# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S343
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

470 INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS

[614] Concerning “A Statement”

Wuereas, “A Statement,” a document sent to all Pastors of
Synod in September, 1945, and subsequently given wider Publica.
tion, sets forth the following doctrines, namely: 1. That deviati
in doctrine or practice from certain teachings of the Bible (“de.
tails of doctrine”) is not divisive of church fellowship (Point u
of “A Statement”). 2. That not all acts of joint religious work and
worship with persistent teachers of false doctrine or their aq.
herents are to be regarded as religious unionism forbidden by
God’s Word (Point 9). 3. That any two or more Christians may
meet and pray together if they do so for a good purpose (Point 8).
4. That Rom. 16:17-18 is not to be applied to all Christians who
differ from us in certain points of doctrine, but that this Passage
is limited in its application to those who are not Christians
(Point 5); and -

Wuenreas, The above-mentioned doctrines are false doctrines
in disagreement with, and in opposition to, God’s clear Word, the
Lutheran Confessions, our synodical Catechism, the Constitution
of our Synod, and the Brief Statement of the doctrinal position of
our Synod (see Rom. 16:17-18; The Formula of Concord, Conclud-
ing Statement, Concordia Triglotta, p. 1095; Revised Synodical
Catechism, Question 186 D; Constitution of Synod, Articles It and
Ill; The Brief Statement, Par. 28); and

Wuereas, The agreement of Syncd’s President, in 1947, with
the signers of “A Statement” specifically declares that this docu-
ment is not retracted, in the words: “The withdrawal of ‘A State-
ment’ as a basis of discussion shall not be interpreted as a retrac-
tion”; and

Wuereas, This agreement was reported to Synod in conven-
tion assembled in 1947 but not corrected by the convention, Synod
in convention assembled thus permitting the doctrinal errors set
‘forth in the unretracted “A Statement” to stand side by side with
the truth within our fellowship; and

Wuereas, As a result of this failure of Synod specifically to
reject the errors set forth-in “A Statement,” these errors have
continued to be taught officially and practiced within our Synod
in numerous instances; and ;

_ Wuereas, The only God-pleasing way to remove doctrinal dif-
ferences which have arisen in a confessional church body is to
require the specific public disavowal and retraction of all errors
publicly disseminated in its midst (1 Cor. 5:6-7; cf. Gal. 5:9; 1 Tim.
5:20; Titus 1:11, 13); and

Wnuereas,. By the failure to exercise doctrinal discipline a

INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 471

body imperils and eventually forfeits its orthodox char-
(Brief Statement, Par. 29) and substitutes for. confessional
ecter a unionistic principle which permits divergence in doc-

; without disruption of church fellowship, thus compelling
O hodox congregations, in obedience to God’s Word in Rom. 16:
ont to leave its fellowship; therefore

We, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Crete, Ill, now

ly entreat and earnestly implore the honorable Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod, at its convention assembled in Mil-
waukee, 1950, | : *a: : .

1 Not merely to reaffirm its true Scriptural position in a posi-
tive way, but also by definite action specifically to reject and
disavow the afore-mentioned doctrinal errors.

2. To require, as a condition for continued membership in
Synod: (Constitution of Synod, Art.IV, 2) that the signers of
“A Statement” as well as all other pastors, professors, teachers,
and employees of Synod conform to this rejection and disavowal
of the errors set forth in “A Statement,” ceasing henceforth to
teach and practice them. ,

. Trinity Ev. LurHeraAN CxurcH oF CRETE, Iu.

A. T. KrerzMann, Pastor ,
W. J. Brass, Chairman
R. E. Prepensrink, Secretary

The same memorial was submitted by
. Triniry Ev. Luts. Caurcn or Trntey Park, It.
H. D. MENsING, Pastor
Apert Korner, Chairman
Orro G. Beccug, Secretary

IMMANUEL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
PrrrssurcH, Pa.
Wattace H. McLaucsuin, Pastor

[615] |
Concerning “A Statement’

Wuereas, We, the undersigned congregation, were grieved
that our reasonable request for a declaration of principles, con-
cerning the issues raised by “A Statement” of 1945, was apparently
by-passed by The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod in conven-
tion, 1947 (cp. Unprinted Memorials, Proceedings, p. 522); and

Wuereas, None of the issues involved have been clarified or
resolved during the past three years; and

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