Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 412
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 412

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

SPECIAL AND SUNDRY MATTERS 413

speak My Word faithfully... . I am against the prophets, saith
the Lord, that . . . cause My people to err by their lies” (Jer.
23:28-32): and

WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus Christ foretold that before the
end of the world many false prophets will arise and will mislead
many (Matt. 24:11): and

WHEREAS, The inspired apostle John lovingly warns the
church: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits
whether they are of God: because many false prophets are
gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1): and

WHEREAS, Every congregation of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod has the right to expect and to demand that every
called servant of the Word, whether a pastor or teacher, be a
trustworthy steward of the mysteries of God (1 Cor. 4:1-2) and
will honor his ordination and/or installation vows: therefore be it

Resolved. That the President of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod, together with the Vice-Presidents, formulate
a questionnaire on doctrines of the Christian faith as revealed
in the Holy Scriptures and believed, confessed, and taught by
The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod: and be it further

Resolved, That this questionnaire serve as a guideline for
congregations when calling candidates for the pastoral or teach-
ing office, and for the Boards of Control at the Synod’s colleges
and seminaries when considering candidates for the office of
professor: and be it finally

Resolved, That the District Presidents, who share the re-
sponsibility of the doctrinal supervision of the pastors and
teachers of their District, supply congregations with copies of
this questionnaire whenever a vacancy develops.

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church
Pacifica, Calif.

Bernard P. Calais, President
Lyle Bjerkhoel, Secretary
John H. Rische, Pastor

9-20

To Eliminate Review of Conference
Essays

WHEREAS. According to the Handbook of the Synod, 4.111 and
4.113, essays and minutes of pastoral and teachers conferences
should be submitted to a District committee for review and this
committee is to report its findings to the District convention: and

WHEREAS, There are many difficulties involved in such a
committee working efficiently; and

Wuereas. Responsibility for doctrinal review rests with the
office of the President (President, Vice-Presidents, Circuit
Counselors); therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod eliminate the section on review of
conference essays from the Handbook and provide for continued
doctrinal review through the office of the District President,
Vice-Presidents. and Circuit Counselors.

Board of Directors
Texas District
Carl A. Heckmann, President

9-21

To Eliminate Excuse Committee for
District Conventions

WHEREAS, Bylaw 3.19 requires that all duly elected and
advisory members shall attend all sessions of the District
convention; and

WHEREAS. Bylaw 3.19 further provides that all delegates who
arrive late or leave early or who do not attend the convention
provide a written excuse; and

WHEREAS. To carry out such a procedure at the District
conventions, Excuse Committees in the larger Districts expend
unusual amounts of time attempting to determine the accuracy
of registrations: and

WHEREAS. It is almost an impossibility to tell whether the
delegate has truly come late or has left early: and

WHEREAS. Often the reports of these committees are incom-
plete and often prove to be quite embarrassing: and

WHEREAS. Seldom if ever is the requirement of Bylaw 3.19.
“Unexcused delegates shall be admonished by the District
President,” carried out with any success: and

WHEREAS. We believe in the final analysis the attendance of
voting delegates and advisory delegates takes place because of
the interest of the congregations and individuals involved rather
than because they may be unexcused and admonished for
nonattendance: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod remove Bylaw 3.19 from the
present synodical Handbook and substitute this paragraph
with the following words:

All duly elected delegates and advisory members
are encouraged to attend all sessions of the convention
regularly until the close of the convention.

Board of Directors
Texas District
Car! A. Heckmann, President

To Ask for an Apology

WHEREAS, One of the objects of the Synod is “‘the protection
of pastors, teachers, and congregations in the performance of
their duties and the maintenance of their rights’’ (Constitution,
Art. TIT, 8): and

WHEREAS. A spring 1974 column in the St. Louis Post-Dis-
patch (“Concordia Dispute —II"*) contains a number of factual
errors in presenting information concerning our synodical
President, Dr. J. A. O. Preus. for example:

1. This is the third synod Jack Preus has split.

2. Preus would fail to qualify for the presidency if one were to apply
legalistic interpretations to The Lutheran Church— Missouri
Synod regulations.

3. Jacob Preus appointed Robert Preus to the Concordia Seminary
faculty.

4. Robert Preus entered the ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church.

5. A resolution “to suspend fellowship between the Evangelical
Lutheran Synod and The Lutheran Church-— Missouri Synod.
which passed” was introduced by Jacob and Robert Preus.

6. In 1967, both were accepted in the Missouri Synod.

7. Preus' efforts led to the dismissal of five or six moderate pro-
fessors at Concordia Seminary. Springfield.

8. After his election to the presidency of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod, Preus began his efforts to oust Doctor Tietjen as
president of Concordia Seminary.

9. There are more ordained Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod
members in my family than Jack Preus has years in this synod.

10. Preus says he represents the true history of this synod and by
firing me he says I do not:

and

WHEREAS. Certain Seminex professors were responsible for
presenting these untruths to the columnist for publication:
therefore be it

Resolved. That The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod in
convention express regrets to our synodical President and his
brother for this gross misrepresentation of facts on the part of
two members of our clergy: and be it finally -

Resolved. That a public apology be made to our President
and his brother by those involved for delivering such falsehoods
to the press.

St. John’s Lutheran Church
Ellisville Mo.

Kenneth Smith, President
Eugene Rusert, Chairman
Paul V. Schnelle, Pastor