# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S544
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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544 INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS

Word,” Mo. Synod; “‘A Fraternal Word’ Examined,” Wis. Synod;
Meetings of the Presidents of The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod and of the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Wisconsin
and Other States, held at Northwestern Publishing House, Mil-
waukee, Wis., January 12—15, 1954, and “Continuation,” May 11
to 14, 1954: “Official Minutes of Such Meetings”: pp. 7—9 and 20, 21;
Continuing in His Word, Wis. Synod, 1954, Tract 10; “A Fraternal
Reply,” Mo. Synod, pp. 23, 24; “Another Fraternal Endeavor,” Mo.
Synod, pp. 39—44; Synodical Conference Convention, August 10—13
and November 16—19, 1954: Syn. Conf. Proceedings, 1954, pp. 87
to 94; 109-111; 191,5 and 192, 5. Prayer Fellowship was one of
the matters cited in the action of the Norwegian Synod, June 25,
1955; and for the Resolutions of the Wisconsin Synod, August 10
to 17, 1955.

The above-catalogued items, covering some 20 years, give
ample evidence and bear mute testimony of the unsettled state
still existing in this point of doctrine and practice, and manifests
and evidences that there is at present no unified teaching or prac-
tice in this matter. The prevalent differing teaching and practice
in this matter is a constant source of controversy, irritation, dis-
unity, discord, and suspicion in our own midst. Such condition
in teaching and practice impugns the clarity of God’s Word and
detracts from the sovereign reverence and authority of the Word.

We must apply to ourselves the admonitions and declarations
of God’s Word: “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in
the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3); and 1 Cor. 1:10: “Now, I beseech
you, brethren, by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all
speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you,
but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in
the same judgment.” The issue of praying, or of not praying,
with those who are not in affiliated fellowship with the member-
ship of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod must be brought
to a conclusion according to the Holy Scriptures, positively and
definitely, for our own peace and concord and amity. “God is
not the Author of confusion but of peace, as in all churches of
the saints.” “Let all things be done decently and in order.” (1 Cor.
14:33 and 40.)

The present is a propitious time for this purpose, as there
is now no special pressure in this matter. Conditions of any pos-
sible fraternal relationships with the American Lutheran Church
relating to The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod have under-
gone change on account of the proposed merger of the American
Lutheran Church with the Evangelical Lutheran Church and with
the United Evangelical Lutheran Church, and, possibly, with the
Lutheran Free Church.

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