By Robert W. Bertram (Reprinted in ELIM in Missouri; Vol. I, No. 4 -July-August, 1974 from ELIM Rally Address — March 3, 1974) “Our Struggle” is the way the topic has been announced: “Our Struggle for Mission and Unity.” Well, one form this struggle has taken, that I think more and more of us have experienced, is …
Those Troublesome Mission Affirmations
Robert W. Bertram [Printed in Cross and Caduceus (1974?): 3.] Of all the doctrinal resolutions of the Missouri Synod which we are to “honor and uphold,” none gives me more trouble than the one I’ve been asked to write about – The Mission Affirmations. Not that I can’t affirm them. I can and do, passionately. But the …
Confessional Subscription
[In The Promising Tradition, A Reader in Law-Gospel Reconstructionist Theology. Second Edition. Edited by Edwrd Schroeder. St. Louis: Concordia Seminary in Exile, 1974.] 1. The Issue To say that confessional subscription is currently an “issue” among us is to say it is a subject of controversy. It exposes differences among us. That no one will deny. But then …
What’s Lutheran About Higher Education? Theological Presuppositions
Robert W. Bertram [Printed in “What’s Lutheran About Higher Education?” Papers and Proceedings, 1974 Lutheran Educational Conference of North America, St. Louis, MO January 11-12, 1974.] (Four Theses) In the encyclopedia of the university’s arts and sciences, the closer you advance toward that center where humanity was more substantively the object of your studies the more it …
Crossings, Inc. (Saint Louis): A Proposal
Robert W. Bertram [Epiphany 1974] What? To establish Crossings, Inc. — or whatever its name should be– an institute for theological transactions in people’s secular callings, training clergy and laity together. Who? a) Fulltime students (from the USA and elsewhere) who are candidates for an advanced theological degree in the Saint Louis Theological Consortium (S.T.M., M.A., D.Min., Th.D. …
What Is So Great About Faith?
in Faithful to Our Calling, Faithful To Our Lord vo. II, pp. 19-22. Edited by the Faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis: Concordia Seminary. 1974 What could possibly be so important about my faith that I should now be asked to publish it like this “for use in discussion forums?” What is there about my faith that …
CONFESSION OF FAITH
Edward H. Schroeder Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology [Printed in Faithful to Our Calling, Faithful to Our Lord, vo II, p 126-128. Edited by the Faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis,: Concordia Seminary, 1974] I The first word of God we confess is that He is Creator and we are his creatures. Our own existence is thus …
Piepkorn in PERSPECTIVE
[In “Viewpoint,” Missouri in Perspective 1:5 December 24, 1973] Arthur Carl Piepkorn does not need for us to say this, seeing how obvious it is: he was the Missouri Synod’s most sweetly orthodox teacher, not only to the Synod itself but in behalf of the Synod to the rest of Christendom. Yet that same Synod in its …
A Personal Memorandum
Robert Bertram ABSTRACT By silencing its teachers, the synodical administration is silencing the Word of God. Yet, ironically, this silencing seems to have produced a better hearing for the Word of God than ever before. (Stephen C. Krueger) 13 December 1973 To: My Brothers and Sister in the Faculty Majority and Staff From: Robert Bertram 1) The saddest …
Critique of President Preus’ Statement
Edward H. Schroeder [Presentation to LC-MS Northern IL District Pastoral Conference, Oct 16 & 17, 1973] Others have responded to the Preus “A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles.” William Lazareth, Walter Keller, Paul Bretscher, Paul Jacobs, the New England Pastoral Conference, Twin-Cities Pastoral Conference, Southern Illinois Pastors and Teachers Conference, Concordia College (Portland) Faculty, Theology Division …