# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1924_S27
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1924. 27

but a free Christian union of individual members from various churches who essentially have the same faith. Naturally such a union will also serve gradually to bring the churches themselves into closer fellowship and to mutual recognition." Thus men from various church fellowships have adopted a number of articles of faith in which they agree, and although they are not yet united in many other points, they believe that on the basis of this "expression of the essential agreement of evangelical Christians" they have brought about a kind of unity, and naturally expect still better things for the future. The pastors and members of these church fellowships must recognize one another as Christians and at the very least practice altar and pulpit fellowship. They emphasize the points in which they agree and obscure and belittle the differences; they treat one another as brothers and take part jointly in various outward churchly endeavors, e.g., in the organization of Christian Endeavor Societies and Young Men's and Young Women's Christian Associations. [Printed in English.]

What do we think of this attempt to unite the churches? Do we welcome it as a step in the right direction, and should we work hand in hand with these people in their effort to bring about a union of the churches? No, by no means! Never! Our reasons for this we will now state.

This interdenominational unionism does not completely satisfy even its own advocates. Almost every one of them admits that it would be much more desirable if the various church fellowships came to full understanding and to complete agreement in doctrine and in the administration of the sacraments. They regret that this cannot be attained at present. They are far from claiming that interdenominationalism is a satisfactory solution of the question. But they hope that it will lead to a better understanding and to a better condition in the Church. For the present they regard it as a lesser evil than a complete lack of unity among the church fellowships. We see that this arrangement does not satisfy even its adherents; then too it does not bring about even a partial understanding among all church fellowships; for Lutherans and Catholics want nothing to do with it, while others, such as the Unitarians, are excluded from it, so that this arrangement is deficient for that reason alone.

Furthermore, those who join the association are not agreed among themselves as to what should form the basis of such a union, who should be admitted and who excluded. In a letter of ex-President Roosevelt to the Y. M. C. A. it says: "The longer I live, the more I learn to appreciate the admirable work of the Y. M. C. A. I believe it should appeal not merely to Christians of all church fellowships, but also to those who do not profess the Christian faith. You will doubtless remember how, when I was still Police Commissioner, through your agency a young Jew, who belonged to the Bowery Branch of the Y. M. C. A., was won for the police as a valuable recruit. It seems to me unwise and illiberal to exclude Catholics from the office of a director of the Y. M. C. A. I did not know that this was the rule, but I have now been informed that it is so. It seems to me to be of the greatest importance for our country that our people,