Missouri's New Direction 1962 and 1973

Abstract

Tom Westra’s essay, Missouri’s New Direction: 1962 and 1973 (1985), analyzes two pivotal Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) conventions that marked dramatic shifts in doctrine and practice. The 1962 Cleveland convention signaled a move toward ecumenism, overturning Resolution 9 (which had enforced doctrinal statements like the 1932 Brief Statement) and endorsing joint prayer and fellowship initiatives. This led to altar and pulpit fellowship with the American Lutheran Church (ALC) in 1969, reflecting growing liberal influence and pressure from the ecumenical movement. In contrast, the 1973 New Orleans convention represented a conservative resurgence under President Jacob Preus. Key resolutions reaffirmed biblical inerrancy, adopted A Statement of Scriptural and Confessional Principles, and condemned faculty positions at Concordia Seminary that embraced historical-critical methods. The ensuing Seminex crisis—faculty and students forming “Concordia Seminary in Exile”—exposed deep divisions within LCMS. Westra concludes that while Missouri sought to return to its confessional roots, internal tensions persisted, warning other synods against both ecumenical compromise and isolationism. Abstract prepared by Microsoft Copilot (GPT‑4).