Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 131
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 131

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

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 131

indicated (in his address to the Canadian Joint Commission on
Inter-Lutheran Relations) that he is in favor of Canadians
determining their own identities: and

WHEREAS, The voting delegate system of synodical conven-
tions allows for the rather unusual circumstance of Canadians
having approximately a 5% vote regarding their own affairs, as
well as a 5% vote on affairs in the United States and Brazil: and

WHEREAS, Canada is a different country and should be
encouraged to assume responsibility, control, and funding of its
own affairs: therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod establish, through a Canadian
Caucus vote at this convention, a task force composed of Cana-
dians from the three Canadian Districts as well as representa-
tion from the English, Minn. No., and SELC Districts to deter-
mine how LCMS congregations in Canada can move toward
establishing a sister synod: and be it further

Resolved, That the composition of the task force be com-
posed of:

1. an equal number of members from each of the three
Canadian Districts (preferably 3, 1 pastor and 2 laymen)

2. a single representative, pastor or layman, from the
English, Minn. No., and SELC Districts: and be it further

Resolved, That each involved District pick its representatives
in accordance with the wishes of the respective District’s Board
of Directors; and be it further

Resolved. That the Presidents of each of the Canadian Dis-
tricts be members of the task force: and be it finally

Resolved, That the task force present to the 1977 synodical
convention a procedure by which LCMS congregations in
Canada can be declared an independent church body in fellow-
ship with the LCMS.

Faculty
Concordia College, Edmonton
R. Willie, Secretary

OTHER FELLOWSHIP MATTERS

3-240

To Request President to Seek
Lutheran Unity

Resolved. That the Florida-Georgia District of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod, assembled in convention, respectfully
request the President of the Synod to do all in his power to seek
unity within American Lutheranism, so that we might make
a united witness to Christ.

Florida-Georgia District
Theodore W. Eisold, Secretary

3-241A

To Permit Selective Fellowship

WHEREAS, The Scriptures and the Confessions make clear
that the only prerequisite for fellowship is agreement in the
doctrine of the Gospel and the sacraments; and

WHEREAS, Nothing in the Constitution of the Synod prevents
a member congregation from fellowshiping with a nonmember
congregation with which it finds itself in doctrinal agreement:
and

WHEREAS, As the individual Christian must recognize fellow-
ship in Christ where it exists, so the congregation must recognize
fellowship with other congregations where it exists; and

WHEREAS, Nothing would enable the church to be ‘‘God’s
mission to the church” better than Christians sitting down
together to discuss the meaning of the Gospel with one another;
therefore be it

Resolved, That we amend the Bylaws of the Synod’s Consti-
tution, Article III, Section G, to include the following:

3.113 Relationships with Parishes of Other De-
nominations

Congregations striving to carry out the mission of
Christ in their community will have the freedom and
the responsibility to relate to congregations of other
Christian denominations at various levels of work and
worship, wherever the cause of Christ is thereby
furthered and the Gospel of Christ is not obscured or
compromised.

First Trinity Lutheran Church
Washington, D.C.

Melvin L. Willis, President
Betty M. Jones, Secretary

Identical or similar:

3-241B and 3-241C

Cross, Milwaukee, Wis.
Eastern District

Joseph Ellwanger
Herman Frincke

3-242
To Restudy Expressions of Fellowship

WHEREAS, The Synod is often asked to reconsider its stance
regarding “selective fellowship”; and

WHEREAS. Questions are raised regarding ‘“‘altar’”’ and “‘pul-
pit” as appropriate expressions of Christian unity or disunity
within the context of the American denominational scene; and

WHEREAS, “Altar and pulpit’ exclusiveness gives the church
an image often interpreted negatively as elitist and sectarian;
therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod request the Commission on Theol-
ogy and Church Relations to offer guidelines that will assist
congregations to study and, if possible, to celebrate fellowship
where it is found; and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod request the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations to replace ‘altar and pulpit”
restrictions with a more positive and winsome approach to
witnessing to the Biblical and Lutheran Confessional position
before the American public.

Grace Lutheran Church
Boulder, Colo.

James Kittelberger, President
Cynthia DeGreve, Secretary
Norbert E. Hattendorf, Pastor

3-243

To Define Relations to and Cooperation
with Other Christians (Unionism
and Church Fellowship)

WHEREAS, Confusion exists concerning the principles by
which various joint activities among Christians are deemed
unionistic or nonunionistic: and

Wuereas, A too broad description of unionism too easily
condemns legitimate recognition of fellow Christians in such
activities as joint prayer, cooperation in externals (e. g., serious
doctrinal discussion, works of charity): and

Wuereas, A too narrow description of unionism would
jeopardize the proclamation of the Gospel, weaken the testi-
mony of the church, and hence cause much harm; and

WHEREAS, Church fellowship involves sharing in the means
of grace, Word and Sacrament (cf. pulpit and altar fellowship;
the Galesburg rule, “Lutheran pulpits for Lutheran ministers
and Lutheran altars for Lutheran communicants”; ef. Augsburg
Confession VII); and

WHEREAS. Continual instruction in, and reminder of, such
principles is necessary; therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod maintain through its appropriate
agencies both the legitimacy of such activities as joint prayer,
cooperation in externals, and the illegitimacy of joint participa-
tion in the means of grace with the heterodox; and be it further