CONCORDIA THEOLOGICAL MONTHLY

Heirs of the Reformation in the Pulpit GRAE:ME M. ROSENAU

Bedeutung und Eigenart der Lutherbibel HEINZ BLUHM

Theology as Habitus Practicus Theosdotos: a Lutheran Emphasis HENRY J. EGGOLD

Brief Studies Homiletics Theological Observer Book Review

VOL. xxxm Oaober 1962 No. 10

I THEOLOGICAAL OBSERVER

RUDOLF BULTMANN'S CONCEPT mann actually do when he reduces the Chris­ OF REVELATION tian fact to a mere inner acceptance of the Under this heading the Catholic Biblical kerygma . . .? He performs toward Christ Quarterly (July 1962) presents what seems an inner movement of an essentially mythical character, transforming into terms, which to us a keen and correct analysis of Bult­ mann's doctrine of revelation. In his criticism are outwardly Christian, a spiritual attitude of Bultmann's teaching Father Cahill writes which is more Hindu and archaic than inter alia: "What appears as the primary Christian. He makes the inner presence of problem posed by Bultmann's concept of the Christian message in human conscious" a Word encountering man and offering him ness a substitute for the objective love of the actual possibility of a new 'existential' God for man in Christ. . .. It is all a Chris­ self-understanding is that Christ, his cross tianized myth." The whole article deserves and resurrection seem thereby to become only careful reading, but the few quoted state­ a symbol. Though Bultmann does not deny ments stress the salient characteristics of the historical reality of Christ's life and Bultmann's basic aberration from the Chris- death ( the resurrection is quite another ti~1!1 !fl'th. JOHN THEODORE MUELLER matter), divine significance is achieved only ' f h COMPARISON AND CONTP~'\.ST t hroug h man s acceptance 0 t e preached Word. At best, events of the past are linked Under this heading H. H. Rowley, emeri­ with the present preached Word in a very tus professor of Hebrew, University of heterogeneous external alliance. . . . The Manchester, England, gives in Interpretcttion object of faith for Bultmann is a challenging, (July 1962) his verdict on the Qumran demanding Word proclaiming birth, death, scrolls. After a careful examination of d~e and resurrection. This birth, death, and scrolls he sums up his findings as follo~s resurrection is not a series of historical (quoted in part): "All in all, therefore, 'the events which have a reality independent of debt of th~ church to Qumran was not man's inner acceptance. Rather, inner accept- a great one. To say this is not in any way ance constitutes Eschatological Occurrence to depreciate the Qumran sect .... But an [the revelation of God]. What constitutes the links between the sect and the church the birth of Christ? The new life of man. that can survive examination are superficial What constitutes the cross of Christ? Man's and riot fundamental, and in particular the actual death to the standards of this world. theology of the sect is poles asunder ftom What constitutes the resurrection? Man's Christian theology. In its teaching there' is resurrection from his unauthentic exist- nothing comparable with the place of Jesus ence. . . . That Christ's life, death, and in Christian thought. It has been supposed resurrection are reduced to symbols . .. that the Teacher of Righteousness was cruci­ becomes clearer when we turn to the resur- fied and that he was expected to rise again rection which, in Bultmann's system, is not as the Messiah. The crucifixion of the a real theological and historical event, but Teacher is nowhere mentioned in any of simply a projection of the Christian com- the scrolls. There is a reference to the 'lion munity to interpret the cross ... a preached of wrath' who crucified men, and it is as­ resurrection symbolizes the resurrection de- sumed that this means the crucifixion, of manded of man. . . . What then does Bult- eight hundred Pharisees by Alexander Jane 617 618 THEOLOGICAL OBSERVER

