# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S1188 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 672 INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS National Lutheran Council. It studied carefully the origin, consti. tution, history, and development of the National Lutheran Coungi] : from 1918 to 1950. The following report and recommendation were arrived at individually and collectively after many hours of fervent prayer and days of careful deliberation, and they are herewith submitted to the pastors, teachers, and congregations of our Synod for study and to the synodical convention at Milwaukee, Wis., for adoption, Brief History of the National Lutheran Council in Relation to The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod The National Lutheran Council was organized in 1918. The constituent bodies in the National Lutheran Council at present are: The United Lutheran Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the American Lutheran Church, the Augustana Evangelical Lu- theran Church, the Lutheran Free Church, the United Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Suomi Synod, the Danish Evangelical Ly- theran Church. 1920 to 1940 ‘ In the third and fourth decades of the twentieth century there was no official relationship between the Missouri Synod and the National Lutheran Council. Our available records do not show any overture made by either the Missouri Synod or the National Lutheran Council to join in or to co-operate in or to co-ordinate work carried on by either organization during those years, 1941 to 1949 Since the year 1941 various approaches have been made both by the Missouri Synod to the National Lutheran Council and by the National Lutheran Council to the Missouri Synod to allocate work on a comity basis, or to co-ordinate or to co-operate, in certain emergency-born projects brought about by the Second World War. The first of these projects related to Relief for Orphaned Mis- sions in Africa and the Orient, which had been cut off from their home bases by the outbreak of World War II. Since 1940 the Armed Services Commission of the Missouri Synod has worked on the ‘basis of allocation and co-ordination and comity with the Armed Service Commission of the National Lutheran Council. The Emer- gency Planning Council has worked together with the National Lutheran Council in Prisoner of War work and in various phases of physical relief work. in war-torn areas, In referring to the above co-ordinated activities of the National Lutheran Council and the Missouri Synod the word “co-operation” has sometimes been used. It must, however, be clearly understood — RR SNES = eI eS tere" mt INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 673 ‘at when it is so used, it does not imply working together in the ld of spiritual ministry. Never at any time did the Missouri od turn over to the National Lutheran Council the spiritua ‘Aeponsibility for its membership nor its. work. aaa various committees and commissions of our Church which ; worked together with the National Lutheran Council during the ba nine years believe that such relationship of co-ordination, allocation, and comity was of mutual benefit. In 1949 Free Conferences in Europe were arranged by the Missouri Synod in co-operation with the VLKD (Vereinigte Luthe- rische Kirche in Deutschland) and the National Lutheran Council. It is sometimes said that emergencies of the war brought about situations which prompted fellowship with other Lutherans outside of America on the basis of principles different from those followed by the Missouri Synod in America. Such a statement is not in harmony with the facts. Prayer fellowship was practiced only with those with whom we are in doctrinal unity. J oint prayer was some- times practiced on the same basis as practiced in our own country with members of other church bodies. Paragraphs from the Constitution of the National Lutheran Council Pertinent to the Study of the Question of Synod’s Becoming a Participating Body P bl "(1949 Edition) reamodte Wuereas, In their respective constitutions, the participating Lutheran church bodies accept the Holy Scriptures as the Word of God and the only source, norm, and guide of Christian faith and life; and _ Wuereas, In their respective constitutions, the Participating Bodies accept the Unaltered Augsburg Confession and Luther's Catechism as the true exposition and presentation of the doctrine of the Holy Scriptures; and Wuereas, The Participating Bodies are of the conviction that they can and should serve the Lutheran Church at large by co- operating in matters of common interest _and responsibility, co-operation in which does not affect their distinctive principles; Therefore, said Church Bodies do hereby establish and will maintain a common agency to be governed by the following Constitution and By-Laws. Article III. Purposes and Objectives The purposes and objectives of this Council are: a. To witness for the Lutheran Church on matters which re- quire an expression of common faith, ideals, and program.