# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S513
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 513

and which are now assigned to new committees, were so vigorously
and stoutly defended by the spokesmen for the Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod at the 1954 Synodical Conference. Our delegates
and pastors who were in attendance at East Detroit and Chicago
were saddened by the un-yielding spirit shown there by the Mis-
souri Synod spokesmen in defending every point covered in our
Resolutions III, IV and V. Our convictions on the points at issue
were at times characterized as manifesting a separatistic spirit, as
going beyond Scripture, or as involving a misapplication of Scrip-
ture. The many discussions demonstrated that there was no real
meeting of minds, nor was there any such “unity of the spirit” as
must underlie all fraternal relations in the Christian Church
(cf. I Cor. 1:10).

We feel, therefore, that, as matters now stand, further nego-
tiations by committees will be fruitless; that an impasse has been
reached in our fraternal relations with the Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod; and that further negotiations will result in indif-
ferentism and in compromise of Scriptural doctrine and practice.
At this point we can only say that we have testified to the Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod. as best we knew how and have
tried in many ways and for many years to preserve the unity in
confession and practice which we enjoyed with them for so
many years.

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As for ourselves we affirm that we want to remain true to the
Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions. We want to continue
in the old paths in which our fathers walked, together with the
fathers of the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. Before God,
therefore, we feel that we have only one choice. Since the Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod has shown us in its official proceedings
that it no longer walks in the old ways with us, we must declare
that the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod has broken the bond
that has bound us together for 100 years. The time has come when
we must testify by action against the unionism which has become
so common in the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod in recent
years. To continue the arguments by word and pen will be more
likely to aggravate further than to resolve our differences.

THEREFORE WE HEREBY DECLARE with deepest regret
that fellowship relations with the Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod are suspended on the basis of Romans 16:17, and that the
exercise of such relations cannot be resumed until the offenses
contrary to the doctrine which we have learned have been removed
by them in a proper manner.

It is our firm conviction that we and those who stand with us