# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S1153
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

606 INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS

church body imperils and eventually forfeits its orthodox cha
acter (Brief Statement, Par. 29) and substitutes for confessi -
orthodoxy a unionistic principle which permits divergence in Pins
trine without disruption of church fellowship, thus compe’ a
orthodox congregations, in obedience to God’s Word in Row tae
17-18, to leave its fellowship; therefore —
We, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Crete, Ill.

respectfully entreat and earnestly implore the honorabl
Church — Missouri Synod, at its ae
waukee, 1950,

a. Not merely to reaffirm its true Scriptural position in a Pposi-
tive way, but also by definite action specifically to reject and
disavow the afore-mentioned doctrinal errors.

2. To require, as a condition for continued membership in
Synod (Constitution of Synod, Art.IV, 2) that the signers of
“A Statement” as well as all other pastors, professors, teachers
and employees of Synod conform to this rejection and disavowal

of the errors set forth in “A Statement,” ceasing henceforth to
teach and practice them.

» Now

theran
convention assembled in Mil-

Trinity Ev. Luraeran Cyurcy or Crete, It,
A. T. Krerzmann, Pastor
W. J. Brasz, Chairman
R. E. Prepensring, Secretary

The same memorial was submitted by

Trinity Ev. Luru. Courcy of TINLEY Park, Itt.
H. D. Mensine, Pastor
ALBERT Koenter, Chairman
Orro G. Beccur, Secretary

IMMANUEL EVANGELICAL LutHeran Cxurcu
Prrrspurcu, Pa.
Wattace H. McLauenuin, Pastor

Concerning “A’ Statement”
(Memorial 615)

WHEREAS, We, the undersigned congregation, were grieved
that our reasonable request for a declaration of principles, con-
cerning the issues raised by “A Statement” of 1945, was apparently
by-passed by The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod ‘in conven-
tion, 1947 (cp. Unprinted Memorials, Proceedings, p. 522); and

Wuereas, None of the issues involved have been clarified or
resolved during the past three years; and

INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 607

..WuErREAS, On the contrary, doubt and confusion concerning the
doctrine of Christian fellowship and other matters are on the in-
grease in Synod, and the spirit of unconcern seems to be growing
gpace; and

Wuereas, God’s abiding blessing cannot remain with any synod
‘which refuses or hesitates to act decisively against those who
“teach or practice anything contrary to His Word, but permits all
~. “manner of contradictions to flourish:

_# Now, therefore, we respectfully entreat Synod assembled —

First, to state its position with special reference to the issues
raised by “A Statement” positively, briefly, unequivocally, as, for
instance, is done in the document called “A Reaffirmation,” to
which we subscribe in full, and which reads in part:

“We confess 3) That ‘avoid them’ in Rom.16:17 clearly and
directly forbids church fellowship with all heterodox teachers and
their adherents. (Formula of Concord, Thor. Decl., X, 22; Synodical
Constitution, Art. III; Brief Statement, Par. 28; Synodical Cate-
chism, Qus. 186-D and 326-D.)

“4) That the passages of God’s Word which prohibit church
fellowship with the heterodox compel us to ‘tell everyone who
champions a different doctrine: “We can no longer walk together.
Hence we can no longer pray together”’ (Proceedings of the Mis-
souri Synod, 1881:31), since ‘persistent adherence to false teach-
ing or to a sinful life forms a barrier against joint prayer’ (Pro-
ceedings of Oklahoma District, 1937). Rom. 16:17; 2 Thess. 3:6.

“5) That all church fellowship by participation in joint re-
ligious work or worship with those who advocate and support false
doctrine is unionism, 1 Cor.1:10; Rom.16:17, even though there
be no denial of the truth or approval of error in express words.

“6) That every error, also in details of doctrine, persistently
advocated, is divisive of church fellowship. Matt. 28:20; 2 John 10;
1 Cor. 1:10; Matt. 5:17-19.

“7) That our Lord Jesus Christ has given us the great com-
mission to ‘make disciples of all nations,’ Matt. 28:19, and at the
same time gives no one the right to disregard any teaching of
His Word or to deviate from it, Matt. 28:20. No ‘crisis’ (the mount-
ing tide of atheism, Communism, Romanism, secularism, world-
wide distress, etc.) excuses anyone from this directive.

“8) That in order to retain God’s Word in all purity we must
promptly correct any erroneous teaching in our fellowship. Jer.
23:31-32; 2 Tim. 1:13; 4:1-5.”

Secondly, in the manner of the Lutheran Formula of Concord