LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 460

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A LUTHERAN STANCE TOWARD ECUMENISM

Accordingly. they did not ignore controversial issues and simply
agree to disagree. “They saw clearly that there was no better way to
counteract... religious controversies... than. on the basis of God's
Word. carefully and accurately to explain and decide the differences that
had arisen with reference to aif the articles in controversy. Lo expose
and to reject fulse doctrine. and clearly to confess the divine truth.”
(Preface to The Book of Concord. p. 6: emphasis ours)

The confessors did not regard compromise as a God-pleasing wity
to adjust doctrinal disagreements. “We have no intention . . to veld
anything of the eternal and unchungeable truth of God for the sake of
temporal peace. tranquillity. and outward harmony. We desire such
harmony that will not give place to the smallest error” (FC SD XI.
94-96: emphasis ours), When the choice was between external harmony.
on the one hand. and faithfulness to the teachings of God's Ward. on
the other hand. Luther was adamant on the side of unwavering adherence
to the Biblical doctrine. The Formula of Concord quotes him as saying to
all who rejected the doctrine of the Real Presence of ( brist's body and
blood in the Lord's Supper: “Whoever. | say. will not beheve this. will
Please let me alone and expect no fellowship from me. This is Anal.”
(FC SD VU. 33

Confess the truth and expose error—that ts the was our forefathers
hoped to promote concord in the church. “In order to Preserve the pure
doctrine and to maintain a thorough, lasting. and God-pleasing concord
within the church. it is essential not only to present the true and whole-
some doctrine correctly. but abso ty accuse the adversaries who teach
otherwise” (FC SD Rule and Norm. 14). “The primary requirement for
basic and permanent concord within the church ty a summary formula and
Pattern, unanimously approved. in which the summarized doctrine
commonly confessed by the churches of the Pure Christian religion as
drawn tovether cut of the Word of God” (EC SD Rule and Norm, |
emphasis ours)

By reiterating in the Formula of Concord the truth once confessed
at Augsburg. our fathers hoped that their repeated confession would
Move other people to commit themselves to it (Preface tu The Book of
Concord. p. 8). They hoped that with Proper instruction and the Hols
Spirit's guidance others would unite with them and with their churches
and schools (Preface to The Book of Concord. p12) because they
believed their confession to be truly catholic CAC Concluston of the
first part. 1; Conclusion. §). “We shall never come to be a united Church
unless we take cur Confessions seriously. The way to church unity is
never around them, but in them and through them.” 4

The confessional program for ecumenical endeavors takes doctrine,
very seriously und includes two indispensable components: refute error
no matter where it may be found: set forth and explain our confession
clearly and distinctly. opposing the true doctrine to the false. (FC SD
Rule and Norm. 1¥)

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body ought by all means to head the tist of Pnonties. Whenever fellow-
ship in our own immediate community is threatened by disagreement
and dissension, our efforts must be focused on Pursuing peace and
harmony within our own household. Unless we have agreement among
ourselves it is difficult. if not impossible. to form any clear conception
of the kind and degree of agreement we seek with other Christians
outside our church body.

IV. The Implementation of Confessional Principles and
Priorities for Ecumenical Endeavors on Every Level
of Our Life Together in The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod

A. On the Synodical Level

1. On the synodical level primary attention will be given to internal
relationships. The Synod, through agencies authonzed to perform such
functions in its name. will. when differences occur, attempt by every
means at its disposal to effect reconciliation. When disagreements involve
a departure from teachings of God's Word and reflect unwillingness to
bow to the authority of the Sacred Scriptures, evangelical discipline
must be applied out of the concern we have for each other's spiritual
welfare in the household of faith. Especially in cases where an individual
or a group has entered a state of protest against the theological position
of the Synod. serious efforts must be made to clanfy the point of con-
troversy, to adjust matters according to God's Word. and to bring about
God-pleasing harmony. or. failing in this. to apply such disciplinary
measures as will fulfill the Synod’s obligation to warn and try to correct
all who persist in disobedience to the Word of God.

2. Next in importance is the Synod’s concern to preserve and
Strengthen its relationship specifically with sister churches abroad and
with other Lutheran bodies with whom we are in fellowship. Through
a regularized program of planned contacts and of continuing study of
how church bodies who already are in fellowship can give the most
effective witness to the Savior in the various political. social, and cultural
situations in the world. we should endeavor to aid and encourage one
another in carrying out the mission of the church. Especially will churches
in fellowship be of service to each other by mutual admonition to remain
faithful to God's Word and by helping one another to adopt such pro-
grams and structures as will further our Purpose to become all things to
all men that we might by all means save some. Particular attention will
always be given to the concerns of sister churches who at any time may
enter into a state of protest fin statu confessionis) over against the theo-
logical position of the Synod with a view to removing their concerns and
Promoting harmony so that together we May continue to give a unanimous
and unhindered testimony to the grace of God in Christ.

