# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S414
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

414 Radio Address

questing that application be made for membership in the Nation
Lutheran Council. Supporting these memorials: was a clear-¢
editorial in a recent issue of the Synod’s official magazine — Th
Witness. After considerable discussion the matter was decided: i
the negative, when a resolution was adopted: which stated in pa
that “according to the best information available, membership
the National Lutheran Council as at present constituted. and
accordance with the proposed constitution, would apparéntly . in:
volve our Synod in unionistic principles and endeavors beyo
a mere co-operation in externals and thus violate Scriptural prin
‘ciples which we are bound to observe.” The door leading to co,
operation with the National Lutheran Council was not, howeve}
shut quite as tightly as this statement would imply, for the resolu
tion goes on to report that further studies of the Council be made
with a view of collaborating with it in such matters as do n
involve violation of conscience or denial ‘of truth.
'. As a matter of fact, the Missouri Synod is already workin;
with the National Lutheran ‘Council -at several important poin
One of these is in the maintenance of the more than 120 Luther
Service Centers throughout the country, where Lutheran men an
women in uniform find a home away from home. Another is
a service to German prisoners of war in ‘this country, which i,
rendered by civilian pastors who supplement the work of chaplains
in the prison camps by conducting religious services in the German
language. *
‘Action was taken at the convention which may lead to a new
name for this branch of the Lutheran Church. It must be admitt
that the name “Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and
Other. States” is a bit cumbersome. The desire to find a more
suitable name was much in evidence —and not only on the con<
vention floor. A private in the Signal Corps, who: wrote to one of
the officials, didn’t mince any words. “If the Franconian Con;
vention doesn’t change the name of the Missouri Synod,” he said;
“every delegate ought to be dipped into the Saginaw River.” Well,
incidentally, that would have been a pleasing prospect to many.
a perspiring and coatless delegate ‘earlier this week when the
thermometer hovered in the nineties. But in spite of this in
ducement to leave the name as it is, the convention voted to recom
mend a new one. The suggested changes boiled down to twé:.
“The Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod,” and “The International:
Lutheran Church.” By a vote of 334 to 153, more than the tw
thirds ‘required, the former name was adopted. It will now be
submitted to the congregations, and if two thirds of these approv
the new name will be official: “The Lutheran Church, Missouri:
Synod.” — ; ; pe