naeus. By a curious stretch of imagination June 12 the opinion that "the opportunities it is then assumed without the slightest evi­ for Christian renewal in the Evangelical dence that Janneaus went to Qumran and churches are greater in northern Europe crucified the Teacher of Righteousness. Of than anywhere else in the world. The re­ the expected resurrection of the Teacher there sources are tremendous - economic prosper­ is once more no clear evidence, though more ity, a great theological tradition, a favorable than half a century ago it was claimed that attitude on the part of the state, a nearby an obscure text in the Zadokite Work ex­ threat from atheist Communism, and a fun­ pressed this expectation.... In the New damentally religious people," the 47-year­ Testament the crucifixion of Jesus does not old Congregationalist minister said. have to be imaginatively created by a twen­ Nevertheless, "the dominating cultural tieth-century author, and his resurrection is and economic pattern seems to be the quest not something that is referred to in a single for creature comforts. In the modern wel­ obscure text. . . . In all the discussion of the fare state, the means of life have become scrolls there has been too much reading of the goals." the New Testament into the Qumran texts, The NCCC official advocated "an active thus creating an illusory similarity where program of stewardship and evangelism" to none appears, while at the same time eyes overcome the weakness in congregational have been closed to patent differences. life which he saw in the Lutheran churches A more objective study of the scrolls and of northern Europe. He cited four evidences the New Testament ... recognizes the gulf of such weakness: that separates the thought and practice of The gap between the proportion of the the New Testament church from that of population that is baptized, confirmed, mar­ Qumran." JOHN THEODORE MUELLER ried and buried by the church and that which regularly attends congregational worship. BRIEF ITEMS FROM THE The tax system of church support, by which "the citizen gets as much as he wants NATIONAL LUTHERAN COUNCIL from the church, and for little cost - he is Vienna. - A non-Lutheran stewardship satisfied to have the church there when he expert told a Lutheran Wodd Federation needs it, like the fire department." "The congregation as the Christian com­ commission here that the churches of north­ munity where ethical ideals are shared, dis­ ern Europe were failing to make the best ciplines enforced, and wayward people helped use of the resources at their disposal. For seems to have disappeared." this reason, "it seems by no means certain An "easy-going and condescending" anti­ clericalism by which "the pastor is often that there will be a Christian renewal in thought of as an educated museum-keeper, northern Europe in our time," said Dr. T. K. learned but not expected to contribute much Thompson of New York, a staff officer of to present-day problems." the National Council of the Churches of Dr. Thompson contended that "many per­ Christ. sons and organizations (in the north Euro­ Dr. Thompson, director of the NCCC De­ pean churches) do not want a renewal of partment of Stewardship and Benevolence, the congregation, at least in its present form." is completing a nine-month department­ Among them he named: assigned study of the European churches' Pastors who, not being dependent on their stewardship attitudes and theology, as well congregations for support, "are satisfied with as their financial practices. their present situation," which calls for read­ ing, preaching, performing ministerial acts, . He expressed to the LWF Commission visiting the sick and bereaved, but otherwise on Stewardship and Congregational Life on no personal attention to their parishioners. THEOLOGICAL OBSERVER 619

