# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S1157
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

612 INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS

set forth therein have also continued to be practiced within our
fellowship. Note the following facts:

A. In 1946 a Reformation service, participated in by pastors
and congregations of various Lutheran Synods (Missouri, A. 1, Cc
U. L. C. A.) was held in New York and was reported in the
- Lutheran Witness, December 3, 1946, p. 411, without disapproy-
ing comment.

B. An “All-Lutheran Youth Conference,” attended by repre-
sentatives of the Walther League, together with National Lutheran
Council youth leaders, was held at Valparaiso University on
August 26—30, 1948. What this means is pointed out by the Rey.
O. A. Anderson in the Lutheran Herald of October 5, 1948, p. 930 f:
“, .. these young people and their leaders proved without a doubt
that, at least on the youth level, all Lutherans can worship and
work together... .” “The unity of the conference was achieved
not only through discussion and lectures, but very evidently
through recreation and worship.”

C. A joint U. L. C. A. and Missouri Easter Sunrise Service
was held on April 17, 1949, in Charlotte, N. C., as the first of
a projected series. (See Lutheran Companion, May 18, 1949.)

D. The students of our St. Louis Seminary are united in the
Association of Lutheran Seminarians, drawing together semi-
narians of all Lutheran bodies for such purposes as “to encourage
the spiritual life of Lutheran seminarians”; and this in the face
of the objections of students attending the various seminaries
of the Synodical Conference.

E. “Lutheran seminars” are still being held periodically at
which members of our Synod practice church fellowship with
members of other church bodies not united with us in doctrine.
These seminars are not being held for the purpose of discussing
and removing doctrinal differences.

F. In accordance with the false principle set forth in “A State-
ment” that certain details of doctrine are not divisive, books con-
taining false doctrine on the Lord’s Supper, written by pastors of
Synod, continue to be sold by our Concordia Publishing House.
(Thy King Cometh and The Presence.)

G. In accordance with the same false principle, two conflicting
doctrines on engagement and marriage are being advocated within
Synod, one by the faculty of our Seminary at St. Louis and the
other by the faculty of our Seminary at Springfield. The latter is
in agreement with the Scriptural teaching in our synodical Cate-
chism; the other is in disagreement therewith.

H. Note also the following: Among the signers of “A State-
ment” are at least 250 pastors, four professors at our St. Louis
Seminary, a newly appointed Vice-President of Synod, the Director

INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 618

~ of Public Relations, the president of one of our preparatory schools,

the president of Valparaiso University and several of its professors,
two editors of the Lutheran Witness, and one or more Presidents
of synodical Districts. It can be seen that men in these positions
wield a potentially very great influence not only upon the members
of their congregations within our fellowship, but also upon the
future pastors in Synod and the general public in America and
abroad. The continued toleration and/or appointment of these
men to such positions of influence is another indication that our
Synod now has the characteristics of a unionistic fellowship; and

Waereas, It is of utmost importance that the distinctive
characteristics of a unionistic fellowship which our Synod has at
the present time be removed in order that orthodox pastors and
congregations may not be forced to renounce the Missouri Synod
‘as a persistently unionistic church body and withdraw from its
fellowship (Rom. 16:17; Brief Statement, par. 28 and 29; Synodical
Catechism, Qu. 186D); therefore we, the undersigned members
of Synod, now

Respectfully request and urgently require the honorable Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod, at its convention assembled in
Milwaukee, 1950:

1. Not merely to re-state its true Scriptural position in a posi-
tive manner, as it did in 1947 by its reaffirmation of the Brief
Statement, but also by resolution specifically to reject and disavow
the afore-mentioned doctrinal errors: .

2. That Synod, through its President, in accordance with
Synod’s Constitution, Article XI, b. 2, continue to admonish the
District Presidents, all officers of Synod, and all such as are
employed by Synod, who, as shown in this memorial, have departed
from the true doctrinal position required in Synod’s Constitution,
Articles XI and 1.11; .

3. That Synod, in accordance with its Constitution, Article
XII, 8, require its District Presidents, after due admonition, to sus-
pend from membership until the next regular meeting of Synod
the pastors, professors, and teachers in their respective Districts
who persistently adhere to the afore-mentioned doctrinal errors,
and also publish such proceedings.

(Signed) (Rev.) A. T. Kretzmann, Crete, Ill.
(Rev.) Watiace H. McLauca.in, Pittsburgh, Pa.
(Rev.) H. D. Mensine, Tinley Park, Ill.

Signatures attested by (Rev.) H. D. Mensine
Tinley Park, Ill., April 5, 1950