# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S545
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 545

In the matter of questions of casuistry the 1953 Convention
accepted as a statement of self-evident truth the declaration: “No
cases of casuistry can be answered in advance” (Proceedings, 1953,
p. 490, Resolution 33). However, on p. 552 of such Proceedings, the
last statement in the adopted Resolution 14 reads as follows: “Re-
solved, That Synod declare that it does not consider Joint Prayer at
intersynodical meetings unionistic and sinful, ‘provided such prayer
does not imply denial of truth or support of error’ (Proceedings
of the 1947 Chicago Convention, p.517).” Yet, with the explan-
atory declaration “provided such prayer does not imply denial of
truth or support of error,” there is stated a possible negation of
the answer, because “provided” means “beforehand,” “in advance,”
“to state probable or possible eventualities, which may happen.”
Since “provided” sets the possibility of contingencies, there is an-
swered in advance a question which can be answered truthfully
and correctly only after the joint prayer has been made, as only
then can be discerned and established whether in any way the
contingencies (denial of truth or support of error) had intruded.
The provision in reality reverts to the self-evident truth: “No cases
of casuistry can be answered in advance.”

Furthermore, in the guidelines with reference to “Prayer
Fellowship” and “Joint Prayer” sent out according to synodical
resolution, Resolution 20, Proceedings, 1950, p. 659, had the provisos:

“Resolved, That this question be held in abeyance until the
treatise ‘Prayer Fellowship’ has been published; and be it further-
more

“Resolved, That if further clarity is needed on the question, it
shall be referred to the Advisory Committee on Doctrine and
Practice.”

Accordingly, as Synod made provision, “if further clarity is
needed on the question,” the 1956 Convention of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod is petitioned to resolve that the issue
of praying, or of not praying, with those not in affiliated fellowship
with the membership of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod,
be restudied and reconsidered according to plans formulated by
the Convention.

To foster the calm and objective study of this issue without
encumbrance or restraint, the Convention is furthermore petitioned
to resolve that in the meantime the resolutions in this matter of
the conventions in 1944, 1947, 1950, and 1953, be held in abeyance
until this issue has been brought to a conclusion according to the
Word of God.

Tae Luraeran Unrry ComMMITtTEE oF THE SoutH Daxora District
J. R. SHEpparD, Secretary

EMER A