Mission society executives who "see their gested "for the purpose of stimulating dis-. position threatened" and "are by no means cuss ion" that children be permitted to receive willing to join a stewardship movement communion at the age of ten years. The which would put some 'super-church' organ­ ization between them and their constituents." commission further proposed that confirma­ Government officials who "take pride in tion should no longer be regarded as neces­ the fact that some portion of the tax monies sary for admission to holy communion, go to support the church" and take "a sort a radical departure from the present Lu­ of whimsical delight" in exercising "some theran requirement that members must be element of control" over it. Lay academy leaders, whose movement confirmed before receiving the Lord's "must be regarded as partly a protest against Supper. clerical domination of the formal church." The commission also urged that the age Leaders of various kinds of religious for confirmation be raised to the completion groups, such as mission societies, prayer of grade eleven, the equivalent of the junior groups, and fund-raising efforts, which "are reluctant to surrender any of their organ­ year in high school. This would mean that izational strength or functions to a more children would be confirmed at from 14 to dynamic central church." 16 years rather than from 12 to 14. The Lay people who, remembering "the spectre most common practice in Lutheran churches of the Roman Catholic Church with its in­ is to confirm at the end of grade eight or quisitions and pretensions to all temporal and spiritual power, ... would rather see a dis­ nine after a IT/O-y<:,,;: course of catecheti..:a! organized church with a multiplicity of instruction. church and religious g.roups than a well­ In its 3,OOO-word report, the commission organized church with an integrated system of missions and benevolences." pointed out that the practice of the Christian church concerning holy communion has been Detroit, Mich. - Lutheran church bodies varied. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, of America were invited here to participate the sacrament is given to children and even in a joint study of the theology of confirma­ to infants. Roman Catholic practice since tion, including a revolutionary proposal that the 12th century has been to allow all to baptized children be admitted to holy com­ come to the Lord's Table who have reached munion before they are confirmed. the "age of reason," now defined as age seven. By action of delegates to the constituting In both of these churches, the commission convention of the Lutheran Church in Amer­ stressed, confirmation has no connection with ica in Cobo Hall, the American Lutheran admission to communion, .and this, it added, Church and The Lutheran Church - Missouri "appears also to have been the case in early Synod will be asked to appoint members to Reformation orders which provided for con­ a Joint Commission on the Theology and firmation," Practice of Confirmation. As a basic docu­ The commission spoke out sharply in ment, the special commission will have a criticism of the popular understanding by 3,OOO-word report on the subject which which confirmation has come to occupy a was submitted to the LCA by its own Joint place "which is, in fact, above both sacra­ Commission on Confirmation. ments" - Baptism and Communion, the two The commission was discharged "with sacraments recognized by Lutheran churches. thanks for its provocative report" and the Observing that "Baptism is a sacrament; con­ report will be transmitted "as information" firmation is not," the commission declared to the new commission if the ALC and Mis­ that "it rests upon no command of our Lord souri Synod accept the LCA's invitation. and cannot be established as essential to the Specifically, the LCA's commission sug- Christian life on the basis of Scripture, the 620 THEOLOGICAL OBSERVER

