# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S491
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 491

VI. INTERSYNODICAL
AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS

Report of the Committee on Doctrinal Unity
(Memorial 601)

In the area of work assigned to the synodical Committee on
Doctrinal Unity the triennium since the Houston Convention has
not called for much activity, but has been characterized by the
necessity of awaiting developments. This has been the case mainly
because of three factors: (1) the postponement of action by the
convention on Part II of The Common Confession; (2) the changed
situation in the American Lutheran Church because of the union
negotiations with other members of the American Lutheran Con-
ference; and (3) the situation within the Synodical Conference.

Six meetings were held during the time between conventions,
four separate sessions of our committee and two jointly with the
Committee on Union and Fellowship of the American Lutheran

Church. The latter took place on March 30, 1954, and November 14,
1955, respectively. The purposes achieved were the imparting of
correct and up-to-date information regarding developments affect-
ing each group; some discussion of the United Testimony on Faith
and Life (the basic new doctrinal statement for the proposed union
of members of the former American Lutheran Conference) ; and
expression of opinion as to the future value of The Common Con-
fession.

The separate meetings of our group (held on November 19,
1953; December 9, 1953; January 6, 1956; and March 16, 1956) were
devoted to discussion of correspondence addressed to the com-
mittee, review of the synodical convention resolutions affecting us,
and planning for the future. These meetings have resulted in the
following recommendations:

I

Wuereas, The Foreword to Part II of The Common Confession
states: “Part II is intended as a supplement to Part I, and the
two parts in reality form one doctrinal statement. Neither part
is to be regarded as complete in itself or unrelated to the other.
Part. II was written to bring clarification where misunderstanding
of Part I was encountered, as well as adding some doctrines which
were omitted in Part I” (Proceedings, Forty-second Regular Con-
vention, 1953, p. 507) ; and

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod at its 1953
convention has recognized this organic connection between Parts I
’ and II of The Common Confession by resolving “that for purposes
of study, Parts I and II of The Common Confession hereafter be