# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S538
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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538 INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS

If my observation is correct, our people, by and large, do not
follow. those. who insist upon our Synod separating itself wholly.
and completely from other church bodies at the cost of diminishing
our effectiveness in the building of the Kingdom.

In joining the National Lutheran Council. we will hearten
great numbers of kindred spirits in other Lutheran bodies, even
as they will hearten us. I refer to the many members who accept
the Bible as the inerrant Word of God, who subscribe to sola
Scriptura, sola gratia, sola fide as their tenet of faith, and who
proclaim the need of repentance and Jesus Christ as the sole and
only Savior from sin through His sacrificial death on the Cross
and His resurrection on Easter morn. These forces in other synods,
together with the Missouri Synod, will lend great strength toward
the revitalization of Biblical truth in America and in the world.

In view of this, I cannot agree with the majority report that
our great Missouri Synod would serve only as an “irritant” in
the National Lutheran Council. It is my conviction that testimony
to the truth, by whomsoever given, will be used for good by the
Spirit of God when given to fellow Christians.

I hold in high esteem all persons who appeared ‘before the
Committee. The ultimate decision, however, depends upon the
1,500,000 souls who constitute our Church.

The majority report states: “It is the considered opinion of
your Committee that the constitution per se of the National
Lutheran Council contains nothing which would make it a sin for
the Missouri Synod to sign.”

I agree. Then surely the opportunity of our co-operating with
the National Lutheran Council should be embraced.

Our conference with Dr. Sodt, President of the National Lu-
theran Council, and Dr. Empie, Executive Director of the National
‘Lutheran Council, was reassuring. These men warmly welcomed
us to join and assured us that we could participate in any depart-
ment or phase of work and also that we would have the privilege
of non-participation whenever it seemed to be desirable : or
indicated. >
' Both men showed a warm, evangelical attitude, and I appre-
ciated their sincerity and honesty.

Finally, I should like also to call attention to the urgency
that presents itself to Christians who have the responsibility of
living and working in these challenging days. It is hardly necessary
to discuss the threatening disaster to the world unless men can be
brought to a realization that only through an acceptance of Christ
as their Savior and God as their Guide can we hope for peace in
the hearts of men. Only the intensive, active evangelical ministry
of the Church can and will be effective. If by a greater degree