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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 468

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

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

For the Use of
A Statement of Scriptural

and Confessional Principles
With Special Reference to the
Expression of Dissent

A Report of the Commission
on Theology and Church Relations

The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod
November 1973

+) To determine of the Gssent in ANY Way invaives disagreement
the Seriptures and the Lutheran Confessions

Bo After the commission has given full consideration to these com-
Munteat ons. it shall proweed as tollows
lof someussion i perscaded that the criticism er dissent ts
IMerror at sr communicate this to the individual, and. where
Necessary. to the respective otficrals tever further aetion
May he necessary,

2oTt sriticism or dissent cs found ty be vaiid. the CICR will
atiompt
ato Sherdiy the issue for the Synod,
bo te recommend tu th Ssnod changes or appropnate acnen

for ah

Port to the church
semumisson's Bupe that ts “Guiding
Principles.” ay cael! as ats Subsequent consideration of obyecuons to such
ssnodicui doctringi statements as 4 Starement. will assist the Synod in the
senservation and promotion of the unity of the true faith” ¢Constituuen,
Article HL)

2 The commission will make an appropriate
MUIETIONE oApresses

Dk RALPH A BOHT MANS, Eaecutie Secretary
COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS
The Lutheran Church» Missouri Synod

November 1473

Preface

In its 1973 synodical convention The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod adopted 4 Statement of S npteral and Contesyional Principles as a
formal “statement of belief” (Resolution 3-01, Proceedings pp t27—~-1281

While many have greeted this action with enthusiasm, others have
disagreed with it. Considerable discussion has taken Pluce in the Synod
on the meaning of the convention's action. av we'l as on the means that
ure available to the members of the Synod for the expression of dissent

The “Guiding Principles” that follow were Prepared to help the
members of the Synod understand how the Synod uself has spoken to
such questions The imtial draft was Prepared at the request of President
Prous and discussed with the Council of Presidents in July and September
before its submission to the CTCR in September {973 for further con-
sideration. After discussion and revision in tac meetings of the com-
Mission, it Was formally adopted for distribution throughout the Synod

In order te further the development of theological consensus in the
Synod. President Preus hus asked the CTCR to provide leadership in
Carrying Out its constitutional responsibilities ta dea! with stutements of
dissent or objectons to the Synod’s doctrinal stetements In response to
that request, the commission adopted the folowing “Policy for Processing
Communications and Statements of Dissent”:

The CTCR expresses its intention to listen carefully to ali who have
objections to or misgivings about synodically adopted “statements of
belief and of doctrinal resolutions. or who offer suggestions for their
Improvement. The commission also seeks to Promote conversation
with groups or individuals. where this is desirable and feasible, in an
attempt to resolve doctrinal! differences und misunderstandings in
accordance with the Scriptures und the Confessions. The commission
implores the aid und blessing of the Holy Spirit that these endeavors
May instruct and edify Christ's holy people

A. The rete of the commasion in carrying out this responsibility

shall be:

1. To receive and consider all communications and statements of
dissent with regard to synodicully adopted “stiutements of be-
het” and doctrinal resotutions:

2. To classify all these communications and determine the nature
of any dissent

3. To weigh all eriticnms or suggestions regarding synodically
adopred “statements of bellef” and or doctrinal resolutions:

GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE USE
OF A STATEMENT OF SCRIPTURAL
AND CONFESSIONAL PRINCIPLES
WITH SPECIAL REFFRENCE TO THE
EXPRESSION OF DISSENT

Introduction

The 1973 convention of the LOMS declared 4 Statement or Scrips
ferdl and Cormtessionul Princspies via he Senpteral and in accord sith the
Coutheran Confessions, and therefore « formu ooaowhich derves its au-
monty from the Werd of God and which expresses the Synod’s position
oo current doc: “IY S Resolution 211. Proceedines, p. 12805

y

The convention :
eecuring it to be a omore torr
in the sense of Reseluuon &.24
Maung that d Starement * }
(1972 Resolution 3-U!, Pron eed:

meive statement of belief
kee convention.” and
the status defined in said resolution”
p. 12s)

vether in the Ssood that we de net give
our synodiy. adopted dovtr: statements “more or less status than
Chey deserve” 61964 Resolution 2-27 Proceedings. p Yt1. Our Synod
has spoken on this question a number of times in its recent history.- The
guiding principles that follow summarize and “Ppply what the Syed has
said about the status und use of it. doctrinal stat ents in general and
ofa synodicul “statement of beef” isuch asf Statement ot Scriptural and
Comessional Peneiples in Particular ft is hoped that these Principles
sil help the Synod tind a greater measure of unity in tts confession of faith
and witness to the world

His mpertent for our lifes

Guiding Principles

1 Because of the action of the 1973 synodical convention. A Statement
of Scriptura: and Contesstonal Prnciples is now te be regarded as an
oficial synodical document which is to be used throughout the Synod
rather than as the statement of an individual intended for a somewhat
Inmited use As a svnoheal document, 4 § fement “expresses the
Synod’s position on current doctrinal issues” 1 1973 Resolution 3-01,
Proceedings, p. 12%). More Precisely. 4 Stasement has the status of
being a synodicel “statement of belief” in the seme of 1971 Resolu-
tion S-24.4

= The doctrina! authority of 4 Srarement is not derived from the ma-
jority vote of the 1973 synodical convention, but “from the Word of
God” which it sets forth “from Holy Scripture” (1971 Resolution
8-24. cf. 1973 Resolution 3-01, First Resolved, Proceedings. p. 12)
Such synodical statements of belief. “insofar as they are in accord

A