# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S355
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

492 INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS

Trinity Lutu. CHurcH, CHESTERFIELD, Mo
Frep H. Mertz, President

March 22, 1950 Roanp E. Horrmann, Secretary

H. A. Srrumpter, Emmaus Luth. Church, St. Louis, Mo,
O. E. Retmntrz, Emmaus Luth. Church, St. Louis, Mo. .
Frep J. NresrvueccE, Trinity Luth. Church, Chesterfield, Mo.
Marti F. ScoupMann, Hope Luth. Church, Overland, Mo.
Wuutam A: Kostowske, Hope Luth. Church, Overland, Mo,
Aue. Mertz, Trinity Luth. Church, Chesterfield, Mo.
Irvine B. Kunz, Emmaus Luth. Church, St. Louis, Mo,

H. W. Nresrvecce, Trinity Luth. Church, Chesterfield, Mo,
Crarence H. Metzier, Emmaus Luth. Church, St. Louis, Mo,
Leo. HorrMann, Trinity Luth. Church, Chesterfield, Mo.
F. We. Horrmann, Trinity Luth. Church, Chesterfield, Mo,
Leonarp F. Loenr, Trinity Luth. Church, Chesterfield, Mo,
Grorce Srravp, St. John’s Luth. Church, Ellisville, Mo.

A. A. Kocs, St. John’s Luth. Church, Ellisville, Mo.

Louis Srravs, St. Paul’s Luth. Church of Orrville, Mo.
Frep H. Mertz, Trinity Luth. Church, Chesterfield, Mo.
Norman RETHMEIR, Trinity Luth. Church, Chesterfield, Mo.

[627]
Rom. 16:17

Wuereas, “The issues raised by ‘A Statement’” have not been
settled but have only been studied “on the basis of materials
supplied by direction of the President” (cf. Proceedings, 1941,
p. 523); and .

Wuereas, The members of Synod have had three long years
to study these matters; and

Wuereas, Some of the material supplied by direction of the
President has been publicly rejected and repudiated in some circles
as not being in harmony with the Word of God; and ‘

Wuereas, Further postponement of not stating its official posi-
tion can only create further confusion and contentions within
the Missouri Synod; now therefore be it

Resolved, That Synod be requested to give a clear-cut, un-
equivocal answer to the following questions:. -

1: Does Synod hold that Rom. 16:17 forbids church fellowship,

that is, joint religious work or worship, with all persistent adherents
of false doctrine?

INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS — 498

2. Does: Synod reject the assertion that Rom. 16:17 forbids
urch fellowship only with unchristian enemies of the truth?
a 3, Does Synod reject the assertion that Rom. 16:17 does not
forbid joint work or worship with heterodox Christians as long as
n does not explicitly deny the truth or approve of error
b y positive word or action?

4, Does Synod hold that any departure from the clear Word
of God, be it in fundamental or non-fundamental doctrines or
merely in details or points of doctrine, is divisive of church fellow-
ship if persistently advocated?

Sr. Perer’s Ev. LUTHERAN CONGREGATION
Morrison, IL.
Herman Beverora, Chairman -

M. B
Adopted March 12, 1950 ARVIN BEVEROTH, Secretary

The same memorial was submitted by
(Signed) (Rev.) W. F. Rotr, St. James, Minn.

Signature attested by (Rev.) H. D. MENsInG
Tinley Park, IIl., April 5, 1950

[628]
On Rom. 16:17-18 ;

Wuereas, The faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in an
opinion dated May-June, 1946, reiterated in 1948, has stated: “We
shall never be able to say with absolute certainty whether Paul in
Rom. 16:17-18 is issuing a general warning or is speaking of a
special group, and, if the latter is the case, what particular group
he has in mind” (Church fellowship opinions by the faculty of
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., manuscript for course in dog-
matics, Concordia Publishing House, 1946, page 19); and ‘

Wuereas, That which is not particular is of necessity gen-
eral; and —

Wuereas, The warning against false teachers in Rom. 16:17-18
is not particular and therefore is general, being directed against
all who teach falsehood contrary to the true doctrine of God’s
Word; and :

Wuereas, It appears to us that more. is here involved than a
difference in interpretation of one Scripture passage, namely, the
doctrine whether all false teachers are to be avoided, after due
admonition, whether or not they may still be regarded as Chris-
tians; and ,

Wuerreas, Rom. 16:17-18 is sorely needed to combat the union-