# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S503
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 503

expressed grave concern regarding the adequacy of the United
Testimony and have raised questions concerning the consistency
between the United Testimony and the Common Confession (Lu-
theran Witness, July 6, 1954, p. 6; Vice-President Grumm at the
Wisconsin Synod convention, Milwaukee, October 8 and 9, 1953).

Fact 6. In August 1950 Dr. Fendt of the American Lutheran
Church, a member of the joint subcommittee which drafted the
Common Confession, declared that the Common Confession sets
forth “the doctrine taught by both synods” and that “the under-
lying motivation (in drafting the Common Confession) was to give
expression to existing doctrinal unity rather than to rehearse past
doctrinal disagreements or to seek compromises or conversions
among the negotiators” (Concordia Theological Monthly, 1950,
p. 773).

Fact 7. Scripture doctrines held by The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod have, subsequent to the adoption of the Common
Confession, been denied and attacked in publications of the Amer-
ican Lutheran Church (cp., ¢. 8+, Lutheran Standard, October 25,
1952, p.4, on Creation; February 21, 1953, p. 15, on Inspiration;
February 26, 1956, pp- 3 and 8, two pro-lodge letters without com-
ment), without public rebuke or correction.

Fact 8. The statement of the Chairman of the Missouri Synod’s
Committee on Doctrinal Unity that the American Lutheran Church
receded from its former position has been challenged in a publica-
tion sponsored by the American Lutheran Church with the re-
sponse, “That will be news to the members of the ALC Committee”
(Lutheran Outlook, August 1953, p. 230: Dr. Dell).

Fact 9. In spite of the situation outlined above, the 1954 con-
vention of the American Lutheran Church has, on the one hand,
unanimously adopted resolutions providing for the final steps
toward merger with other bodies of the former American Lutheran
Conference, and, on the other hand, has unanimously approved
Part II of the Common Confession. (Lutheran Standard, October 23,
1954.)

Fact 10. These facts make it evident that the American Lu-
theran Church has not interpreted the Common Confession in the
sense in which the Missouri Synod Committee intended it to be
understood, thereby demonstrating that the Common Confession
is defective for the purpose for which it was framed.

Fact 11. Certain doctrines which have been in dispute between
the American Lutheran Church and the Missouri Synod, e. -, Sun-
day, Creation days, are not treated in the Common Confession.

‘Fact 12. The Lutheran Confessions have laid down the Scrip-
tural requirements for settling doctrinal differences: “For the