# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S1117
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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540 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

Relocate the Responsibility for Censorship
(Memorial 523)

Wuergas, The present system of censorship proceeds under
a code not publicly adopted by Synod; and

Wuereas, Censorship in a democratic church body is an
portant matter; and .

Wueneas, The present censorship assignment detracts from the
St. Louis faculty’s main task of preparing professional church
workers; and

Wnuereas, The President of Synod already has the responsibility
for the oversight of doctrine and practice in Synod; be it therefore

Resolved, That the censorship function be removed from the
St. Louis faculty and be made the responsibility of the Literature
Board, and that the Board be held to report to the President of
Synod.

im-

York-Sewarp REGIoNAL ConrFErEnce
SourHEeRN Nesraska District

B. Hoim, Secretary

Concerning a Change in Censorship
(Memorial 524)

Wuereas, The St. Louis faculty in an opinion concerning Rom.
16:17 (dated May-June, 1946, and repeated in May, 1948) confesses
that it does not know for certain what God actually says in that
passage and thus denies that Rom. 16:17 is a clear word of God; and

Wuereas, The St. Louis faculty has issued an opinion on en-
gagement (dated May 26, 1949) which is contrary to the Word of
God; and

Wuereas, The St.Louis faculty has by the afore-mentioned
opinions demonstrated its incompetence to judge doctrine by the
Word of God; and .

Wuereas, The official organ of Synod, the Lutheran Witness,
which is under the censorship of the St. Louis faculty, has repeat-
edly contained false doctrine (e.g. 1940, p. 275; 1944, p.51; 1945,
p. 277£.; 1947, p. 29; 1947, p.59; 1948, p. 414); and

Wuereas, The booklet Prayer Fellowship, published by Con-
cordia Publishing House, under the censorship of the St. Louis
faculty, contains error; therefore be it

Resolved, That the St.Louis faculty no longer shall exercise
censorship concerning the publications of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod; and be it furthermore

Resolved, That the Springfield faculty shall be Synod’s official
doctrinal censor and that the synodical Handbook be changed ac-
cordingly. Paut G. Kocu

CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 541

ACTION
Upon recommendation of Committee 6, Synod resolved:

Resolution 13
Inasmuch as no valid reason for new changes in the present
setup are advanced in Memorials 522—524; be it therefore
Resolved, That Synod reject the proposed changes in the afore-
mentioned three memorials and consider Section 6.163 a adequate.

Change in Editorship of Official Synodical Organs
(Memorial 525)

Wuereas, It is the considered conviction of the undersigned
that the suggested change in the editorship of Der Lutheraner and
The Lutheran Witness as recommended in the following overture
would be of benefit to the burdened members of the St. Louis
faculty and to the subscribers of the official periodicals; be it
respectfully

Recommended to the 41st Regular Convention of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod that The Lutheran Witness and Der
Lutheraner shall be the official organs of Synod. Synod shall elect
an editorial board for each of these organs, consisting of two pro-
fessors, one from St. Louis and one from Springfield, two pastors,
one teacher, and two laymen.

The members of the editorial boards shall be elected at the
triennial convention of Synod for terms of six years. The first
term of one professor, one clergyman, and one layman shall be
for three years only. Thereafter all terms shall be for six years.

Vacancies occurring between regular meetings of Synod shall
be filled for the unexpired term by the President, in conjunction
with the Vice-Presidents (subject to the approval of the District
Presidents).

All editorial policies shall be fixed by the respective editorial
boards of our official organs in consultation with the President and
the Vice-Presidents of Synod.

An editor in chief and associate editors for each organ shall be
appointed by the respective board together with the President and
the Vice-Presidents. Appointments may also be terminated in the
same way. The position of editor of The Lutheran Witness shall be
a full-time position—the salary of which shall be fixed by the
editorial board with the approval of the Board of Directors. .

The editor in chief and associate editors of The Lutheran Wit-
ness and Der Lutheraner shall be responsible to their respective
editorial boards for the conduct of their offices.

Members of the editorial boards are not eligible to serve as
either editor in chief or associate editors.

Censorship of doctrinal contents of the official organs of Synod