# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S515
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 515

not a single one of them refers to prayer at all” (Prayer Fellow-
ship, p.7); and

Wuereas, Dr. Theodore Graebner with other signers of “A
Statement” in 1945 declared: “We deplore the fact that Rom.
16:17-18 has been applied to all Christians who differ with us in
certain points of doctrine” (“A Statement,” Par. 5); and

Whereas, Dr. Theodore Graebner in 1947 wrote: “We incline
to the notion, supported by more than 30 commentaries which we
have consulted, that Rom.16:17f. refers to un-Christian enemies
of the Church who by deceitful tactics are trying to seduce Chris-
tians, undermining and frustrating the Christian message” (Lu-
theran Witness, 1947, p.59); and

Wuereas, Dr. Theodore Graebner in 1947 before the whole
synodical convention in Chicago defiantly declared that he was
a “signer” of “A Statement” and that he stood “by every word
of it,’ and thereby publicly declared his continued adherence to
doctrinal aberrations, which the President of Synod has publicly
admitted as being in “A Statement,” as the words read; and

Wuereas, Dr. Theodore Graebner in 1948 quoted without dis-
approval the statement: “To apply the passage [Rom.16:17] to
fellow Christians with whom we do not agree on all points, or,
to put it the other way, who, we are certain, err from the truth
of God’s Word in some particulars, is a misapplication of the Word
of God; an affront to such children of God; an insult of which
we ought not to make ourselves guilty” (Lutheran Witness, 1948,
p. 414); and

Wuereas, Dr. Theodore Graebner thus completely contradicts
and denies his former orthodox position and has, without adverse
comment, published a bold attack on Synod’s use of Rom. 16:17
in its official confessions (Constitution, Art.III; Brief Statement,
Par. 28; Synodical Catechism, Quest. 186, 326), calling it a “a mis-
application of the Word of God”; and

Wuereas, These matters, recited above, have again and again
been brought to the attention of the President of Synod and are
therefore well known unto him; and

Wuereas, “The President has the supervision regarding the
doctrine and the administration of a) all officers of Synod; b) all
such as are employed by Synod” (Constitution, Art. XI,.B. 2); and

Wuereas, “The President has, and always shall have, the power
to advise, admonish, and reprove. He shall conscientiously use all
means at his command to promote and maintain unity of doctrine
and practice in all the Districts of Synod” (Constitution, Art. XI,
B.3); and

Wuereas, “Synod at all times has the right to call its officers