Lutheran confessions, or the evangelical Ephesians, which is the Biblical book selected understanding of the church and the means for special attention at the assembly. of grace." The Bible study guide, including a poly­ Vienna. - Manuscript work on the main glot text of the epistle itself, is expected to study book for the Lutheran Wodd Federa­ be ready for the churches' use late this year. tion's 1963 Assembly in Helsinki was com­ It is being prepared by another commission pleted here by the LWF Commission on member, Dr. Nils A. Dahl, New Testament Theology. professor at the University of Oslo. The document is a thorough, many-sided Further assembly publications that re­ treatment of the assembly theme: the central ceived attention here included works dealing Lutheran doctrine of justification of man with before God by faith in Christ and its re­ - ways in which the historic Lutheran newing effect on human life. Its publica­ confessional documents are invoked as an tion and distribution to federation member authority in the churches' life today; churches is scheduled for early next year. - Lutheran views and practices respecting Under the motto "Christ Today," the as­ inter-church fellowship and particularly in­ sembly is to be held in the Finnish capital tercommunion; from July 30 to Aug. 11, 1963. The study - the nature and purpose of the federa- book wiH seek co m&.ke ,he justification doc­ tir ~ L L -, - --ociation of churches united trine understandable in terms of present in a common body of beliefs; everyday life. - prayer and the devotional life of Its text is being prepared by Dr. Warren congregations, families, and individual Chris­ A. Quanbeck, professor of systematic the­ tians. ology at Luther Theological Seminary in In these areas, the commission has been St. Paul, Minn., and a member of the Com­ fostering theological studies since the 1957 mission on Theology. It digests lectures and LWF Assembly at Minneapolis. The latter discussions on the subject which the com­ two are slated for publication next April, inission has been holding for the past several and the former two the following July, just years, as well as contributions that have before the assembly. appeared in the LWF quarterly Lutheran Presiding at the sessions here was the World. commission chairman, Dr. Ernst Kinder, Previous lectures have dealt with the justi­ theological professor at the University of fication doctrine exegetically, historically, and Miinster in West Germany. systematically. As a final aspect of the treat­ Other attending members, besides Profes­ ment, the commission, at its eight-day meet­ sors Quanbeck and Kumaresan, were Dr. Pe­ ing here which ended on June 18, considered ter Brunner of the University of Heidelberg the doctrine from the viewpoint of the in West Germany and Dr. Taito Kantonen preaching of the Gospel in the modern of Hamma Divinity School, Springfield, world. Lectures on this aspect were given Ohio. Both are professors of systematic here by Professors W. Dantine of Vienna theology at their respective institutions. and Jacob Kumaresan of Madras, India. Washington, D. C. - Lutherans are taking , Besides the theme study book, the com­ an unprecedented peacetime interest in their inission worked on plans for several other men and women in military service. Helsinki Assembly publications for which it The Rev. E. O. Midboe, executive secre­ is' responsible. Prominent among them was tary of the National Lutheran Council's a guide for study of St. Paul's Epistle to the Bureau of Service to Military Personnel, THEOLOGICAL OBSERVER 621 said that indications from many fronts point gelical Academy, near Stuttgart, Germany, to new highs in interest by individual min­ on Sept.17-21. Eighty participated in the isters and by congregations in maintaining 1960 meeting, which was held at the Bossey Christian fellowship with their members in Ecumenical Institute, near Geneva, Switzer­ service. He termed the increased participa­ land. tion by Lutheran ministers in chaplain pro­ In addition, an Evangelical Conference for grams as particularly significant. Telephone Ministry (Telefonseelsorge) was Civilian Lutheran ministers (contact pas­ organized at Dusseldorf, Germany, last De­ tors) who carry additional responsibilities cember, reported Bishop Leer Andersen. for military installations near their churches Such counseling services are now provided are also increasing, Mr. Midboe said. There in 12 German cities by 300 voluntary staff are 330 contact pastors in the U. S. now and members and plans are under way for their expansion of this group is being planned for introduction in several other localities, he selected overseas areas. said. In Sweden, a telephone ministry is Mr. Midboe said several factors are behind offered in a number of cities and towns, in the current high interest which Lutherans Denmark at two provincial centers as well are showing in their fellow members in the as Copenhagen, in Norway and Finland at armed forces. Among them are the Berlin their national capitals. crisis and the trouble in Laos, co;xern shown In Stockholm, the distressed person calls by the evangelism commissions of NLC par­ the same number as for fire, police, and other ticipating church bodies as evidenced by their emergency calls. In Oslo the number is dif­ promotion of more efficient referral systems ferent but it is listed in the directory along to keep in touch with military personnel with the other calls for emergency use, the and the continued cooperation of responsible churchman said. church committees. During the autumn and winter peak sea­ Vienna. - "The enormous development son, as many as two out of every 100,000 of telephone counseling, especially in Ger­ West Germans seek pastoral advice through many but also elsewhere in Europe and in these services. At Hamburg, where one of the United States" has been a noteworthy the oldest telephone counseling centers func­ feature of the churches' pastoral work in the tions, the calls have averaged 20 a day­ past couple of years, a Lutheran World about 7,000 a year - during the past three Federation commission heard here. years. In Berlin, each of the eight phone ex­ "At the first European conference on tele­ changes handles about 25 calls daily. phone counseling in 1960, it was stated that "From the United States it is reported telephone counseling was then practiced at that the four telephone counseling centers 41 places in ten different countries of in New York have 20,000 calls annually," Europe," the LWF Commission on Steward­ Bishop Leer Andersen said. "In Los Angeles ship and Congregational Life was told in there are 10,000 and in San Francisco 3,500." mid-June. Other countries having such services in­ "Since then, the number has considerably clude France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, increased," added a report given by a com­ Great Britain, Turkey, Israel, Pakistan, and mission member, Bishop Jens Leer Andersen Japan. of Helsingor, Denmark. The popularity of this ministry has been Some 140 persons engaged in this kind attributed largely to a desire of many Protes­ of ministry are expected to attend the second tants to initiate anonymously a consultation European conference at the Bad Boll Evan- on their personal problems, although face- 622 THEOLOGICAL OBSERVER

