# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1941_S300
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

298 Intersynodical and Doctrinal Matters

on. the establishing on the part of the American Lutheran Church —
of doctrinal agreement with those church-bodies with which the
American Lutheran Church is in fellowship.

- “e, As far as the Missouri Synod is concerned, this whole ~
“matter must be submitted for approval to the other synods con-
stituting the Synodical Conference.

“d. Until church-fellowship has been officially established, the
pastors of both church-bodies are encouraged to meet in smaller
circles wherever and as often as possible in order to discuss both
the doctrinal basis for union and the questions of church practice.

, “7. That, if by the grace of God fellowship can be established,
this fact is to be announced officially by the President of Synod. .
Until then no action is to be taken by any of our pastors or con-
gregations which would overlook the fact that we are not yet united.

“8. That for the purposes herein stated we recommend to Synod
that the Committee on Lutheran Union be continued.

“9. That we. express our sincere gratitude to the members of
the Committee on Lutheran Union for their diligent, painstaking,
and conscientious work and bespeak for them continued divine
blessing.” (1938, pp. 231—233.)

During the past triennium Synod’s Union Committee in three
meetings continued its negotiations with a like committee of the
American Lutheran Church. Also in many joint pastoral con-
ferences throughout our Synod doctrinal and other differences
were discussed.

Il. Present Situation

1. Little attention was given by our official committee during
the past three years to “the five points concerning which there still
exists a divergence between some members of the American Lu-
theran Church and our Synod” (visible side of the Church, Anti-
christ, millennium, resurrection of martyrs, conversion of the Jews).

2. The discussion was centered upon the following items
(Sandusky Resolutions, 1938) :

The statement made by the American Lutheran Church that
it is neither possible nor necessary to agree in all non-funda-
mental doctrines;

The declaration that the American Lutheran Church will not
give up its membership in the American Lutheran Conference;

The phrase “in the light of” occurring in the sentence “We
believe that. the Brief Statement viewed in the light of our
Declaration is not in contradiction to the Minneapolis Theses.”

In addition, many brethren expressed doubt as to the cor-
rectness of the sentence in the Declaration that God “purposes
to justify those who have come to faith.”

3. The commissioners of the American Lutheran Church made