# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S539
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 539

of co-operation among the Lutheran Church bodies of America
it can be made more effective, it should be done.

It is for these reasons that I would recommend to Synod that
it affiliate with the National Lutheran Council.

W. C. DicKMEYER

NOTE: On January 5, 1950, all members of the Committee were
invited to ‘attend a meeting of the Committee of Thirty-four, at which
the status of the National Lutheran Council in the framework of a
proposed federation was discussed. However, all proposals for a Lutheran
Federation, of which the National Lutheran Council would become the
core, are in such a tentative and uncertain state of development that they
could not at the present time affect the above findings of either the
majority or the minority report.

[654]
Membership in National Lutheran Council

In the regular quarterly meeting of this congregation, held the
evening of March 6, it was resolved that we petition Synod to join
the National Lutheran Council.

We were moved to this resolve because

1. We can find nothing in the constitution of the National Lu-
theran Council that would make our working together with
that body a unionistic effort, since that constitution guaran-
tees us. freedom of choice in the areas of co-operation.

2. There are many areas of co-operation in which we have
worked together in the past and are working together today,
areas which do not demand unity of doctrine, areas which
have responded with signal blessings to our combined ef-
forts. Such areas include the work of the Armed Services
Commission, Emergency Planning Council, Prisoner of War
Board, Public Relations Department, etc.

3. The problems of and the opportunities in the present world
will undoubtedly multiply the areas where co-operation will
be the best and God-pleasing solution and answer.

4, Our witnessing for Christ by word and deed in and through
the National Lutheran Council can only redound to the
glory of God and the welfare of His Church. To permit fear
of man’s opinion or of man’s taking offense at actions which
do not condone error or deny truth to keep us from working
together as Lutherans is unworthy of a Church which be-
lieves in the power of the Gospel and the blessings of

Almighty God. Triniry LUTHERAN CyurcH, Gary, IND.

AvoutpH M. BacHMaAnn, Secretary
Joun F. Avsert, Chairman