Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 244
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 244

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

244 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

WHEREAS, The entire matter involved in Seminex has wit-
nessed to the world the theological stance of false doctrine as
stated above: therefore be it

Resolved. That The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod in
this convention declare the Seminex action and all those who
support it as unconstitutional, un-Lutheran, indeed un-Christian:
and be it further

Resolred. That all the congregations who have called and
ordained Seminex graduates be declared in violation of Bylaw
4.01 a and b: and be it further

Resolved. That this convention call upon the President of the
Synod and fully authorize him to deal in Christian manner and
according to Bylaws 4.15, 17, and 19, and Bylaw 6.163 with the
said District Presidents and congregations who authorized,
sponsored, and performed such ordinations: and be it finally

Resolved. That this convention declare such ordinations
invalid.
Christ Lutheran Church
Yuma, Ariz.
Joseph S. Hu, Pastor

Identical or similar:

5-96B to 5-96D

Calvary, Plymouth, Ind. Chas. Piazza
Hope, Chicago, III. Herbert Wians
Trinity, Indianapolis, Ind. Walter Maas

To Deal with Congregations

WHEREAS, The Commission on Constitutional Matters has
ruled that the Bylaws of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
state that no congregation may employ either temporarily or
permanently a student who has not been certified or approved
by the faculty of one of the two synodical seminaries or by the
Colloquy Board: and

WHEREAS, The Handbook of The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod has been violated by some members of the Synod through
the ordination and placement of Seminex graduates: and

WHEREAS, Such irregular procedures cause confusion,
violate good order, and are contrary to the synodical principle
of ‘‘walking together”: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod in convention assembled reaffirm
those Handbook sections which deal with ministerial training
and placement, particularly those which provide that congre-
gations may call, ordain, or employ either temporarily or
permanently only those who have been approved by the faculty
of one of the two synodical seminaries or by the Colloquy Board:
and be it further

Resolved, That the District Presidents be asked to deal
pastorally with those members of the Synod who have violated
these sections of the Handbook: and be it finally

Resolved, That those congregations which violate Section
4.01 a of the synodical Handbook be dealt with and those who
persist in such violation be dealt with in keeping with Section
4.01 b of the synodical Handbook.

Board of Control

Faculty
Concordia Seminary
St. Louis, Mo.

Ralph Bohlmann, Acting President

Identical or similar:

3-97B to 5-97D

Our Redeemer, North Platte, Nebr. H. Harnapp
Hope, Springfield, Oreg. H. Bauder
Trinity, Taylorville, Ill. Wm. Marten

5-98
To Discipline Congregations Which
Have Acted Contrary to Synodical
Constitution in Engaging Men for the
Ministry
WHEREAS, There has been much agitation and division in the
Synod on the matter of the placement, ordination, and com-
missioning of Seminex graduates contrary to the clear directives
of the synodical Constitution and Bylaws for the certification

and placement of candidates for the ministry of the Word:
therefore be it

Resolved. That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in
convention assembled direct the respective District Presidents
to deal with congregations which contrary to the synodical
Constitution and Bylaws have engaged, installed, commissioned,
or ordained men to serve in the ministry of the Word: and be it
further

Resolved. That District Presidents be hereby directed to put
such congregations under discipline.

Faculty

Concordia Theological Seminary
Springfield, III.

Robert Preus, President

5-99A

To Admonish Congregations Having
Uncertified Seminex Graduates as
Pastors

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has
always recognized the right of Christian congregations as con-
gregations to call whomever they may wish as their pastor: and

WHEREAS, The Synod exists as a voluntary association of
congregations united for the purpose of promoting and defend
ing sound Lutheran doctrine and for the joint extension of the
Kingdom of God and for other purposes that they cannot do as
well alone: and

WHEREAS, When congregations join the Synod, they volun-
tarily give up certain areas of their autonomy for the sake of
“walking together” in fellowship with other Lutheran congre-
gations and for the good of the whole church in a spirit of
Christian love: and

WHEREAS, The bond that unites the Synod is a sacred cove-
nant that ought to be strengthened, ‘endeavoring to keep the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace’’ (Eph. 4:3): and

WHEREAS, One of the important factors in ‘“‘walking together”
is the agreement on how pastors and other church workers are
to be trained and certified for the ministry of the Gospel: and

WHEREAS, This covenant of unity is broken when, in violation
of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod (4.01 a and b), un-
certified graduates are ordained, installed, or commissioned for
the pastoral ministry or teaching positions: and

WHEREAS, The Synod has a right to assume that its pastors,
professors, and teachers would be doctrinally sound and
competent: and

WHEREAS, Recognition of uncertified graduates of a seminary
that is a rule unto itself, without a properly elected Board of
Control and whose faculty and staff have no call to teach or pre-
pare pastors for the ministry of The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod, would involve not only a violation of the Constitution
and Bylaws of the Synod but in effect would constitute the
recognition of a third seminary in the Synod, one that does not
submit to the doctrinal discipline of the Synod through properly
constituted doctrinal supervisors; and

WHEREAS, Congregations which persist in violating the
Synod’s requirement for proper certification of pastors and
teachers ‘‘shall after due admonition forfeit their membership
in the Synod.” (4.01 a and b): and

WHEREAS, Serious doctrinal issues are also involved since