Lutheran Hour or any of
the other nonbudget activities of the church.

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
Brownstown, Ind.

John Stuckwisch, Chairman
Lynn Hinnefeld, Secretary
J. V. Moyer, Pastor

Identical or similar:

3-206B to 3-206E

St. Paul’s, Hartley, Iowa
Concordia, Hammond, Ind.
Trinity, Sturgis, Mich.

St. Peter’s, Cornelius, Oreg.

Francis Mennenga
Clifford Watts
Erwin Ruhlig

Alfred Enders

3-207

To Reconsider Involvement in LCUSA

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Council in the U.S.A. has pro-
duced materials of questionable doctrinal content; and

WHEREAS, Doctrinal discussions under the auspices of
LCUSA have not produced any noticeable consensus; and

"WHEREAS, LCUSA has pursued a course of lobbying the U.S.
Government for laws of social reform that tend toward socialism
and are not the opinion and desire of Lutherans in general; and

WHEREAS, LCUSA’s general programs do not seem to be of
noticeable benefit to our Synod or congregations; and

WHEREAS, The Synod’s involvement in LCUSA involves the
expenditure of large sums of the Synod’s money which are now
especially needed for the Synod’s mission and educational
programs; therefore be it

Resolved. That we memorialize the 1975 convention of the
Synod to reconsider the advisability of continued involvement
in LCUSA.

Trinity Lutheran Church
Taylorville, Ill.

Earl Schrodt, President
Tom Ladage, Secretary