# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S711
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

PRESIDENT’S TRIENNIAL REPORT ~ 48

than thirty years. It was also agreed that this group should carry
on the work until Synod itself interprets its regulations and decides
whether or not it desires a full-time editor for our Lutheran
Witness and whether he must be a member of the St. Louis Semi-
nary Faculty.

At the Centennial Convention the following resolution was
passed:

“Wuereas, ‘A Statement’ as such no longer is a basis for dis-
cussion according to the ‘Agreement’ reported by the President; and

“WHerEAS, The issues raised by ‘A Statement’ and by memo-
rials referring to ‘A Statement’ are being submitted for study to
pastors and congregations on the basis of materials supplied by
direction of the President; and

“Wuereas, The subject matter is such as to call for time and
patience, so that all pastors and laymen may have an opportunity
to study the same in a quiet, earnest, and prayerful manner
(a course which the Church should always follow); and

“WHEREAS, It is imperative that we continue on the foundation
of God’s Word, and God’s Word alone; therefore be it

“Resolved, That the President continue to submit to pastors
and congregations material for the Scriptural study of the ques-
tions at issue.”

Prior to the 1947 convention the document Sola Scriptura had
been mailed to all pastors. Since the convention the following
documents: The Doctrine of the Church, Theses on Fellowship, and
Exegesis on Romans 16:17 ff. were mailed to all pastors and teachers
for study. at their conferences and especially the last two also for
presentation to their congregations. In some sections of Synod
these guidelines were studied immediately. In other sections con-
ferences are now studying them. In some instances the theses
were well received. In other instances they were criticized. Some
adopted them, others requested certain changes. For the sake of
greater clarity and correct understanding the authors will make
some changes, and these will be presented.

During the past triennium the question of Lutheran Union has
been a matter of much concern to your President and Vice-
Presidents. Undoubtedly things are happening with respect to
Lutheran Union in various Lutheran bodies in America. Our
convention in Chicago decided to continue negotiations with the
American Lutheran Church. The Committee on Doctrinal Unity
was reappointed, and its report is before our convention. To this
permit me to add that in 1948 the American Lutheran Conference,
composed of the American Lutheran Church, the Augustana Evan-
gelical Lutheran Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the