Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 124
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 124

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

124 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

3-208A
To Reaffirm Membership in LCUSA

WHEREAS, The participation of our church in LCUSA has
produced positive results in the Northwest District through
coordinated mission planning and development; and

WHEREAS, The matter of LCMS membership is presently
under study by virtue of a synodical resolution (3-18, 1971) and
such study is to be completed at an early date and its findings
reported prior to the 1975 convention; and

WHEREAS, LCUSA membership offers a forum for con-
tinuous theological discussion among its members which has
resulted in greater understanding and mutual growth among
the cooperating Lutheran bodies; therefore be it

Resolved. That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
reaffirm its membership in the Lutheran Council in the United
States of America.

Northwest District
Emil G. Jaech, President
D. C. Schroeder, Secretary

Identical or similar:

3-208B and 3-208C

Redeemer, Spokane, Wash.
Redeemer, Newton, N. J.

D. Belasic
B. E. Rudolf

3-209
To Give Full Support for LCUSA

WHEREAS, Our Synod has enjoyed meaningful dialog and
participation in the Lutheran Council in the U.S. A.: and

WHEREAS, Campus, armed forces, and missionary ministries
of our Synod are enhanced through continued participation in
LCUSA; and

WHEREAS, Our Synod has officially entered into fraternal
and financial commitment to the staff and agencies of LCUSA:
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod honor its commitment by means of
full support, membership, and full participation in all programs
of the Lutheran Council in the U.S. A.

English District
Robert L. Landeck, Secretary

ALC

3-211A
To Discontinue Fellowship with ALC

WHEREAS, It has become evident that The American Lu-
theran Church takes a different view of the inspiration and
inerrancy of the Holy Scriptures—‘truths” but not “words”
are inspired—and assumes a permissive attitude regarding the
interpretation of the written Word, sanctioning the historical-
critical method; and

WHEREAS, A permissive use of the Holy Scriptures can lead
to a perversion of its central truth, the holy Gospel (e. g., some
already claim it is not necessary to accept the doctrine of the
virgin birth of Christ; some even question His bodily resurrec-
tion); and

WHEREAS, In view of the above conditions our fellowship
with the ALC places us on an unequal and uncommon ground
in the very foundation on which all our doctrine must be built
and makes it impossible for us to be joined together “in one
mind and in one judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10); and

WHEREAS, It has become evident during the 6 years of our
fellowship with the ALC that our differences have not been and

cannot be resolved as long as there is this basic difference
in our understanding of the inerrancy and authority of the Holy
Scriptures; and

WHEREAS, This situation constantly tempts us to compromise
for the sake of agreement or binds us to useless debate and a
waste of our time and energies; and

WHEREAS, The ALC maintains fellowship with the LCA,
which is traditionally even more liberal in its view and inter-
pretation of the Holy Scriptures, and our fellowship with the
ALC has involved us in fellowship practices with the LCA, with
which we are not in fellowship; and

WHEREAS, Our fellowship with the ALC has sometimes
hindered our mission expansion rather than furthered the
growth of our church (e. g., we have abandoned several congre-
gations in our Iowa East District to the ALC and have marked
time or given up in the establishment of new missions because of
the objections of the ALC); and

WHEREAS, In view of the above conditions, it would best serve
the welfare of the kingdom of Christ and the preservation and
extension of the true Lutheran faith if our fellowship relation
with the ALC were ended; therefore be it

Resolved. That in good conscience and with a sincere desire
to be faithful to our Lord and to His saving Gospel and to extend
His kingdom as best we can, the Synod now discontinue its
fellowship with the ALC; and be it further

Resolved. That, while we continue to seek to have cordial
relations and dialog with Christians whose churches are not in
fellowship with us, especially with those who avow complete
acceptance of the truthfulness of Holy Scripture and of its
authority and proclaim the saving Gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ, we nevertheless refrain from establishing fellowship
with any and every church body with which we are not in full
doctrinal agreement or which teaches or tolerates a view of
Scripture which denies its complete truthfulness and its full
authority; and be it finally

Resolved, That we discontinue further fellowship negotia-
tions with The American Lutheran Church as well as with others
until we find ourselves in agreement in our view and inter-
pretation of the Scriptures, so that we shall be able to speak
to one another on common ground, on the basis of one sure and
unalterable authority and norm.

St. John’s Lutheran Church
State Center, Iowa

Donald Gerke, Chairman
Raymond D. Gerke, Secretary
E. L. Stuempfig, Pastor

Identical or similar:

3-211B to 3-211J

Trinity, Sturgis, Mich. Erwin Ruhlig
St. Paul’s, Fairmont, Minn. Vernon Harley
St. John’s, Clinton, Iowa Eugene Rall
Christ, Yuma, Ariz. Joseph Hu

Trinity, Austin, Tex.

Christ, Creighton, Nebr.

Mt. Hope, Cesper, Wyo.

Holy Cross, La Puente, Calif.
Gethsemane, Rochester, Mich.

Thos. Petersen
Walter Schindler
J.B. Brown

P. O. Rosnau

H. Christiansen

3-212
To Terminate Fellowship with ALC

WHEREAS, The declaration of pulpit and altar fellowship
between the LCMS and the ALC was not based on existing and
achieved unity of doctrine but by resolution which directed
the Synod to “seek a unified evangelical position and practice
[with the ALC] on the basis of our commitment to the Gospel”
(Denver convention Resolution 3-15, Proceedings, pp. 96—98);
and

WHEREAS, The ALC has widened the breach on doctrinal