Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 242
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 242

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

242 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

the Synod are both threatened if an independent seminary and
its teachings outside the ownership and control of the Synod
continue to exist: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod declare in this convention that the
ordination of pastors must be in compliance with Bylaw 4.15 of
the Constitution and that no graduate or vicar who is a student
of Seminex will be placed in a position in a congregation or be
entitled to perform any ministerial act in any congregation of the
Synod: and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod specifically forbid the Council
of Presidents from making any exceptions to this resolution.

Emmaus Lutheran Congregation
Fort Wayne, Ind.

Roy Ellingwood, Chairman
Harold Andrews, Secretary

Carl B. Schlutz, Pastor

Identical or similar:

3-88B to 5-88D

St. Paul's, Hartley, lowa F. Mennenga
St. John's, Red Bud, III. Robt. Holstein
St. John's, Chester, II. W.A. Ranta

To Reaffirm Prerequisites for Ordination

WHEREAS, It is important both for the doctrine and well-being
of our Synod that its ministers conform to the prerequisites for
ordination as outlined in the synodical Handbook (Bylaw 4.15):
and

WHEREAS, The institution known as Seminex continues to
operate for the training of ministers and continues to seek
placement of its graduates in the churches of our Synod: and

WHEREAS, The graduates of Seminex have not fulfilled the
prerequisites for ordination as outlined in the synodical Hand-
book: specifically, they have not “received a diploma from one
of the Synod’s seminaries” nor “received endorsement by the
proper faculty”: and

WHEREAS, The continued operation of the seminary known
as Seminex is causing much confusion and many unnecessary
problems for congregations of our Synod: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod in convention reafhrm the prereq-
uisites for ordination as outlined in the synodical Handbook:
and be it further

Resolved. That vicars and graduates and other students of
Seminex be specifically prohibited from performing functions
of the holy ministry in congregations of our Synod unless or until
they become certified for such ministry by either of the two
authorized seminaries under the control of the Synod.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church
Hamel, Ill.
Hilbert Schumacher, Chairman

Duane Meyer, Secretary
W.F. Hischke, Pastor

5-90

To Declare Ordinations of Uncertified
Students Null and Void

WHEREAS, The Synod has wisely required all students to
be certified by the Synod for ordination in the ministry of The
Lutheran Church-— Missouri Synod: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod declare all ordinations of uncerti-
fied students to be null and void and that all such so ordained
are outside the pastoral membership of the Synod and hold no
rights and privileges in the Synod.

Nazareth Lutheran Church
Buffalo, N. Y.
Donald J. Sampson, Secretary

3-91

To Repudiate Improper Ordinations

WHEREAS, We the members of The Lutheran Church ~ Mis-
souri Synod have adopted and profess allegiance to a Constitu-
tion and Bylaws whereby we agree to govern ourselves: and

WHEREAS, The faculty and students calling themselves
“Seminex” have willfully withdrawn themselves from the
synodical structure, in violation of Bylaw 6.21, and in effect have
immunized themselves from disciplinary action: and

WHEREAS, They have had ample time to recognize this error
and repent of their actions: and

WHEREAS, They have shown no indication of changing their
position: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod, assembled in convention in
Anaheim, move forward in love as instructed by St. Paul in
Rom. 16:17: and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod repudiate the various plans pre-
pared by the Council of Presidents to allow for the ordination
and installation of Seminex graduates contrary to Bylaw 4.15:
and be it further

Resolved. That any Seminex faculty members, students, or
graduates desiring a call into the ministry of the Synod by
ordination, installation, ‘‘consecration,” or by contract be
granted such calls or positions only after they have fulfilled the
qualifications for certification established by the Synod and
administered by the two seminaries of the Synod, as spelled out
in its Constitution and Bylaws: and be it finally

Resolved. That those faculty members, students, or graduates
already granted positions in The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod contrary to the Synod’s Constitution and Bylaws be dealt
with according to Bylaw 6.80.

St. Luke’s Lutheran Church
Federal Way, Wash.

Edward L. Blessing, Chairman
John L. Welsh Jr., Secretary

5-924
To Repudiate Seminex

WHEREAS, The so-called Seminex faculty is composed mostly
of men who have deserted the contractual and called positions
they previously held at the Synod’s Concordia Seminary,
St. Louis, Mo., and have thereby prevented the possibility of
being dealt with by the Synod according to Resolution 3-09
adopted at the New Orleans synodical convention in July 1973:
and

WHEREAS, This faculty at Seminex has passed a resolution
rejecting Resolution 3-09 as uncalled for and so has revealed its
refusal to be dealt with according to synodical procedure
expressed in Resolution 3-09: and

WHEREAS, The Synod has no control over the faculty and the
curriculum of Seminex: and

WHEREAS, Seminex’'s present course of action and continued
existence, in the opinion of many seriously concerned persons,
including the majority of members on the Synod’s Board of
Directors, has a decidedly detrimental and divisive effect on the
Synod: and

WHEREAS, Every additional day of Seminex’s existence
means the needless and wasteful consumption of large sums of
money solicited from members, congregations, and Districts in
the Synod, thereby diverting these funds from synodically
adopted projects and synodically owned schools: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod, meeting in convention at Ana-
heim, request the immediate closure and dissolution of Seminex:
and be it further

Resolved. That should Seminex defy this request of the
Synod and attempt to continue to function as a theological school
of the Synod, the Synod refuse placement of its vicars and
ordination and/or installation of its graduates: and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod reject every effort made by Semi-
nex and/or the Council of Presidents to allow for the placement