# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S1194
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

684 INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS

only Savior from sin through His sacrificial death on the Cr,

and His resurrection on Easter morn. These forces in other synods,
together with the Missouri Synod, will lend great strength toward
the revitalization of Biblical truth in America and in the world.

In view of this, I cannot agree with the majority report that
our great Missouri Synod would serve only as an “irritant” in
the National Lutheran Council. It is my conviction that testimon:
to the truth, by whomsoever given, will be used for good by the
Spirit of God when given to fellow Christians.

I hold in high esteem all persons who appeared before the
Committee. The ultimate decision, however, depends upon the
1,500,000 souls who constitute our Church.

The majority report states: “It is the considered opinion of
your Committee that the constitution per se of the National
Lutheran Council contains nothing which would make it a sin for
the Missouri Synod to sign.”

T agree. Then surely the opportunity of our co-operating with
the National Lutheran Council should be embraced.

Our conference with Dr. Sodt, President of the National Lu-
theran Council, and Dr. Empie, Executive Director of the National
Lutheran Council, was reassuring. These men warmly welcomed
us to join and assured us that we could participate in any depart-
ment or phase of work and also that we would have the privilege
of non-participation whenever it seemed to be desirable or
indicated.

Both men showed a warm, evangelical attitude, and I appre-
ciated their sincerity and honesty.

Finally, I should like also to call attention to the urgency
that presents itself to Christians who have the responsibility of
living and working in these challenging days. It is hardly necessary
to discuss the threatening disaster to the world unless men can be
brought to a realization that only through an acceptance of Christ
as their Savior and God as their Guide can we hope for peace in
the hearts of men. Only the intensive, active evangelical ministry
of the Church can and will be effective. If by a greater degree
of co-operation among the Lutheran Church bodies of America
it can be made more effective, it should be done.

It is for these reasons that I would recommend to Synod that
it affiliate with the National Lutheran Council.

W. C. Dickmerver

_Nore.—On January 5, 1950, all members of the Commi
invited to attend a mee’ of the Committee of Thirty-four, at which
- the status of the Natio Lutheran Council in the framework of a
pro d federation was discussed. However, all proposals for a Lutheran
eration, of which the National Lutheran Council would become the
core, are in such a tentative and uncertain state of development that they

not a e presen e affect al i i

majority pe the sabeene eo bove findings of either the

INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 685

Membership in National Lutheran Council:
(Memorial 654)
“In the regular quarterly meeting of this congregation, held the

“evening of March 6, it was resolved that we petition Synod to join
“the National Lutheran Council.

We were moved to this resolve because

1. We can find nothing in the constitution of the National Lu-
theran Council that would make our working together with
that body a unionistic effort, since that constitution guaran-
tees us freedom of choice in the areas of co-operation.

2. There are many areas of co-operation in which we have
worked together in the past and are working together today,
areas which do not demand unity of doctrine, areas which
have responded with signal blessings to our combined ef-

- forts. Such areas include the work of the Armed Services"
Commission, Emergency Planning Council, Prisoner of War
Board, Public Relations Department, etc.

3. The problems of, and the opportunities in, the present world
will undoubtedly multiply the areas where co-operation will
be the best and God-pleasing solution and answer.

4, Our witnessing for Christ by word and deed in and through

the National Lutheran Council can only redound to the -

glory of God and the welfare of His Church. To permit fear
of man’s opinion or of man’s taking offense at actions which
do not condone error or deny truth to keep us from working
together as Lutherans is unworthy of a Church which be-
lieves in the power of the Gospel and the blessings of

Almighty God. TRINITY LutTHERAN Cxurca, Gary, Inn.

Apotra M. Bacumann, Secretary
JoHN F. Axsert, Chairman

Affiliate with National Lutheran Council
(Memorial 655)
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Luke, Chicago, IIL, in
regular meeting assembled on March 16, 1950, after prayerful and
lengthy consideration decided to forward the following resolution

_to the convention of our beloved Synod:

N. L. C. Membership
“Wuerzas, In the history of the Church, zeal for the truth
repeatedly has led to a perfectionism and purism which has ended
in the development of conventicles and sects, against which the
Church has had to guard itself; and