# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S247
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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Intersynodical and Doctrinal Matters 247

Membership in the National Lutheran Council

_ (Memorial 617)
Wuenreas, The National Lutheran Council is an organization of
. Lutheran church bodies for the purpose of united action in the field

of external interests affecting all Lutheran synods; and

: Wuengas, Provisions have been made in the constitution of the
. National Lutheran Council to safeguard the doctrinal position of
constituent members as specifically stated:

“Whereas, in their respective constitutions, the participating
Lutheran Church Bodies accept the Holy Scriptures as the Word
of God and the only source, norm, and guide of Christian faith and:
life; and “Whereas in their respective constitutions, the participat-
ing bodies accept the Unaltered Augsburg Confession and Luther’s
. Catechism as the true exposition and presentation of the doctrine
-” of the Holy Scriptures; and “Whereas the participating bodies are
of the conviction that they can and should serve the Lutheran
Church at large by co-operating in matters of common interest
and, responsibility, co-operation in which does not affect their dis-
- tinctive principles nor presuppose or involve church fellowship,
“Therefore, said Church Bodies do hereby establish and will-main-
' tain a common agency, etc.”; and ‘
Wuereas, We are at present confronted with many weighty
issues in the area of externals ‘affecting the work and welfare of
all Lutheran synods alike (Army and Navy work, visual education,
' public relations, associated charities) in which co-operative action
of all Lutheran synods appears most desirable; and
Wuereas, The Missouri Synod is in fact already co-operating
with the National Lutheran Council in some areas of church work
-(joint activity with the Council in the establishment, maintenance,
- and management of Lutheran centers for men in the armed forces,
- Emergency Planning Council activities, social work); and
_— Wuereas, Recent publications approved by Synod, such ‘as
* Toward Lutheran Union by Drs. Theo. Graebner and P. E. Kretz-
‘mann, define and endorse such co-operative efforts as not contrary
to the doctrine and practice of Synod; and
Wuereas, The Lutherans of America and of the world face
great dangers caused by an increasing secularism and by a well-
: Planned and systematic encroachment of the Church of Rome; and
‘. Wueregas, Such dangers can best be met and possibly obviated
by a co-operation in externals such as the National Lutheran
Council affords; therefore be it.
“Resolved, That the Missouri Synod direct its responsible of-
ficers to make formal application for membership in the National