# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1959_S9
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

PRESIDENT’S TRIENNIAL REPORT 9

of flux. He should have written organizationally in a state of flux.
Many of you know that this resulted in misunderstanding and
confusion. I regret this very much. Unfortunately, too, my letter
was given interpretations which did not express what I intended
to say. A later report in our church periodicals is correct.

The Lutheran bodies which in the spring of 1960 will begin to
function as The American Lutheran Church have informed us that
they are ready at any time to accept an invitation from us for
the purpose of discussing matters of doctrine. Our Committee
on Doctrinal Unity, decidedly busy with many assignments, has
taken the matter under advisement.

A person who gives serious thought to present developments
among Lutherans throughout the world must come to the con-
clusion that doctrinal issues should be taken much more seriously.
The clamor for larger organizations in many instances is crowding
out insistence on doctrinal purity. Even such basic truths as the
inspired and inerrant Word of God, the total depravity of sinful
man, and with it the sola gratia and sola fide, and, furthermore,
the distinctively Lutheran Scriptural doctrine of the Lord’s Supper
are in jeopardy. Forebodings of sharp controversies on these and
other Biblical doctrines appear as dark clouds on the horizon.

Unquestionably we today, as well as the coming generation,
must not only be able to discern these dark clouds, but must also
be ready when the dreadful storm breaks. Or do you say that this
is not discernible? Must we rather say that where indifference
to doctrine prevails and where men insist on compromises rather
than sound agreement in doctrine, termites have been doing their
destructive work and the awful crash will come? Let no one say
that this is merely a cry of alarm and that there is no real danger.
The situation is decidedly real. What Lutheranism needs is not
greater and greater numbers by way of greater and greater mergers
at any cost, but a positive and unflinching loyalty to God’s Word
and the Lutheran Confessions.

Hitherto God graciously granted our Synod unswerving loy-
alty. What about the future? Are we as alert as we should be?
Are we as thoroughly acquainted with Lutheran doctrine as we
should be? Are we weakening or growing tired or indifferent?
Brethren, the eyes of many are focused upon us. They are asking:
“What will Missouri do?” Many are praying for us fervently and
effectually. Some great theologians, not members of our Synod,
well acquainted with our insistence on doctrinal purity, have
called our Synod —and we shall include all who are in doctrinal
agreement with us — “the last hope of Lutheranism.” What a tre-
mendous responsibility this places on every one of us!

That the heart of every delegate and visitor to this convention