to-face pastor counseling often follows. In are stalemated over the issue of whether Stuttgart, Germany, two out of every five such things as L\lVF membership constitute callers wish such a follow-up confrontation, "sinful unionism." the Danish bishop reported. uN othing in the synodical sphere has "Experience in all the European countries caused the UELCA to change from the posi­ shows that the problems which most often tion to which it has adhered for a number cause the use of the telephone counseling of years," President-General Max Lohe told service are loneliness and guilt," he said. his church's 14th triennial synod, which met With respect to more specific categories of here on June 20-26. problems, reports from Germany revealed Oxford, England. - New college facilities that every fourth distressed caller - in Ber­ at Oxford University here, for which the lin, every third - seeks help in marriage Lutheran World Federation was the initial difficulties. contributor, were opened on June 25 by Counseling to would-be suicides is espe­ Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. cially frequent in Berlin, which since the The facilities are student and staff resi­ war has had the highest suicide rate in the dential extensions at Mansfield College, the world. During its first two years of opera­ 76-year-old Congregational institution where tion, the Telefonseelsorge in Berlin reported men are trained for the Lutheran ministry having cared for about 1,000 persons weary with financial ::::istance from the LWF De­ of life or in danger of taking their lives. partment of Wodd Service. Ten percent had actually attempted suicide. The departlllent, which supports a Lu­ West Berlin's suicide rate in 1946 was theran tutor on the Mansfield staff, opened six per 10,000, but since then it has been the college's 160,000 pounds ($450,000) reduced to less than half that figure. fund appeal with a contribution of 8,000 Since a wide range of problems are pre­ pounds ($22,500) toward the new living sented by callers, the telephone counselors quarters, which will benefit the theological include not only clergymen, but doctors, training program. lawyers, psychiatrists, social workers, and Started in 1957, the tutorship arrange­ other professionals, all pledged to secrecy. ment was made at the request of the Lu­ Bishop Leer Andersen said the flourishing theran Council of Great Britain, which of the new counseling method caused the recognized that the future existence of its question to be raised whether it was evi­ affiliated churches depended on enlargement dence that the Christian congregation had of the ministry in this country. failed men in their need. Present Lutheran tutor here is the Rev. He asked also: "Can genuine care of souls Franklin E. Sherman, a clergyman of the be practiced at a distance? Is it possible to United Lutheran Church in America who pray with another person on the telephone? came from an assistant professorship in Is it possible to give absolution?" religion at the State University of Iowa. Bundaberg (Queensland), Australia.-The In addition to teaching the little group head of the United Evangelical Lutheran of Lutheran theological students enrolled at Church in Australia said here that his church Mansfield, the tutor offers lectures on Lu­ would not consider withdrawing from the theran confessions and traditions for all the Lutheran World Federation for the sake of students of the college. He also serves as confessional unity in this country. chaplain to all Lutheran students at Oxford, Unity discussions between the UELCA and many of whom come from other countries. the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Australia Vienna. - Austrian Protestantism, which THEOLOGICAL OBSERVER 623 once embraced nine-tenths of the population Lutheran churches are exceeded in numbers but was violently suppressed in the Counter­ only by the Baptists and Methodists. Reformation, now has a satisfactory legal The NLCs summary is based on statistics status as a small minority in a Roman supplied by fifteen Lutheran church bodies, Catholic country, Lutheran World Federa­ plus the Negro missions conducted by four tion commission and staff members heard groups associated in the Lutheran Synodical here. Conference. Ten of the bodies recorded ad­ Leaders of the Evangelical Church in vances in membership, three reported no Austria told the Lutheran visitors from eight change, and two suffered losses. countries in mid-June that the national Law The six bodies that participate in the Na­ for Protestants passed last year has given tional Lutheran Council-United, American, their church and its members a more favor­ Augustana, Lutheran Free, Suomi Synod, and able position than at any time since the American Evangelical - have 5,640,087 Reformation. members, a gain of 73,155 over the pre­ "Now a new chapter in the history of vious year. our church has begun," an Austrian Lutheran The Synodical Conference - consisting of spokesman said. Reports on the history and the Missouri Synod, Wisconsin Synod, Synod present situation of Austrian Protestantism of Evangelical Lutheran Churches, and Evan­ were given at concurrent Vienna meetings gelical Lutherav. Synod, with Negro missions of two L WF commissions - one dealing -has 2,936,421 members or 72,280 more

