# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S533
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 533

make it clear that this action is not to be construed as indicating a
lack of interest in, or of a sense of responsibility for, world Lu-
theranism but is taken out of a profound sense of responsibility
for the essential unity of the Lutheran Church. This sense of re-
sponsibility should, moreover, move The Lutheran Church — Mis-
souri Synod to express its readiness to discuss this matter further
with official representatives of the Lutheran World Federation.
If the officials of the Lutheran World Federation feel that our
Synod’s position is based on premises not firmly founded in Scrip-
ture or on a faulty interpretation of the Constitution and program
of work of the Lutheran World Federation, The Lutheran Church
— Missouri Synod is in conscience bound to give them a full and
fair hearing.

A consideration of the three points urged above will also, we
believe, mark out for The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
“the extent of possible co-operation” with the Lutheran World

Federation. Martin H. FRANZMANN

LAWRENCE B. MEYER

November 1, 1955 Martin J. NAUMANN

Decline Invitation to Become Member of Lutheran
World Federation
(Memorial 617),

Wuergas, The question of membership in the Lutheran World
Federation must be answered on a doctrinal and confessional
basis; and

Wuereas, We have such a confessional basis in the Brief State-
ment, Paragraphs 28 and 29; and

Wuereas, It behooves us at this time to remember that in the
past God in His grace has 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; and

Wuereas, Such a courageous confessional utterance and an
uncompromising and winning witness is urgently needed today; we

Resolved, That we petition Synod to decline the invitation to
become a member of the Lutheran World Federation.

St. Joun’s LutHERAN CxHuRcH, St. JAMES, Mann.
Board of Elders
WatLreR BECKER Wn. MumMME
Emit WIsDERHOEFT
Frep M. QuiNvEL, Chairman
Artuur Dreviow, Pastor