# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S1164 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) leaned penned ee Guinea avanveteuecorinese nate ee Serene ae meena enna ree tee ora —— elena aneore te eee % . % as ae ¢ y ae — wnt Ss ee. met 632 INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS Christians and the teaching of them to apply such harsh terms. toward ourselves is not the practice among our clergy and laity. is repugnant to Christian common sense, and is in contradiction, to other passages of Scripture (Gal. 6:1; 1 Cor, 4: 21; 1 Tim 5:1); and Wuereas, The application of Rom. 16:17-18 to other Christians was avoided in our historic Lutheran Confessions;. and Wueneas, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod is not under the curse of a popish doctrine of infallibility; and Wuereas, The greatest glory of The Lutheran Church — Mis. souri Synod has been its readiness to review the decisions of church councils in the light of Scripture and to adjust its actions accord- ingly; therefore be it , Resolved, That Rom. 16:17-18 be withdrawn as a prooftext from all official doctrinal statements of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod in which it is made to refer to other Christians , Enear P. H. Mewoum Position of Synod on Engagement (Memorial 632) Wuereas, Our synodical Catechism reads: “What is marriage? Marriage is the lifelong union of one man and one woman unto one flesh. Marriage was instituted by God and is entered into by rightful betrothal, or engagement.” (Question 61.) See Matt. 1:19-20, 24. Wuereas, In conformity with the Catechism, the Springfield faculty has declared in an opinion, dated December 19, 1949: “If God instituted the state of marriage, or wedlock, He also instituted the salient part of it, the mutual consent or betrothal. ... We are bound by God’s Word, therefore, to give as our firm conviction that ‘betrothal’ and ‘marriage’ as spoken of in the Word of God, are identical in essence and differ only as does the possession of privileges and their use.” Wuereas, The St. Louis faculty contends in an opinion, dated May 26, 1949: that betrothal, or engagement, is “of human origin.” It declares in effect that the mutual promise given at a wedding céremony dare not be broken, except for fornication or malicious desertion, but that the mutual promise given in a rightful betrothal may be broken when “such serious situations should arise as would at once preclude a happy married estate between the betrothed.” The St. Louis faculty would therefore grant a dis- pensation from truce-breaking, where God has not given such dispensation. - . Ln AS ae ane TET ee | Lath. Church, Northlake, Tl. INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 683 WueEreas, It is intolerable that the Springfield faculty should one thing to some future pastors of our congregations, while e:St. Louis faculty teaches the exact opposite to others; there- Gy be it | ve Resolved, That we ask The Lutheran Church — Missouri ‘Synod, in convention assembled at Milwaukee, Wis., June 21 to 30, , to state what it confesses and teaches concerning this matter. ' Signed by the Pastor and Board of Elders of Christ Ev. R. Parker O. Scuuttz F. E. Bartiinc, Pastor T. Bruce The same memorial was submitted by Apotex WESCHE, President R. E. Kreyiine RupotepH KuHLMANN ARNOLD BESTKE Frep A. BAUMGARTH E. B. ScHAEFER E. H. Nieervecce Our Redeemer Luth. Church Overland, Mo. H. A. StRuMpLeR, Emmaus Luth. Church, St. Louis, Mo. O. E. Remmnitz, Emmaus Luth. Church, St. Louis, Mo. Frep J. NiesrRvEccE, Trinity Luth. Church, Chesterfield, Mo. Martin F. Scoupmann, Hope Luth. Church, Overland, Mo. Irnvinc B. Kunz, Emmaus Luth. Church, St. Louis, Mo. H. W. Nresrvecce, Trinity Luth. Church, Chesterfield, Mo. Wuut1am A. Kostowske, Hope Luth. Church, Overland, Mo. Auc. Mertz, Trinity Luth. Church, Chesterfield, Mo. CLARENCE H. METZLER, Emmaus Luth. Church, St. Louis, Mo. Lro. HorrMann, Trinity Luth. Church, Chesterfield, Mo. F. Ws. Horrmann, Trinity Luth. Church, Chesterfield, Mo. Leonarp F. Loenr, Trinity Luth. Church, Chesterfield, Mo. Georce Srravs, St. John’s Luth. Church, Ellisville, Mo. A. A. Koca, St. John’s Luth. Church, Ellisville, Mo. Louts Straus, St. Paul’s Luth. Church of Orrville, Mo. Frep H. Merrz, Trinity Luth. Church, Chesterfield, Mo. Norman Reramerr, Trinity Luth. Church, Chesterfield, Mo.