LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 336

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336 HIGHER EDUCATION

officials and by publicly misrepresenting and discrediting such
efforts at reconciliation:

5. Seminex continues to usurp the rightful name and identity
of Concordia Seminary in spite of repeated fraternal efforts by
the Board of Control, the synodical Board of Directors, and
others to persuade Seminex that such action injures Concordia
Seminary. increases polarization, causes confusion, and vio-
lates the law;

6. Seminex continues to pronounce the judgment of God
upon Concordia Seminary and the administration of the Synod:

7. Seminex continues to serve as an arm of ELIM, the or-
ganization which, contrary to the Synod’s Bylaws, gathers funds
within our church body for the support of Seminex-—the or-
ganization which the synodical Board of Directors has charac-
terized as ‘divisive’ and as ‘a church within a church”: and

WHEREAS. The Board of Control of Seminex and its electors
have offended the church in electing as its president Dr. John
Tietjen, whom the Concordia Seminary Board of Control, after
due process, found guilty of allowing false doctrine and prac-
ticing administrative malfeasance and consequently had dis-
missed from his former position as president of the St. Louis
seminary: and

WHEREAS. All the above-indicated actions of Seminex are
an offense to our ‘walking together" as a church body; violate
Scriptural injunctions which direct that God's people strive
earnestly to have unity of conviction, confession, and practice
of God's truth prevail in the church at all times (Rom. 15:5-6:
1 Cor. 1:10), that all things be done decently and in order among
them (1 Cor. 14:40), that there be no divisions in the Christian
ranks (1 Cor. 1:10: Rom. 16:17); are therefore offensive in the
church of God: and are subversive of the very first object of the
Synod's organization (Constitution. Article III. Object I): there-
fore be it

Resolved. That the Synod by the mercies of God ask the
Seminex faculty and executive staff forthwith to cease and desist
from operation of the Seminex institution and theological pro-
gram, dissolve the Seminex corporation. refrain from all further
disruptive. divisive, and offensive activity in the church, and
begin again to walk in peace, harmony. and unity with all mem-
bers of the Synod—employing, when deemed necessary, the
orderly procedures set forth in the Constitution and Bylaws
of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod for the expression
of dissent and protest in the Synod, for securing redress of
grievances. and for finding solution to controverted issues: and
be it further

Resolved. That, if the Seminex faculty and executive staff do
not comply with this urgent request, the Synod, in accordance
with the directives of the Scriptures (Rom. 16:17) and the in-
struction of the Synod’s Constitution, Article XIII, effect on
Aug. 1, 1975, the expulsion from the Synod of said Seminex
faculty and executive staff on the grounds of persistence in
offensive conduct.

Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church
Galesburg, Ill.

Martin Vatthauer. President
Perry Paddock, Secretary

Identical or similar:

6-58B and 6-58C

Grace, Lexington, Mo.
St. James. University City

K. Michael Simminger
Tom Baker

6-59A

To Repudiate Seminary-in-Exile

WHEREAS, Neither the Districts nor the congregations of
the Synod have the right to recognize Seminex or any other
agency as a theological institution of the Synod qualified to
train pastors for its congregations, since the Synod has reserved
this right to itself (Bylaw 3.07e): therefore be it

Resolved. That The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod

repudiate Seminex and declare its graduates and its vicars
ineligible to serve in the congregations of the Synod.

Peace Lutheran Church
Waverly, Nebr.

Dick Mohlman, President
Gerald Haertel, Secretary
Justin J. Burns, Pastor

Identical or similar:

6-59B and 6-59C

St. Peter's, Elk Creek, Nebr.
Zion, Ocheyedan, Iowa

Harold Stelzer
Keith Bender

6-60
To Abolish Seminex

WHEREAS. The institution called Concordia Seminary-in-
Exile. known as Seminex, was established to show scornful
disregard of action taken by the Synod in its convention held in
New Orleans in July 1973 and to promote opposition to Con-
cordia Seminary at 801 De Mun; and

WHEREAS. The majority of faculty members is comprised of
men who withdrew themselves from their called positions at
Concordia Seminary, thus removing themselves from synodical
control, supervision, and discipline; and

WHEREAS. The president and faculty of Seminex have openly
stated that they will not be bound by Resolution 3-01, New
Orleans convention, and are not in agreement with the doc-
trinal standards and teachings of the Synod on many funda-
mental doctrines of the Christian faith: and

WHEREAS. The course of studies at Seminex allows for the
widespread use of the historical-critical method of interpreting
the Bible: and

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

WHEREAS. The establishment of Seminex was not authorized
by the Synod: and

WHEREAS, The operation of Seminex has been disruptive
and divisive, giving offense to many people within and outside
the Synod, bringing shame and disgrace upon Christ and His
church: and

WHEREAS. Seminex has sent appeals to pastors, congrega-
tions, and lay people throughout the Synod requesting financial
support; and

WHEREAS, Seminex carries on recruitment programs on the
campuses of synodical institutions, seeking new students for
Seminex; and

WHEREAS. Seminex has appealed to congregations to call,
ordain. and install its graduates though it has no legitimacy or
official status. and has discouraged its graduates from seeking
proper certification through the faculty of Concordia Seminary
as required by a resolution of the Council of Presidents and
agreed upon by the Board for Higher Education: and

WHEREAS. Some District Presidents have been willing to set
aside the Bylaws to the Constitution of the Synod, appealing to
the “unique situation” in which we find ourselves and to the
“rights” of congregations to call such graduates, thus giving
serious offense to many: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod in convention at Anaheim declare
that the faculty, students, and personnel of Seminex have in fact
separated themselves and withdrawn from the Synod and there-
fore have no rightful claim to being a part of the Synod’s ac-
cepted program of training pastors and workers for theSynod:
and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod order the immediate closure of
Seminex: and be it further

Resolved. That in the event Seminex defies this order of the
Synod and continues to function as a seminary, the Synod refuse
to allow for the calling, ordination, and installation of its gradu-
ates; and be it further

Resolved. That in the event Seminex defies the order of the