# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S346
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

476 | INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS

2. These doctrinal errors have been allowed to stand yn:
tracted within our fellowship. Note the following facts:

A. Although he has admitted publicly that “A Statemeny
contains doctrinal aberrations as the words read, the President
of Synod nevertheless made an “Agreement” with the signers of
“A Statement” which declares: “‘A Statement’ shall be withdrawn
as a basis of discussion” and further: “This withdrawal shalt hot
be interpreted as a retraction.”

B. Synod, in convention assembled in 1947, did not correct
this “Agreement,” reported to it by its President.

C. The mere reaffirmation of Synod’s Brief Statement, which
sets forth the true doctrine in a positive way, did not remove the
errors introduced into our Synod by “A Statement.” Since this
action was not followed by a specific rejection of the errors which
conflict with the doctrine of church fellowship set forth in the
“Brief Statement,” truth and error now stand side by side within
our synodical fellowship; the truth by a formal resolution of
Synod, the error by a lack of God-pleasing action against it.

3. As a result of the fact that “A Statement” has been allowed
to stand unretracted within our fellowship, the doctrinal errors
set forth therein have continued to be taught officially within our
Synod. Note the following facts:

A. The Lutheran Witness, official publication of the Missouri
Synod, has. made propaganda for the false doctrines set forth in
“A Statement,” in the following instances: February 25, 1947, p. 59,
Footnote 10; December 30, 1947, p. 427; December 14, 1948, p. 414.

B. Dr. Theodore Graebner’s Prayer Fellowship, sold by Con-
cordia Publishing House, with official approval, teaches contrary
to what the plain words of Rom. 16:17 say, limiting the applica-
tion of this passage to “enemies of Christ,” p. 4.

C. In an essay read at the Southern California and the Cali-
fornia and Nevada Districts of Synod Dr. W. Arndt declared
that the false positions held by the American Lutheran Church
on the “visible side” of the Church, the Antichrist, the Resurrection
of the Martyrs, and the Conversion of the Jews are merely questions
of interpretation or terminology in the face of the fact that Synod
in its Brief Statement rejects these teachings as unscriptural.
In the same essay he also continues to advocate the unscriptural
position of. Point 11 of “A Statement” that “church fellowship is
possible without complete agreement in details of doctrine and
practice which have never been considered divisive in the Lu-
theran Church.”

4. As a result of the fact that “A Statement” has been allowed
to stand unretracted within our fellowship, the doctrinal errors

INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 477

forth therein have also continued to be practiced within our
fellowship. Note the following facts:

A. In 1946 a Reformation service, participated in by pastors
congregations of various Lutheran Synods (Missouri, A. L. C.,
vL C. A.) was held in New York and was reported in the
La theran Witness, December 3, 1946, p. 411, without disapprov-
«ng comment.

ne B. An “All-Lutheran Youth Conference,” attended by repre-
sentatives of the Walther League, together with National Lutheran
Council youth leaders, was held at Valparaiso University on
August 26—30, 1948. What this means is pointed out by the Rev.
0. A. Anderson in the Lutheran Herald of October 5, 1948, p. 930 ff.:
« , these young people and their leaders proved without a doubt
that, at least on the youth level, all Lutherans can worship and
work together... .” “The unity of the conference was achieved
not only through discussion and lectures, but very evidently
through recreation. and worship.”

C. A joint U. L. C. A. and Missouri Easter Sunrise Service
was held on April 17, 1949, in Charlotte, N. C., as the first of
a projected series. (See Lutheran Companion, May 18, 1949.)

D. The students of our St. Louis Seminary are united in the
Association of Lutheran Seminarians, drawing together semi-
parians of ali Lutheran bodies for such purposes as “to encourage
the spiritual life of Lutheran seminarians”; and this in the face
of the objections of students attending the various seminaries
of the Synodical Conference.

E. “Lutheran seminars” are still being held periodically at
which members of our Synod practice church fellowship with
members of other church bodies not united with us in doctrine.
These seminars are not being held for the purpose of discussing
and removing doctrinal differences.

F. In accordance with the false principle set forth in “A State-
ment” that certain details of doctrine are not divisive, books con-
taining false doctrine on the Lord’s Supper, written by pastors of
Synod, continue to be sold by our Concordia Publishing House.
(Thy King Cometh and The Presence.)

G. In accordance with the same false principle, two conflicting
doctrines on engagement and marriage are being advocated within
Synod, one by the faculty of our Seminary at St. Louis and the
other by the faculty of our Seminary at Springfield. The latter is
in agreement .with the Scriptural teaching in our synodical Cate-
chism; the other is in disagreement therewith.

H. Note also the following: Among the signers of “A State-
ment” are at least 250 pastors, four professors at our St. Louis
Seminary, a newly appointed. Vice-President of Synod, the Director