# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S530
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 531

which it is not in pulpit and altar fellowship. (Page 13, para-
graph 2.)

On prayer fellowship and joint prayer, Synod in 1947 passed
the following resolution:

“Wuereas, No pulpit and altar fellowship between the Missouri
Synod and the American Lutheran Church has as yet been estab-
lished; and

“Wuereas, God’s Word demands that all things. shall be done
decently and in order (1 Cor. 14:40), so that there be no confusion
and offense; and

“WuerEAS, We as members of Synod are united as brethren
in faith for the preservation of God’s pure Word and Scriptural
practice; therefore be it

“Resolved, a). That we re- ~affirm the resolutions on. prayer
fellowship adopted by the Saginaw, Mich., Convention (June 21—29,
1944) and recorded in the Proceedings of 1944 (p.251f.), which
resolutions read as follows: “We re-affirm the position taken at the
Fort Wayne Convention (page 303, par. 1) that in the meantime it
be understood that no pulpit, altar, and prayer fellowship has
been established between us and the American Lutheran Church;
and until such fellowship has been officially declared by the synods
concerned, no action is to be taken by any of our pastors or con-
gregations which ignore the fact that we are not yet united.’

“However, joint prayer at intersynodical conferences, asking
God for His guidance and blessing upon the deliberations and
discussions of His Word, does not militate against the resolution
of the Fort Wayne Convention provided such prayer does not
imply denial of truth and support of error. Local conditions. will
determine the advisability of such prayer. Above all, the conscience
of a brother must not be violated nor offense be given.” (Pro-
ceedings, pp. 517—518.)

At the time when this report is written, pulpit and altar and
prayer fellowship. has not been declared between. the Missouri
Synod and any of. the constituent bodies of the National Lutheran
Council.

Doctrinal Differences Do Exist

While it is true that the Lutheran Churches of: America’ in
general accept the. Lutheran Confessions, ‘it is nevertheless also
generally recognized that vital differences of doctrine exist.
Answering a questionnaire sent out by the Lutheran Society, Inc.,
of New York, Dr. P. O. Bersell, President of the ° Augustana Synod,
listed the following differences:

1. Differing interpretations in regard to the inspiration of the
Scriptures;

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