# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S532
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

532 INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS

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Furthermore, a question of this sort cannot be answered re-
sponsibly and in the fear of God without a consideration of the
effect of our action upon synods and church groups now affiliated
with us. Since our sister synods in the Synodical Conference and
our affiliates in Germany, England, Australia, and France will be
deeply affected by any action we take regarding the Lutheran
World Federation; and since, furthermore, representatives of our
Synod have, at Uelzen in their deliberations with sister churches,
indicated a loving consideration for the convictions and feelings
of sister churches and a desire to act in concert with them in this
matter (they could not, of course, “bind” their synod to anything),
we urge that the action recommended be taken in the closest con-
sultation and co-operation with the affiliates of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod.

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There is still another consideration. Since any connection on
our part with the Lutheran World Federation will be motivated
by a desire to promote a true theological unity among Lutherans;
and since, furthermore, membership in a federation cannot in
itself be made a duty even where no decisive confessional reasons
forbid membership; it behooves us at this time to remember that
in the past God has in His grace given to The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod and its affiliates the grace of a peculiarly distinct
and courageous confessional utterance and the strength to walk
alone where walking alone was necessary. We ought to acknowl-
edge this gift in all humility; and we ought, therefore, to exercise
a wise stewardship in the fulfilling of our responsibility to bear
an uncompromising and winning witness. Where and how can we,
in making our testimony felt, best show our gratitude to the God
of history? Above all, where will a voice uttering the genuinely
Lutheran concern for purity of doctrine be most effective? A re-
solve to speak for Lutheranism outside the Lutheran World Federa-
tion should not be interpreted as “traditional isolationism.” The
stand we are advocating is not the easy way out; rather, such
a stand will require sober courage of a high order. Let us, there-
fore, take the God of history, the God who has shaped our history
and marked our path for us, seriously, both for our warning and
for our encouragement.

On the basis of these considerations, we recommend that The
Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod decline the invitation to be-
come a member in the Lutheran World Federation which was
extended to it at its Forty-Second Regular Convention (Pro-
ceedings, p. 558).

We also urge that our reply to the Lutheran World Federation

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