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Il. Principles for Lutheran Ecumenism

A. Lutherans recognize and rejoice in their oneness with all Chris-
tians in the Una Sancta and regard this unity as the presupposition for
continuing ecumenical endeavors throughout Christendom.

B. Lutherans deplore doctrinal disagreements. religious disputes,
and dissensions among Chnistians and will not omit doing anything.
in so far as God and conscience allow. that may serve the cause of
Christian concord. (AC Preface. 13: FC SD X1. 95)

C. The concord that Lutherans desire and seek is confessional
agreement among al! Christians that extends to ail the articles of faith
revealed in the Sacred Scriptures and comprised in the Lutheran Symbols.

D. Lutherans seek agreement in all the articles of faith not only
for the sake of uniformity itself. or solely on account of the obedience
we owe to God's Word in all that it teaches, but by the light and the power
of the Gospel they seek agreement in all the articles of faith chiefly in
order that “the Gospel be preached in conformity with a pure under-
standing of it." (AC VII, 2; German)

E. Lutherans hold that until such confessional agreement is actu-
alized not only by formal acceptance of doctrinal formulations but by
faithful adherence to the true doctrine in the preaching and teaching
of the church the basis for God-pleasing concord and fellowship among
Christians does not yet exist.

F. Lutherans maintain that the concord we seek cannot be attained
by ignoring doctrinal disagreements or by negotiating a compromise.
but by exposing and refuting error and by confessing the truth.

Ill. Priorities for Lutheran Ecumenical Endeavors

For the sake of preserving the Preaching of the Gospel according
to a pure understanding of it. the Lutheran Confessions have put the
following item on the agenda of the Lutheran Church:

By faithful and perpetual confession of the truth seek to promote
throughout Christendom full agreement in all the articles of faith so
that peace and concord may prevail within the unity of the church.

A task of such magnitude as this calls for careful planning and
deliberate action lest our efforts be dissipated for want of clearly defined
objectives and direction. Since on the confessional spectrum there are
church bodies on one end with whom we already enjoy a great deal of
agreement and church bodies on the other end with whom we have
larger areas of disagreement. out of regard for relationships that already
exist we seek above all to strengthen our ties with those who are con-
fessionally most akin to us. It is a basic Principle that while we carry on
ecumenical endeavors simultaneously with as many church bodies as
Our resources permit. those nearest to us in the faith merit our closest
contact and most persistent ecumenical effort.

The preservation of confessional unanimity within our own church

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3. With genuine regret that church bodies with whom we were
formerly in fellowship have severed their relationships with us. the Synod
will endeavor by every means available to resolve the disagreements
that separate us and to restore fellowship. Before God. who searches the
heart. the Synod will reexamine its dealings with these church badies.
invite discussion of the issues that still form a barrier between us. and
In true humility repent if it has been guilty of loveless disregard of the
concerns of fellow Lutherans. beseeching God to grant us agreement
in the truth of Hiy Word se that once again we cam with one voice wil
ness to the faith that binds us together in one church and fellowship

4. In initiating conversations and dialogue with other church bodies.
the Synod will be careful to do so on terms that are consonant with
sound Lutheran theology so as not to give occasion for offense and
Jeopardize fellowship relations that already exist. The Synod will avail
iself of all opportunities to engage in conversation with other Christians
so long as this can be done without compromising our confessional
Position. as would be the caye. for instance. were the Synod to be invited
to participate in dialogue on the condition that it recognize the legitimacy
of a method of Biblical interpretation that is incompatible with the Lu-
theran view of the authority of the Holy Scriptures. Fruitful dialogue is
difficult. if not impossible. unless Participants share the same under-
standing of the authority of Scripture or unless conversations are held
for the purpose of reaching agreement about Biblical authority as a first
step toward discussion of other areas of doctrine.

It remains a basic principle for the Synod that the unity in the
church which we seek is not an external unification imposed from without
by the adoption of common polities and by organizational affiliation or
by united endeavors in worthy causes. but the Unity in the church which
results from confessional unanimity. that ts, genuine concord or agree-
ment in doctrine. In relation to other church bodies and agencies the
Synod will gladly cooperate in externals. thut is. Participate in projects
which do not involve joint worship or the spiritual ministry of the church
In line with this principle the Synod will contnually examine the pro-
prety of present affiliations and will carefully weigh proposals to enter
new alliances

B. On the District and Circuit Levels

A synodical district is the Synod itself performing its functions in
a given geogruphical area.’ The Synod is not a federation of autonomous
districts. but rather districts are administrative units into which the
Synod divides itself for the purpose of more effective performance and
supervision of its work in different localities. It is self-evident that all
synodical resolutions. policies. and principles relative to joint endeavors
are binding upon districts. The districts can engage only in such joint
efforts as have been approved by the Synod and then always through
structures adopted by the Synod and in accordance with synodical

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