Introduction to the doctrinal statements and documents authored by former lecturers of Australian Lutheran College (ALC) and its predecessor seminaries.
Vic Pfitzner
Acknowledgements
Wendy Mayer
Hermann Sasse, 'Luther and the inerrancy of the Scriptures', English version published in The Lutheran Quarterly, 4/1 (January 1951): 3–36. Reprinted with permission.
Doctrinal Statements and Opinions of the Lutheran Church of Australia, Theses [of Agreement] on Scripture and Inspiration. DSTO I.A.VIII: A22–A24. Adopted by the Joint Intersynodical Committees (JUC). www.lca.org.au/departments/commissions/cticr/
Melvin J. Grieger, 'Little Red Riding Hood'. Typescript. 2 pp. Lutheran Archives. Biographical file.
Subscript: '(The above is an article written by Pastor M. Grieger, Greenwood, in his parish paper 10/62).'
Kurt Marquart, 'Wolves with less and less sheep's clothing … A lengthy introduction to Pastor M. Grieger's "Little Red Riding Hood"'. Typescript. 4 pp. Lutheran Archives. Melvin Grieger, biographical file.
The first of the two documents is a response to the Missouri Synod Cleveland Convention, 1962, and the failure of the LCMS leadership to read out a letter 'of admonition' from the ELCA pastors concerning what was perceived to be a deviation from Lutheran orthodoxy in regard to the doctrine of inerrancy. The second offers considerable background to developments within the LCMS at the time, while taking the condemnation further. The opinions expressed in both are solely those of the respective authors.
Hermann Sasse, 'Concerning the Bible's inerrancy'. Published (in German) in Kirchenblatt, 116/10 (October 1966) of the Evangelical Lutheran (Old Lutheran) Church in Germany. English translation, 1969. Reprinted with permission.
The theological statement responds to perceived deficiencies in Sasse's position on inerrancy.
Maurice Schild, 'Luther and the Word'. Lectures for Queensland Lutheran Pastors' Conference. Typescript. 21 pp. Lutheran Archives. Qld District Pastors' Conferences 443.200
J. T. E. Renner, 'The New Testament view of the Old Testament with special reference to Gen. 1–3'. Typescript. 7 pp. Delivered to Queensland Pastors' Conference. Dated 6 September 1967. Lutheran Archives. Qld District Pastors' Conferences 443.200
Doctrinal Statements and Opinions of the Lutheran Church of Australia, 'The Theses of Agreement and Inerrancy'. DSTO I.B: B2. Adopted by the LCA General Synod, 1972 Convention. www.lca.org.au/departments/commissions/cticr/
Doctrinal Statements and Opinions of the Lutheran Church of Australia, 'Genesis 1–3: A Doctrinal Statement'. DSTO I.B. B3–B6. Adopted by the LCA General Synod, 1972 Convention. www.lca.org.au/departments/commissions/cticr/
Hermann Sasse, Letter to Robert Preus, President of Concordia Seminary LCMS. Personal files of R. J. Mayer. Now deposited in Lutheran Archives. Transcribed and annotated by T. David, Pseudepigraphus (posted 16 July 2016). http://www.pseudepigraph.us/2016/07/16/hermann-sasse-to-robert-preus-january-1975-the-great-crisis-in-missouri-did-not-come-suddenly
Henry Hamann, 'Content Criticism and the Historical-Critical Method', in A Popular Guide to New Testament Criticism. Adelaide: Lutheran Publishing House. Reprinted with permission.
Henry Hamann. 'The Bible and the Word of God', Chapter 3 in The Bible between Fundamentalism and Philosophy. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House. Revision of 3 lectures delivered at Valparaiso University, 3–5 April, 1979. Reprinted with permission.
Clem I. Koch, 'Inspiration, Inerrancy, and Authority of Scripture'. Lecture delivered to Qld District Pastors' Conference. Typescript. 14 pp. Personal files of R. J. Mayer. Now deposited in Lutheran Archives. Published with permission of the Koch family.
Siegfried P. Hebart, 'The Theology of the Word'. Lectures delivered to Qld District Pastors' Conference, Luther Heights Youth Camp, Coolum. Published with permission of the Hebart family.
Clem I. Koch, 'A reply to the objections raised by S. Hebart against C. I. Koch's paper on the authority of scripture'. Typescript. 2 pp. Personal files of R. J. Mayer. Now deposited in Lutheran Archives. Published with permission of the Koch family.
Melvin J. Grieger, 'Positive and Negative Statement on the Controverted Issue arising from "The Theology of the Word"'. Typescript. 14 pp. Lutheran Archives. Biographical file.
Melvin J. Grieger, 'A critique of the Theology of the Word according to Dr S. P. Hebart'. 3 parts. Typescript. Lutheran Archives. Biographical file.
Reinhard J. Mayer, 'President's Personal Letter'. Typescript. 4 pp. Circulated to the pastors of LCA Qld District. Personal files of R. J. Mayer. Now deposited in Lutheran Archives. Published with permission of R. J. Mayer.
Refers to the 2-day consultation at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 26–27 October 1982, Toowoomba, Qld, at which Melvin Grieger presented the two preceding documents; references the 1984 Consensus Statement as 'forthcoming'.
Henry Hamann, Lectures delivered to SA District Pastors' Conference, Tatachilla Youth Camp. Typescript. 29 pp. Löhe Memorial Library FILE RK91 H198.
Melvin J. Grieger, Which Way L.C.A.? Typescript. 36 pp. Lutheran Archives. Biographical file. Extract, pp. 16–36.
In pp. 1–15 ('An assessment of the problems in our Lutheran Church of Australia') the author sets these out point by point as follows:
Reinhard J. Mayer, 'A response to M. Grieger's concerns re the state of the L.C.A.' Typescript. 17 pp. plus 'Covering note'. Personal files of R. J. Mayer. Now deposited in Lutheran Archives. Published with permission of R. J. Mayer.
Vernon S. Grieger, 'Two Opposite Positions on Scripture in the LCA'. Typescript. 14 pp. Lutheran Archives. Biographical file.
Reinhard J. Mayer, 'Further statement on Inerrancy – Relation to Nobby Address'. Typescript. 2 pp. Personal files of R. J. Mayer. Now deposited in Lutheran Archives. Published with permission of R. J. Mayer.
Reinhard J. Mayer, 'President's Personal Letter P8405'. Typescript. 4 pp. Circulated to the pastors of LCA Qld District. Personal files of R. J. Mayer. Now deposited in Lutheran Archives. Published with permission of R. J. Mayer. Extract, pp. 1–3.
Doctrinal Statements and Opinions of the Lutheran Church of Australia, 'A Consensus Statement on Holy Scripture'. DSTO I.B: B10–B12. Adopted by the LCA General Synod, 1987 Convention. www.lca.org.au/departments/commissions/cticr/
Doctrinal Statements and Opinions of the Lutheran Church of Australia, 'Attachment 1: Towards a common understanding on the authority of Holy Scripture'. DSTO I.B: B13–B16. Adopted by the LCA General Synod, 1987 Convention. www.lca.org.au/departments/commissions/cticr/
Doctrinal Statements and Opinions of the Lutheran Church of Australia, 'Attachment 2: The extent and certainty of the canon'. DSTO I.B: B17–B18. Adopted by the LCA General Synod, 1987 Convention. www.lca.org.au/departments/commissions/cticr/