To Mark Fiftieth Anniversary of 1974 Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, “Walkout” with Thorough Teaching about the Controversy and Renewed Emphasis on Pure Doctrine

WHEREAS, On Feb. 19, 1974, the majority of the faculty and students “walked out” of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (CSL), in protest of an investigation into the teaching at the institution, and in order to form “Seminex,” a seminary in exile; and

WHEREAS, The investigation wasan attempt to determine if there was false teaching, specifically the historical-critical method by which the clear words of Scripture are doubted or treated as myth, legend, or analogy; and

WHEREAS, For years prior to the fact finding inquiry and the “Walkout,” pastors and members of Synod congregations were hearing disturbing accounts of CSL professors allowing for interpretations of the Bible that did not uphold the doctrine of the in err an cy of Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:21); and

WHEREAS, The Fact Finding Committee found that some professors “held or permitted”: verbal inspiration and the in err an cy, as well as disagreement on the relationship between the formal and material principles of Scripture.

2. A commitment to the use of the historical-critical method as a valid and preferred method for the interpretation of the Bible. stories are not really historical. Gospels were in fact never spoken by Him, but were later additions or interpretations made by the Christian community after the death of Jesus. pointing directly to Jesus Christ; that is, the minimal iz ation of predictive prophecy in the Old Testament. Pentateuch, Isaiah did not pen his entire book, and Paul may not have written all the books attributed to him in the New Testament (“Summary of the Findings,” Report of the Synodical President, pp. 21–25, cited in Exodus From Concordia: A Report on the 35) and

WHEREAS, An example of the teaching which met objection is found in the comments made by Concordia Seminary professor Dr. Walter Bartling at a Louisiana Pastoral Conference, April 17–20, 1972. Bartling stated: I can’t answer the question, “Do you believe in the his tori city of Adam and Eve?” His tori city and facticity are not even in my dictionary. One thing they caught most of us on is, were Adam and Eve historical persons? I don’t know. I don’t think so. It is not important… I believe that many of my Christian brothers have problems with the virgin birth of Christ. Don’t ask me, “Do you believe in a 6-day creation?”…I have problems with the virgin birth, real presence, bodily resurrection.…I can’t bear the burden of Scriptural infallibility. (Exodus From Concordia: A Report on the 1974 Walkout, Concordia Seminary Board of Control, 1977, p. 56); and

WHEREAS, The Walkout had a devastating impact on CSL, and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), pitting allegiances, the unity of congregations, and even family ties against sound hermeneutical principles, the Lutheran Confessions, and accepted synodical statements of belief; and

WHEREAS, Seminex and its supporters eventually folded in with the church bodies that produced the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) which does not insist on the in err an cy of Scripture or unconditional subscription to the Lutheran Confessions; and

WHEREAS, The uncompromising response of the LCMS leadership to the Walkout is a rare instance in which the all-too- common slide of church bodies to the way of the world was checked and resisted; and

WHEREAS, The grassroots movement in LCMS congregations in the late 1960s and early 1970s was key to calling for doctrinal integrity at CSL; and

WHEREAS, The 50th Anniversary of the 1974 Walkout will be observed in the next triennium of the Synod, on Feb. 19, 2024; and

WHEREAS, Two generations of LCMS members have been born since the Walkout and may know little or nothing about this time period and the story of God graciously rescuing our Synod from capitulating to the culture; and

WHEREAS, The cultural pressure to compromise on Scriptural in err an cy is just as great on the present generation with evolution, abortion, same-sex “marriage,” and universalism as part of the accepted civil religion; and

WHEREAS, On the 40th Anniversary of the Walkout, Dr. Karl Barth, the last living member of the Fact Finding Committee at the time, and president emeritus of CSL, was asked by Rev. Todd Wilken on an Issues, Etc. program, “Why should a young Lutheran who is listening to us care about the ‘Battle of the Bible’ in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod back in the 1970s?”, to which Dr. Barth replied: Well, he should be thankful that the Church, though it was plagued at that time with things that were not pleasant, returned to a solid basis, so that when they hear the sermons preached today they know they are coming from a man who is firmly convinced that the will of God for the salvation of the world and for the rule of the Church is clearly stated in the Bible; and that it is imperative for a church body and the pastors and the people to have that trust that the Jesus whom they are worshipping is indeed the Jesus that is portrayed for us in holy Scripture (“Encore: The Anniversary of a Walkout Staged by Faculty and Students at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis – Dr. Karl Barth, 2/20/20,” Issues, Etc., accessed Jan. 24, 2023, issues etc.org/2020/02/20/encore-the-anniversary-of-a-walkout- staged-by-faculty-and-students-at-concordia-seminary-in-st- louis-dr-karl-barth-2-20-20/). Therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod mark the 50th anniversary of the Walkout through its publications; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod re-release, via free streaming, any videos and documentaries which recount the tumultuous events of the Walkout; and be it further

Resolved, That all members of LCMS congregations be encouraged to utilize these resources; and be it further

Resolved, That all pastors be encouraged to teach their congregations about the Walkout and address with Scripture the theological errors of our age, as our faithful forefathers have done since the time of Martin Luther; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod recognize the professors, faculty, and staff of Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield and those at CSL who remained faithful to Scripture and Lutheran Confessions;

and be it further

Resolved, That all glory be given to our Lord God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who saved the LCMS from going the way of the world; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Mid-South District, meeting in convention, submit this as a memorial to the 2023 Synod convention.