LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1979, Page 121

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RESOLUTIONS 121

To Encourage Theological Discussions
with the LCA

RESOLUTION 3-09

Report 3-01, II, H, 3, a (CW, p. 78); Overtures 3-
91A—3-92B (CW, pp. 116—117)

WHEREAS, Dr. Preus, in response to Dallas Res. 3-20,
“To Encourage Fellowship Discussions with All
Lutheran Church Bodies,” invited the Lutheran Church
in America to hold doctrinal discussions with The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, but the LCA re-
sponded by saying it considered such discussions un-
necessary; and

WHEREAS, The Consultation on the Function. of
Doctrine and Theology in the Light of the Unity of the
Church held under the auspices of LCUSA recom-
mended recently in its summary report “that inter-
Lutheran study and discussion of Scripture, of the
Confessions, and of theological issues crucial to the
faith and life of the church today be encouraged among
members of our churches” (Summary, FODT Report, p.
10); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod direct its President, in
consultation with the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations, to invite the Lutheran Church in
America to reconsider its decision not to hold discus-
sions with the LCMS on the issues that separate our
church bodies; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod request the President of
the Synod and the CTCR to report to the Synod on the
progress and results of this renewed invitation.

Action: Adopted (10).

To Reaffirm Position
on Charismatic Movement

RESOLUTION 3-10

Overtures 3-17A—3-18, 3-95A—C (CW, pp. 96—
97, 117)

WHEREAS, The Holy Scriptures teach and the
Lutheran Symbols confess that the Holy Spirit carries
out His work without ceasing until the Last Day
through Word and sacrament (John 8:31-32; Eph. 2:19-
22; 2 Cor. 2:14-17; 2 Tim. 3:15-16; Large Catechism, II,
Tappert, pp. 417, 419; FC SDII, 56, Tappert, p. 532); and

WHEREAS, The Scriptures nowhere promise that God
reveals His will to us as He did to the apostles and
prophets, directly and immediately through visions and
dreams; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Confessions clearly reject
the view that God reveals Himself and bestows His
spiritual gifts to us apart from the objective and external
Word and sacraments:

In short, enthusiasm clings to Adam and his descendants
from the beginning to the end of the world. It is a poison
implanted and inoculated in man by the old dragon, and it
is the source, strength, and power of all heresy, including
that of the papacy and Mohammedanism. Accordingly, we
should and must constantly maintain that God will not

deal with us except through the external Word and sacra-

ment. Whatever is attributed to the Spirit apart from such

Word and sacramentis of the devil. (SA III, viii, 9—10); and

WHEREAS, Dallas Res. 3-10A clearly states that the
Scriptures teach that “the faith by which we accept
God’s forgiveness on account of Christ is the work of
God’s Spirit through the external means of grace,
namely, the preaching (teaching) of the Gospel, Holy
Baptism, Holy Absolution, and the Lord’s Supper.
Through these external means the Holy Spirit works
faith in the heart when and where it pleases God.
Through these external means of grace the Holy Spirit,
together with all that is necessary for life and salvation,
is given to those who believe”; and

WHEREAS, The rejection of the false teaching “that
God gives guidance and leadership to the church today
through visions and dreams of direct prophecy” (Dallas
Res. 3-10A) in no such way calls into question the
ongoing work of the Holy Spirit of preserving, leading,
and guiding Christians until the end of time; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm the position
expressed in Dallas Res. 3-10A “To Clarify the Synod’s
Position Regarding Charismatic Teaching”; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Synod refer those who have
questions regarding the charismatic movement to the
Commission on Theology and Church Relation’s 1972
report, “The Charismatic Movement and Lutheran
Theology,” and 1977 report, ‘““The Lutheran Church and
the Charismatic Movement”; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod urge that the members of
all our congregations continue to give careful attention
to what the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions
teach concerning the work of the Holy Spirit.

Action: Adopted (10).

(An amendment to add to the final resolve a reference to the
preamble to the Synod’s Constitution was declined.)

To Decline to Amend
Dallas Resolution 3-07
on Doctrinal Statements

RESOLUTION 3-11
Overture 3-47 (CW, p. 105)

WHEREAS, “The Synod guides itself solely by the
norm of the inerrant Scriptures, and the Lutheran
Confessions as a true and unadulterated exposition of
the Word of God, and exercises discipline and settles
controversies by that norm” (Denver Res. 2-27); and

WHEREAS, The Synod throughout its history has
exercised the right and responsibility granted by the
Lutheran Confessions (FC SD, Rule and Norm, 10) of
stating what it believes by adopting doctrinal state-
ments and resolutions on the basis of the Scriptures and
Confessions in order to express conviction with respect
to contemporary challenges, problems, and aberrations,
and has repeatedly emphasized that such doctrinal