Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 130
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 130

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

130 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

WHEREAS. It is critically important for the defense of the
inerrant Word of God and the propagation of the Gospel of
Christ for and through us that we “be of the same mind in the
Lord” (Phil. 4:2): and

WHEREAS, Research and surveys by non-Lutherans as well
as Lutherans have repeatedly and consistently demonstrated
much weaker Biblical convictions and practices among LCA
pastors than among those of the LCMS te. g.: “What Do Pastors
Believe?" Milwaukee Journal. Feb., March. April 1966; ‘“Di-
vided They Merge.” Christianity Today. Oct. 13, 1967: “Ecu-
menism's Roots,” Lutheran Layman. Sept. 1967: ‘Protest
Paradox.” Jeffrey K. Hadden, 1967: ‘Will Ethics Be the Death
of Christianity?’ Glock and Stark Research, 1967: “Iowa Lu-
theran Ecumenism,” Wm. P. Thalacker, ALC pastor, 1967:
“The Lutheran Ethic.” Lawrence Kersten, 1969): and

WHEREAS. A program of unified campus ministries has
already committed the LCMS to entangling spiritual alliances
at variance with the directive of 1 Cor. 1:10 “that ye all speak
the same thing and that there be no divisions among you”: and

WHEREAS. The confessional anemia of Marburg Revisited,
so strongly implemented and supported by the LCA, clearly
indicates its determination to press for ecumenical victories
echoing the weakness of Judg. 17:6: “Every man did that which
was right in his own eyes": and

WHEREAS, The joint promotion of youth work on a pan-
Lutheran basis further demonstrates that a great Lutheran
doctrinal gulf separates the LCA from those in the LCMS who
still hold that ‘‘all matters of doctrine and of conscience shall be
decided only by the Word of God" (Art. VIII c)., as demon-
strated in Bridge. Vol. 5, Nos. 2 and 3 (Feb. and Mar. 1971): and

WHEREAS, In the foreign mission field the tail has for some
time now been wagging the dog with the practice of unionistic
fellowship. cooperative training sessions, and joint presemi-
nary and seminary instruction, in direct violation of the Synod’s
constitutional demand for “renunciation of unionism and
syncretism of every description’ (Art. VI 2) and the directive
of Phil. 2:2 that we be “‘likeminded . . . being of one accord”:
therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS in convention assembled in Ana-
heim firmly reject any and all overtures calling for closer fellow-
ship ties with the LCA: and be it further

Resolved, That the LCMS hear and heed the clarion call of
God to be reconciled to His Word and first enter into further
doctrinal discussions with the LCA after its own house is in
order and the walls of Zion have been strengthened.

Messiah Ev. Lutheran Church
Sterling, II.

Harold Nelson, Secretary
Eldor Mueller, Pastor

CANADA
3-235

To Remove Impediments to
One Lutheran Church in Canada

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Council in Canada has proposed
1980 as the merger date for the three major Lutheran synods in
Canada; and

WHEREAS. There are some legal technicalities concerning the
synodical Constitution of the LCMS before such a merger can
take place. such as declaring fellowship with the Lutheran
Church in America in Canada and other matters we are not
aware of: therefore be it

Resolved. That we support the work of the Lutheran Council
in Canada in achieving its goal: and be it further

Resolved. That we begin to remove any synodical technicali-
ties that might hinder or prevent such a merger.

Grace Lutheran Church
Brandon, Man.
Hazel E. Phipps, Secretary

3-236A

To Permit Lutheran Church— Canada
to Consummate Mergers in Canada

WHEREAS, Lutheran Church—Canada has been authorized
by the Synod to negotiate mergers with the Lutheran bodies in
Canada: and

WHEREAS, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, in
convention in 1972, issued an invitation to The Lutheran Church
— Missouri Synod in Canada and to the Lutheran Church in
America—Canada Section to enter into official negotiations for
merger: and

WHEREAS. The Bylaws of the Synod require that the Synod
authorize consummation of merger negotiations (1.21: 16.03):
therefore be it

Resolved. That Lutheran Church—Canada be authorized to
enter into merger with other Lutheran bodies in Canada upon
the approval of the three geographical Districts of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod in Canada: and be it further

Resolved. That the Bylaws be changed accordingly.

Board of Directors,
Alberta and British Columbia Dist.
Norman W. Eifert, Secretary

Identical or similar:

3-236B and 3-236C

Riverbend, Edmonton, Alta.
Bethlehem, Vancouver, B.C.

P. H. Schmidt
(vacant)

3-237

To Make Constitutional Changes to
Allow for Possible Declaration of
Fellowship Between the Synod and
Part of Another Lutheran Body

WHEREAS. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has
repeatedly urged its Canadian Districts (Lutheran Church—
Canada) to pursue doctrinal unity with the Lutheran Church
in America —Canada Section (3-17, p. 111, Denver Proceedings:
3-9, p. 132, Milwaukee Proceedings ): and

WHEREAS, The Constitution of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod does not provide for declaration of altar and
pulpit fellowship with part of another Lutheran church body
when doctrinal unity has been established; therefore be it

Resolved. That the Constitution of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod be amended to provide for the declaration of
pulpit and altar fellowship with a geographical portion of an-
other Lutheran church body when by God’s grace and guidance
doctrinal unity sufficient for fellowship has been achieved.

Our Saviour Lutheran Church
Niagara Falls, Ont.

Lyle Spiece, Chairman

Car! Allemang, Secretary

3-238
To Move Toward Establishing
Sister Synod in Canada

WHEREAS, The Lutheran churches of Australia, Denmark,
Central America and Panama, Poland in Exile, France, Ger-
many, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Lebanon,
Mexico, New Guinea, Nigeria, the Philippines, Sri Lanka,
Taiwan, and Venezuela have demonstrated the desirability of
the principle of autonomy through sister-synod functioning: and

WHEREAS, There is a growing concern regarding nationalism:
and

WHEREAS, Dr. J. A. O. Preus, the synodical President, has