# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S1187
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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670 INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS

honestly and objectively to perform the task assigned to it
studied the official pronouncements of the Boy Scouts of Ameri tt
It met on three separate occasions in all-day meetings with he
Wisconsin Synod Committee on Scouting. It was in corresponden .
with the authors of Memorial 617 (Proceedings, 1947, p. 538) and
others in an attempt to gather together all the factors in th
Scout program which might be disturbing our brethren. It solicited
other information from additional sources relative to Scoutin,
It mailed a questionnaire to brethren in whose congregations Scout
troops exist, requesting their views and seeking to determine if
the operation of the Scout program in their troops presented
obstacles that violated Scripture and conscience. The special
committee met in a two-day joint meeting with Synod’s Burea:
of Information and Board for Young People’s Work. The Wisconsin
Synod Committee on Scouting was invited to be present on one of
the two days and attended. —

As a result of their joint study of Scouting and on i
of their findings, the Special Committee authorized by te —s
convention of Synod, the Bureau of Information, and the Board
for Young People’s Work unanimously declare to Synod as their
position that in. their opinion the policy with regard ‘to Scouting
adopted by Synod in 1944 should be sustained.

SPEcIAL COMMITTEE ON Scoutine

Joun F, Cxorrz, Chairman FEirx KRETZSCHMAR
Geo. C. SrounMann

; Bureau or INFORMATION
THEODORE GRAEBNER Paut M. Bretscuer
J. W. Acker

Boarp ror Younc Prorie’s Work

CLARENCE PETERS Grisert P, Mucnow
L. W. Sprrz Homer C. Gruser
Pau. W. JaBKErR

ACTION

Concerning this matter the following resolution, submitted by

Committee 7, was adopted:
Resolution 2

WHEREAS, The Boy Scouts of America have repeatedly assured
us that “no Boy Scout authority supersedes the authority of the
local pastor and the congregation in any phase of the program
affecting the spiritual welfare of the Lutheran men and boys in
scouting”; and

Wuereas, In instances involving the violation of the rights and

meee en a

INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 671

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seeligious convictions of individual Scouts, the avenue of appeal to
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the local Scout council or to higher Boy Scout authorities is
“open; and

..  Wuereas, Scout authorities have shown every consideration to
‘appeals directed to them by Scout leaders and pastors of our
Church and have shown a readiness to conform to their stated
_ principles bearing on religious matters; therefore be it
Resolved, That we accept the report of the Joint Committee on
Scouting (special committee appointed by the President in accord-
ance with the Proceedings of 1947, page 538ff., Board for Young
People’s Work, Lodge. Information Bureau) and with them declare
that “the policy with regard to Scouting adopted by Synod in
1944 should be sustained.”

Report of Committee on Membership in the National
Lutheran Council
(Memorial 653)

Instructions to the Committee by the Fortieth Regular Convention,
Held in Chicago, Ill., July 20—29, 1947

Resolved, That a committee (two pastors, two laymen, one
teacher) be appointed by the Praesidium and the Board of Directors
to continue the study of the question of our relationship as a par-
ticipating body in the National Lutheran Council and report its
findings to the next synodical convention, after having submitted
its findings to all pastors and congregations of our Church six
months prior to the convention.

The Committee: The Rev. Walter H. Meyer, Chairman*; Dr.

Lawrence Meyer, Secretary; Mr. W. Charles Dickmeyer; Mr. Carl
A. Geist; Mr. Arthur L. Miller.

The Work of the Committee

Your Committee held seven one-day meetings. It studied the
overtures made to the synodical conventions in 1944 and in 1947.
It held sessions with representatives of our Board for Home Mis-
sions in North and South America, the Student Service Commission,
the Board for Parish Education, the Armed Services Commission,
the Department of Public Relations, the Missionary Board of the
Synodical Conference, the Associated Lutheran Charities, official
representatives of the English District, members of the College of
Presidents, members of the clergy, and representatives of the

* Dr. Arthur Brunn, who had originally been appointed chairman of
the Committee, died in the Lord, August 27, 1949. In his stead the Rev.
Rudolph R. Ressmeyer was appointed. After serving for a number of
months he tendered his resignation because cf stress of work.

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