# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S549
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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INTERSYNODICAL AND DOCTRINAL MATTERS 549

matters mentioned in our memorial directly concern all members
of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, we respectfully re-
quest the President of Synod to include this memorial in the printed
book of Reports and Memorials.

Trinity Ev. LuTHERAN CuHurcu, Crete, Iu.
W. R. Depert, President
H. F. Prepensrink, Secretary
A. T. KreTzMann, Pastor

Committee 3 also studied Memorial 604.

Re Synodical Conference Resolution
on “Religious Unionism”
(Memorial 604)

Wuereas, The Synodical Conference, at its meeting in Chicago,
Il., November 16—19, 1954, adopted a resolution “reaffirming its
stand against unionism” (Proceedings, p. 200); and

Wuereas, This reaffirmation was implemented by making a cer-
tain definition of “Religious Unionism” its own (Proceedings,
p. 200); and

Wuereas, Confusion exists as to whether the constituent synods
of the Synodical Conference are now bound to adhere in practice
to the above-mentioned definitions of religious unionism as a bind-
ing doctrinal statement; and

Wuereas, The overture requesting the adoption of the defini-
tion on unionism (Proceedings, p.197) states that the definition
is found in the Concordia Cyclopedia, 1927, pp. 774, 775; and

Wuereas, The Lutheran Cyclopedia, 1954, in its definition of
unionism has omitted the second sentence of the now-adopted
Synodical Conference definition; and

Wuereas, The wording of the Synodical Conference definition
requires further defining for practical application; and

Wrereas, Particularly the second sentence of the above-men-
tioned definition opens the door for infinite controversy with its
use of parentheses and an “etc.” for purposes of illustration; be it

Resolved, That we, the New Jersey District Pastoral Con-
ference of the Atlantic District, declare ourselves dissatisfied with
the definition of religious unionism as adopted by the Synodical
Conference (Proceedings, 1954, p. 200); and be it further

Resolved, That we request The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod to explain to its constituency concerning the Synodical Con-
ference definition on unionism; specifically, whether the now official