~ • -rr./A with theology and the other with steward­ ulan In l)lOV. ship and congregational life. Five independent bodies - National Evan­ New York. - Membership of the Lu­ gelical, Church of the Lutheran Confession, theran churches in North America totaled Finnish Apostolic, Lutheran Brethren, and 8,611,068 adults and children at the end Eielsen Synod - total 34,560 members, of 1961. a gain of 8,770. Virtually all of the increase The Lutheran bodies reported 8,333,797 was due to receipt of figures for the first baptized members in the United States and time this year from the Church of the Lu­ 277,271 members for their affiliated groups theran Confession. in Canada, according to the annual statistical The gain in baptized membership of summary issued here by the National Lu­ 154,205 in 1961, distributed among the theran Council. The figures were compiled 18,317 congregations, marks an average by Miss Helen M. Knubel, secretary of re­ increase of 8.4 new members per local search and statistics in the Council's Division church, compared to the average of 12 for of Public Relations. the previous decade. The total represents a gain of 154,205 Confirmed or adult membership advanced members or 1.8 percent during 1961- by 124,896 to a grand total of 5,682,685, 145,508 in the U. S. and 8,697 in Canada. a gain of 2.2 percent. This would indicate The percentage of increase was one-tenth of an average accession of 6.8 adult members one percent above the 1960 gain, a level per congregation in 1961, the same average considerably below the average gain of 3.1 as that of 1950 through 1959. In 1960 the percent over the previous decade, when in­ adult gain per congregation dropped to creases in membership ranged from 2.7 to 5.7 members. 3.6 percent. For the 17th consecutive year, the highest Comprising the third largest Protestant numerical increase was made by The Lu­ denominational grouping in America, the theran Church - Missouri Synod as it ac- 624 THEOLOGICAL OBSERVER

