# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S718
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

134 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

the name, but about 90 per cent of our correspondence indica
a preference in favor of a change in the name, and the number a
variety of suggested names was surprisingly large. At le
40 variations of names were proposed. By a careful process: ¢
elimination the Committee finally narrowed its attention to fivers
suggestions, most prominently made. The six names, published rises
the Lutheran Witness under date of May 25, 1943, were the fole#
lowing: “The Evangelical Lutheran Church”; “The Evangelica
Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod”, or “(Missouri Synod)”; “T
Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod,” or “(Missouri Synod)”; “T
Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church”; “The International
theran Church”; and “The National Lutheran Church.”

The Committee, weighing the difficulties that would be e

countered, including the legal angles, nevertheless finally decided
to recommend to Synod that our name be changed, Lo

1. Because our present name is long and cumbersome.
2. Because our members, calling for a change in name ins

dicated by the 90-per-cent preference noted above, should be given
an opportunity to vote on this important matter.

the name

THE LUTHERAN CHURCH, MISSOURI SYNOD
Our second choice would have been: “The Evangelical Lutheran
Church, Missouri Synod.”

The Committee believes that we do well to call ourselves a
church instead of a Synod. The word “Lutheran” identifies us
before the religious world at large. “Missouri Synod” fixes our:
place in Lutheranism and preserves our historic identity.

Harry E.Orsen  Grorce EIcEt, Secretary’
J. H. Meyer, Chairman

[513]
Re Changing Name of Synod
We beg consideration of the following suggestion:

The Lutheran Church of America
T.W.Srrieter F.J.Seurz L. MEYER