Mr. Stephen P. Jacobs

            President

            Lutheran Student Movement—USA

            35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1847

            Chicago, Illinois 60601

            Dear Mr. Jacobs:

Thank you for so promptly providing me with the resolutions adopted by the Lutheran Student Movement’s Legislative Assembly.

I will note those which were addressed to the church body presidents. Since the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has never declared itself to be in altar and pulpit fellowship with the Lutheran Church in America I am not surprised that that church body finds difficulty in maintaining such fellowship with The American Lutheran Church. Yet the pertinent fact, in response to the action of the assembly, is to note that the Lutheran Church in America has in its constitution an item which declares our church to be one in faith with any church body that subscribes to the Augsburg Confession and Luther’s Small Catechism. Thus we consider ourselves to be in fellowship with the Missouri Synod because we consider ourselves to be one in faith with the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Yet we must acknowledge that the Missouri Synod has a different view on this matter.

With regard to the resolution on youth and students at the assembly of the Lutheran World Federation, I was in basic agreement with all points except one. I would think that a world Lutheran youth gathering is desirable but not immediately prior to the next assembly. I would hope that such a gathering might take place at an earlier date.

With regard to homosexuality, I agree that the matter should be discussed and studied in a ration al way in congregations of the LCA. I believe the brief references to homosexuality which are in the statement on Sex, Marriage and Family adopted by the LCA in 1970 are adequate. There are people who desire us to take further and more explicit actions. These persons are from both poles of opinion. I am not in favor of further statements because I believe this would lead to trying to put everything into rules and regulations when a good deal must be left to pastoral care and counseling to meet individual situations.

I read the several other resolutions with great interest. I was pleased that the participants in the assembly had shown concern on these important issues.

                                                                                    Sincerely,

            RJM:bf