counted for 49 percent of all the new mem­ to 36,274; and the Church of the Lutheran bers reported. Among the major bodies it Brethren, 169 or 3.5 percent to 5,06l. also showed for the fourth year in a row No report for 1961 was received from the the greatest gain on a percentage basis. Evangelical Lutheran Synod, and its mem­ The Missouri Synod added 75,508 bap­ bership remained at 13,639. The first report tized members or 3.1 percent to boost its from the Church of the Lutheran Confession total membership to 2,544,544. The synod showed 8,128 members. at year's end was the largest Lutheran body in The Eie1sen Synod, with 1,500 members, America and one of three with more than and the Finnish Apostolic Church, with two million members each. The new Lu­ 8,001 members, were unchanged from the theran Church in America, however, assumed previous year. Both bodies reported no the leading numerical position in mid-1962 census has been taken by their denomina­ with a total of 3,239,371 members. tions for several years. For 1961 the United Lutheran Church Losses in membership were reported by reported a net increase of 754 or 0.3 percent the American Evangelical Lutheran Church, and now has 2,495,763 members. It was down 393 or 1.6 percent for a current total noted that this body has analyzed and sharply of 23,808 members, and the Wisconsin pared its membership rolls, accounting for Evangelical Lutheran Synod, a loss of 4,379 the small increase. or L3 percent to ~ total of 348,184. Third largest of the bodies, the American Lutheran Church, which began operations in Bangalore, India. - A commission repre­ 1961 after a three-way merger, has 2,364,442 senting five South Indian Lutheran churches members, a gain of 57,662 or 2.5 percent and the Church of South India has taken over 1960. When the Lutheran Free Church, significant new measures to bring them closer which gained 3,003 or 3.4 percent and now to organic union. has 90,253 members, joins the ALC the total The inter-church commission in a three-day will be 2,454,695. meeting here unanimously adopted a draft The greatest church-body percentage gain, statement of faith and approved a litany regardless of size, was compiled by the which it recommended for immediate use in National Evangelical Lutheran Church, with the churches. The body also received a pre­ an increase of 473 members or 4.2 percent liminary draft of a common catechism which to 11,870. The NELC has taken steps ex­ will receive further study and revision before pected to lead to merger with the Missouri being submitted to the churches. Synod in 1963. The lengthy six-point statement of faith Second highest percentage was registered will be submitted to the governing bodies by the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran of the negotiating churches. If they approve, Churches, 741 or 3.6 percent to 21,113 it will be incorporated into the constitution members. of the united church. Far above the average also was the increase The commission also outlined several prac­ reported for the Negro missions sponsored tical measures to be taken in the interim, by the Synodical Conference. The missions including the setting up of a regional inter­ showed a gain of 410 members or 4.8 per­ church committee in each of the four lan­ cent and now have 8,941 members. guage areas of South India to "take steps Other gains were reported by Augustana to promote mutual fellowship, understand­ Lutheran Church, 11,444 or 1.9 percent to ing, and cooperation between the ministry 629,547; Suomi Synod, 685 or 1.9 percent and members" of the churches involved. THEOLOGICAL OBSERVER 625

It further advocated joint evangelistic geographical situations, with a view to work­ work, periodic united services, frequent ing out the administrative areas. interchange of pulpits, and cooperation to Representatives of the two groups have avoid duplication in pastoral and institu­ been holding discussions since 1948. Eight tional work. years were devoted to an examination of In an action dealing with "the shape of basic Christian doctrines with a view to the church," the commission members re­ seeing if there were any fundamental differ­ corded their convictions on two important ences in dogma which would keep their points. These were: (1) that all ordained churches apart. ministers of the uniting churches must be At the conclusion of the eight years the accepted as ministers of the merged church representatives arrived at an agreement that without any kind of further ordination; and no such fundamental differences existed and (2) that provision must be made for re­ that the next stop was to bring about closer ceiving after union into the ministry of the fellowship, with the ultimate goal being the united church, without further ordination, formation of a united church. the ordained ministers of all the parent The Church of South India is itself a union churches. of three churches, the Anglican, Methodist, and the South India United Church, which Joint chairmen of the meeting were in turn was the result of a merger of Presby­ Bishop H. Sumitra of the Church of South terian, Congregational, and Dutch Reformed India, and Bishop R. B. Manikam of the bodies. Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church. Com­ The five Lutheran churches involved in the mission actions were taken on recommenda­ talks are the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran tions of committees set up at the commis­ Church, the product of German and Swedish sion's last meeting held in August 1961. missionary work; the Arcot Lutheran Church, Actual drafting of a constitution will be the product of Danish missionary activity; begun by the next meeting of the commis­ the South Andhra Lutheran Church and the sion, scheduled for Jan. 9-10, 1963, in Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Bangalore. In the meantime a study will be product of U. S. mission boards' work; and made of the constitutions of the churches the Indian Evangelical Lutheran Church, involved. A statistical survey also will be brought about by the activities of The Lu­ made of their membership, programs, and theran Church - Missouri Synod.