Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 337
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 337

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

HIGHER EDUCATION 337

Synod and continues to function as a seminary, the Synod de-
clare that the president of Seminex, its instructors, teaching
staff, and all personnel connected with it have thereby severed
their connection with the Synod and forfeited all rights and
privileges of membership in the Synod: and be it finally

Resolved. That the names of such individuals be deleted
from the roster of the Synod’s pastors and teachers, and that due
notice to this effect be given to the membership of the Synod in
its official organ, The Lutheran Witness.

Triumphant King Lutheran Church
Lake Oswego, Oreg.

Donald H. Holly, President

Robert Baltes, Secretary

Corliss G. Stockamp, Pastor

6-61A

To Declare Seminex Heterodox

WHEREAS, Seminex (Seminary-in-Exile) came into being
not as the result of the need for a third seminary or by the ap-
proval of the Synod but as the result of action by a group of
dissident professors and students; and

WHEREAS, Some professors and students within Seminex
hold to a theology contrary to Scripture (i.e., they allow that
the world may have come into being through the evolutionary
process, that Moses did not write the Pentateuch but that the
Pentateuch came into being through the JEDP source hypoth-
esis, that Adam and Eve were not really historical people but
only symbolic of mankind, that many of the miracles of the Old
and New Testaments did not really take place as recorded in
the Bible but were later embellishments of the early church,
etc.); and

WHEREAS, Professors of Seminex have been guilty of union-
istic and syncretistic practices which are contrary to Scripture
(Rom. 16:17) and are in violation of the synodical Constitution,
Article VI; and

WHEREAS, Through its program “Operation Outreach”
Seminex has increased the divisive spirit in the Synod: and

WHEREAS, The Constitution of the Synod states that all
colleges and seminaries of the Synod are to be under the super-
vision of the Board for Higher Education; and

WHEREAS, Men teaching at Seminex are ‘‘acting outside of
the authority and supervision of the Board for Higher Educa-
tion”: and

WHEREAS, Students at Seminex are ‘following a plan of
study that is outside the authority and supervision of the Board
for Higher Education”; and

WHEREAS, The Board for Higher Education of the Synod
expects prospective Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod clergy-
men to comply with requirements outlined in The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod’s Constitution and Bylaws; therefore
be it

Resolved. That the Synod meeting in convention at Anaheim,
Calif., July 4—11, 1975, declare Seminex heterodox and not to
be tolerated any longer in The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod.

St. Paul Lutheran Church
Williamsburg, Iowa

Milford G. Heitman, Chairman
Allan Doehrmann, Secretary

Identical or similar:

6-61B

St. John’s, Ellisville, Mo. Paul V. Schnelle

6-62

To Repudiate and Disown All
Activities at Seminex

WHEREAS, The professors and students left the campus at
801 De Mun Ave. in St. Louis to establish a Seminary-in-Exile;
and

WHEREAS, Their purpose was to protest the rightful authority
of our Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod; and

WHEREAS, Such a protest is not only dangerous to our Synod
but also is in conflict with the Word of God, which calls upon
each to respect the authority that is over them; and

WHEREAS. There is no evidence of repentance; therefore be it

Resolved. That we repudiate the establishment of Seminex:
and be it further

Resolved. That we give no credence to its activities or to its
purposes as related to The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod.

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
Brownstown, Ind.

John Stuckwisch, Chairman
Lynn Hinnefeld, Secretary
J. V. Moyer, Pastor

6-63

To Take Certain Actions with Respect
to Seminex

WHEREAS. Concordia Seminary has carried on the work of
training pastors for The Lutheran Church-— Missouri Synod for
nearly a century and a half: and

WHEREAS. Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., and Concor-
dia Theological Seminary. Springfield, IIl., are the only officially
recognized seminaries of The Lutheran Church— Missouri
Synod training its pastors and professors: and

WHEREAS. Since early in 1974 the name Concordia Seminary-
in-Exile (Seminex) has been wrongfully and illegally appro-
priated by a group having no official standing within the Synod,
creating confusion and damaging the aforesaid two official
seminaries in various ways: and

WHEREAS. Concordia Seminary has in fact never been in
exile: and

WHEREAS, Seminex continues to divert students from the
ministerial training program of The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod: and

WHEREAS. Such diversion of students has harmed the
Synod's program of ministerial training, deprived congrega-
tions of needed pastoral services, and because of the Synod’s
investment in the prior training of the diverted students brought
financial loss to the Synod: and

WHEREAS. Members of the Synod teaching at and supporting
Seminex have disregarded the repeated admonitions of the
President of the Synod and others: and

WHEREAS, Students are deceived by promises that Seminex
graduates will in some way be placed in congregations of The
Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod, contrary to the provisions
of the synodical Handbook: therefore be it

Resolved. That the conduct of those supporting and partici-
pating in the existence of Seminex is conduct that is offensive
to the body of Christ and an open, direct, and continuing viola-
tion of the entire spirit of a Synod ‘‘walking together”: and be it
further

Resolved. That the Synod call upon Seminex to forthwith
cease and desist from any use whatsoever of the name ‘“‘Con-
cordia” or any form thereof: and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod encourage and direct the Boards
of Control of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and Concordia
Theological Seminary, Springfield, to take immediate legal
action against Seminex if its use of the name “Concordia” as
set forth above is not forthwith terminated; and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod declare its unqualified support of
the existing synodical educational and training system and
call upon all those who would retain membership in the Synod
to immediately cease and desist from giving support to the
institution now known as Seminex; and be it further

Resolved. That the Synod in convention assembled once
more call upon those members of the Synod who are teaching
or supplying administrative and supportive services to Seminex
to repent and to cease their offensive conduct; and be it further