# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S1172
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

646 INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS

Whereas, The minority report of the synodical committee
rightly holds that this distinction has no validity, but wrongly
understands Question 222 of our old synodical Catechism as refer.
ring to outward acts of prayer in the visible Church, while it
actually refers to an inward spiritual reality in the invisible
Church (as the wording of our new synodical Catechism, Ques.
tion 216, makes abundantly clear); and

Wuereas, Such distinction between “prayer fellowship” and
“joint prayer” has been used as though Synod does not sanction
“prayer fellowship” with heterodox Christians, but does sanction
“joint prayer” with heterodox Christians on any occasion, pro-
vided that there is no denial of the truth in the wording of the
prayers; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That we petition Synod in convention assembled
to declare:

1. That there is no Scriptural basis for a distinction between
“prayer fellowship” and “joint prayer,” and that our Synod regards
these expressions as synonymous; and

2. That joint worship with the heterodox is contrary to Rom.
16:17; Titus 3:10; 2 John 10—11; 2 Thess. 3:6. ‘

(Signed) Zion Ev. Lureran Cuurcu, Cxtcaco, In.
Cart G. Kruse, Pastor :

Signature attested by (Rev.) H. D. MENsING
Tinley Park, Ill., April 5, 1950

Joint Prayer or Prayer Fellowship?
; (Memorial 643)

Wuereas, The commands “avoid them,” “an heretic reject,”
Rom. 16:17; Tit.3:10, leave no room for joint prayer, or prayer
fellowship, with the heterodox; and

Wuereas, Joint prayer, or prayer fellowship, is always a con-
fessional act, as is evident from the meaning Scripture puts into the
expression “call upon the name of the Lord,” Gen.4:26 and
54 other Old Testament and ten New Testament texts; and

Wuereas, Joint prayer, or prayer fellowship, would involve
that leadership in such prayer be granted also to the heterodox; and

Waereas, Without a common meaning attached to the common
words the joint prayer, or prayer fellowship, becomes vain repeti-
tions, 1Cor.1:10; Phil.1:27; and : :

Wuereas, Joint prayer, or prayer fellowship, with the heterodox
can be defended only by arguments from silence, false interpreta-
tions of Scripture, and poor reasoning; and

INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 647

Wuereas, Prayer Fellowship, by Theodore Graebner, used in
our theological seminary at St. Louis, contains a number of un-
scriptural statements and misrepresentations; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That we urge Synod to declare unequivocally:

~ That joint prayer, or prayer fellowship, with heterodox Lu-

therans is contrary to the Word and will of God; and

That the defense and persistence in joint prayer, or prayer
fellowship, with such heterodox will lead to the application of
Rom. 16:17 to the offenders; and

That Synod instruct its Praesidium and the District Presidents
to admonish the offenders and, if they show themselves obstinate,
to deal with them according to the example given us by our fathers,
namely: “We cannot walk together any longer. We can no longer

_ pray together.”

(Signed) (Rev.) A. C. Daums, Chicago, Ill.
Zion Ev. LutHeran Cuurcya, Cutcaco, In.
Cart G. Kruse, Pastor
Signatures attested by (Rev.) H. D. Mensinc
Tinley Park, Til., April 5, 1950

Repudiate Pamphlet “Prayer Fellowship,”
by Theodore Graebner
(Memorial 644)

Wuereas, A pamphlet entitled Prayer Fellowship, by Theodore
Graebner, contains a number of unscriptural statements and mis-

representations, for example, the statement: “Rom. 16:17 deals with .

enemies of the truth who come with the sinister purpose of deceiv-
ing innocent hearers, the simple-minded Christians” (page 4).
The words italicized by us are not found in the plain words of
Rom. 16:17, but are an addition by the author of the pamphlet; and

Wuereas, Synod has always recognized that Rom.16:17 and
similar passages are pertinent ‘to the question of prayer fellowship
(Lehre und Wehre, 1927: “That prayer fellowship presupposes.
a fellowship in the faith, Scripture abundantly teaches, e. g., Rom.
16:17, where the Christians are admonished to avoid those who
do not continue in the Apostles’ doctrine. . . .Whom we are to
avoid, with them we also do not practice prayer fellowship.”
Proceedings, Oklahoma District, 1937: “Whoever is altering the
teachings of Jesus, thereby is creating a division in the Church,
placing himself in opposition to all who adhere to Christ’s doc-
trine. We have been told by St. Paul that we must avoid such