# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1947_S507
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 507

Wuereas, The American Lutheran Church has put forth no

“strenuous efforts” to bring about “agreement in practice” (“We
‘yefer particularly to the attitude toward the anti-Christian lodge,

anti-Scriptural pulpit and altar fellowship, and all other forms
of unionism,” Proceedings, 1938 p. 232, point 5), but on the
contrary has adopted the principle of selective fellowship; and

Wuereas, The American Lutheran Church as a matter of
principle ignores doctrinal differences (“Differences in doctrine
which do.exist in the opinion of the Fellowship Committee, but
which would not make fellowship impossible.” Lutheran Witness,
1946, p.378. “We are firmly convinced that it is neither necessary
nor possible to agree in all nonfundamental doctrines.” San-
dusky Resolutions, 1938) and is, therefore, as a matter of prin-
ciple, a body which espouses unscriptural unionism; and

Waereas, The American Lutheran Church Declaration has in
varying degrees been called a confession of faith of the Missouri
Synod, a prospect intolerable to us in the light of the above
evidence; and ,

Wuerras, The “doctrinal agreement” within the American
Lutheran Conference, required by point 6b (Proceedings, 1938,
p. 232) has not been reached; and

Wuereas, The “other synods constituting the Synodical Con-

~ ference” have not given their “approval” to the 1938 Resolutions

as required (Proceedings, 1938, p. 232, point 6c), on the contrary,
have presented earnest and cogent pleas to rescind said Resolu-
tions; and

Wuereas, Said 1938 Resolutions have proved themselves not
entirely clear, in spite of the good intentions of the original framers
(which we do not hold in doubt), and, at best, may be judged
in the light of history to have produced widespread confusion,
with no promise of an improvement in this direction;

Now, therefore, we respectfully entreat the assembled Synod

1. to declare the St.Louis Union Resolutions of 1938 to be
null and void and rescinded;

2. to declare that it is ready henceforth to enter into fellow-
ship with any other church body which will affirm its acceptance
of the Brief Statement of 1932, without glosses, and regulate its
practice thereby;

3. to declare itself in these matters immediately and with-
out delay;

4. to declare itself plainly and clearly and unequivocally.

We herewith formally advise Synod that for us, in any case,