76-4 Resolution on “THAT THEY MAY BE ONE”

WHEREAS Christ, in His Priestly Prayer, calls on His people to celebrate that unity which His Spirit gives; and

WHEREAS St. Paul writes, “there is one body and one spirit, as there is also one hope held out in God’s call to you; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all;” and

WHEREAS we realize that the Eucharist is a potent rallying point in our Christian lives; and

WHEREAS we have much too long felt the pains and frustrations of not being able to formally share the Body and Blood of our risen Saviour in an open celebration of the Eucharist with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVES that the National Assembly of the Lutheran Student Movement in the U.S.A. does hereby endorse the petition “That They May Be One” presented and adopted at the Lutheran-Roman Catholic Conference held at St. John’s Abbey, August 10, 1976;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the position previously described be sent in all post-conference packets along with a standardized form to be completed  by our brothers or sisters who are absent from this assembly and who would care to endorse this petition;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these forms be sent to Mr. Christ Berry, 2311 E. Shaw, Fresno, California 93710, for compilation and distribution to the various judicatory agencies, as well as to the National Council of the LSM-USA;

AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that we keep these ideas of unity and hospitality in our prayers, both in worship and private, for the coming year.

ACTIONS TAKEN:

A copy of this position was included in all post-conference packets as dictated by the resolution.  Copies were also sent to the heads of the Church bodies and agencies.

**Communication concerning the resolution was received from as far away as Sweden where Brother Caesarius of Ostanbacks, Kloster wrote asking for information about “They May Be One.”  In his second communication with the national office he wrote the following that is shared here with you:

“Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

Thanks a lot for all your kind information concerning “That They May Be One” and your movement.  We are going to translate part of the material for our ecumenical review.  You seem to do a much more positive job that the Christian movement people do over here!

May the Holy Spirit prosper your movement for evangelism and unity.

                                                                  In Him and the Paschal Joy

                                                                                   Yours

                                                                          Brother Caesarius”