Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 134
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 134

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

134 THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

Resolved. That the Synod direct the CTCR to officially ap-
proach the Wisconsin Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran
Synod and initiate formal discussions with the two synods to
work toward the goal of the restoration of God-pleasing pulpit-
altar fellowship of the Missouri Synod with the Wisconsin
Ev. Lutheran Synod and the Ev. Lutheran Synod.

Mount Hope Lutheran Church
Casper, Wyo.

Richard Means, President
Dennis Burwell, Secretary

J. B. Brown, Pastor

3-251

To Realign Lutheranism

WHEREAS. The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod has two
separate theologies within it; and

WHEREAS, This dicotomy cannot be God-pleasing: and

WHEREAS, All Lutheranism is plagued with this dual theology:
and

WHEREAS. God wants His children to “walk together” in
doctrine: therefore be it

Resolved. That a call go forth from this convention for the
realigning of Lutheranism on the basis of the historical inter-
pretation of God’s Word.

Christ Lutheran Church
Coos Bay, Oreg.

Wayne Buckles, President
Curt Aman, Secretary

WORSHIP

To Select and Promote Hymns
with Lutheran Standard

WHEREAS. Lutherans have received a heritage of hymnody
under a standard of excellence which even the contemporary
musical world admires; and

WHEREAS. “The first duty of a hymn-writer is to teach sound
doctrine, and thus to save souls” (Christopher Wordsworth); and

WHEREAS. Church leaders should understand what they are
doing in selecting and promoting hymns as useful tools for

worship in our churches, schools, homes. and organizations
(Ps. 45:7): and

WHEREAS. Our hymns should reflect a reverence and godly
fear, acceptable to so great a God as ours (Heb. 12:28-29): and

WHEREAS, Each hymn for worship should be offered as a
sacrifice of the finest quality and dignity to our gracious God,
who loved us through the offering of Christ (Heb. 13:15: Hos.
14:2): and

WHEREAS. In hymnody we must “‘try the spirits whether they
are of God" (1 John 4:1: Milwaukee Res. 2-03): therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod direct its commissions, boards,
schools, auxiliary organizations, and leaders, specifically its
Commission on Worship, its Board of Parish Education and
Board of Youth Ministry, and its Concordia Publishing House,
to exercise greater care in selecting and promoting hymns for
worship which in clear language glorify God, extol Christ for
His saving work, edify the church, and help to unify the mem-
bers of our Synod: and be it further

Resolved. That the Commission on Worship be ordered to
draw up guidelines for worship that will set forth the standard
of Lutheran hymnody.

Calvary Lutheran Church
Topeka, Kans.

Robert Dremann, President
Vincent DiPasquale, Secretary

3-256

To Preserve Lutheran Chorales
in New Hymnal

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in its
1941 Lutheran Hymnal includes a wealth of great Lutheran
hymns, particularly those dating from the Reformation: and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran chorale is now treasured inter-
nationally by people of a wide variety of professions, religious
affiliations, educational and cultural backgrounds; therefore
be it

Resolved. That The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod
promote the highest standards in all proposed hymnal publica-
tions by preserving to us our rich Lutheran chorale heritage that
we may continue a vigorous use of these hymns in our worship
services and personal devotions.

Zion Ev. Lutheran Church
Corvallis, Oreg.

Wayne Abresch, President
Henry Stream, Secretary

3-257
To Study Hymn Texts

WHEREAS, The text of this hymnal was to have been finalized
in June 1975 unless serious objections had been received from
reviewers by that date: and

WHEREAS, The text was not available to members of the
LCMS as of the date of this overture (April 8), thus not per-
mitting adequate opportunity for study and for making our
wishes known: and

WHEREAS, Preliminary information concerning the hymnal
is such as to be disturbing to many of our people (e. g., deletion
of 455 familiar hymns, including “There Is a Fountain Filled
with Blood,” “Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness," ‘‘O Word
of God Incarnate,”’ and ‘May We Thy Precepts, Lord, Fulfill’):
and

WHEREAS, An explanation accompanying the materials
states that the texts chosen are meant to “‘bring the devotion
of the Church into fuller harmony with the development of her
theology in the last several decades,” which explanation itself
must raise questions about the theological content of the new
hymnal: therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod reject any finalization of the texts
of the new hymnal which may have been accomplished to this
date: and be it further

Resolved, That the proposed texts be made available for
adequate study in the Synod generally (6 months at least) be-
fore such texts are finalized.

St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church
Paterson, New Jersey

Robert Ponts, President

Edna H. Strauss, Secretary
Julius V. Kimpel, Pastor

3-258

To Retain Historic Wording
in New Hymnal

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church -— Missouri Synod is moving
closer to adopting and publishing a new hymnal as a joint effort
with several other Lutheran synods; and

WHEREAS, Most of the sample literature being sent to congre-
gations by the Commission on Worship indicates a drastic
change in the wording of the Nicene Creed and the Lord’s
Prayer: and

WHEREAS, It is a common experience in our parishes that
many lay people favor the retaining of the historic wording of
the Lord’s Prayer and the Nicene Creed: and

WHEREAS, The Synod hastily referred resolutions in regard
to this matter to the Board of Directors at the New Orleans
convention; therefore be it