# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S541
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 541

the undersigned congregation has noted that Synod no longer fits
this description and definition of an orthodox church body, since
it is no longer true that “throughout it only the pure doctrine is
not only officially recognized but actually also prevails.” This
serious situation has been called to the attention of Synod at its
three previous conventions in many memorials listed under the
general heading “Intersynodical and Doctrinal Matters” (Pro-
ceedings 1947, pp. 501—536; Proceedings 1950, pp. 575—692; Pro-
ceedings 1953, pp. 526—576).

The undersigned congregation has not been remiss in its
God-given duty of calling to the attention of Synod a number of
publicly advocated false doctrines which have not been combated
and removed from Synod’s fellowship, even though they dis-
agree with the doctrine which has been recognized and confessed
by our church as Scripturally correct by formal resolutions of
Synod or in publications for which Synod has assumed re-
sponsibility.

Our congregation as well as other churches and individuals
have appealed to Synod in the past three conventions to reaffirm
the Scriptural position in these matters as the only position
which will be allowed to prevail within the fellowship, and
to reject the contrary doctrines which have become public
within Synod and which require a disavowal and retraction on
the part of those who have publicly advocated these teachings
which are today yet working as a deadly leaven within the
fellowship, even threatening to disrupt the entire Synodical
Conference.

We consider it our duty, as a member congregation, again to
call the attention of Synod to some of the more serious false doc-
trines publicly advocated within our midst because, as we already
stated in a memorial to the 1950 convention (see Proceedings,
pp. 605, 606): “By the failure to exercise doctrinal discipline
a church body imperils and eventually forfeits its orthodox char-
acter (Brief Statement, Par. 29) and substitutes for confessional
orthodoxy a unionistic principle which permits divergence in doc-
trine without disruption of church fellowship, thus compelling
orthodox congregations, in obedience to God’s Word in Rom. 16:
17,18, to leave its fellowship.”

We are also conscious of the fact that, as our Lutheran Con-
fessions state, “It is a grave matter that one should separate oneself
from so many lands and people and profess a separate doctrine;
but here stands God’s command that everyone should beware of