LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1962, Page 178

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178 UNPRINTED MEMORIALS

Obedient to the Holy Spirit and speaking in the name
of the Lord Jesus (Luke 10:16: “He that heareth you
heareth Me”), he must acknowledge that the doctrinal
statement in question is Scriptural.

e) The apostle John speaks of the chief rulers who
believed on Jesus but who, “because of the Pharisees,”
“did not confess Him”; and he adds the stricture: “For
they loved the praise of men more than the praise of
God.” (John 12: 42, 43)

However viciously enemies of Christ may oppose
some part of the Word of the Savior, some statement
based on some word of Jesus, we dare not be afraid to
acknowledge that particular word of the Lord Jesus,
that particular statement based upon a word of Jesus.
If the statement is Scriptural, a refusal to acknowledge
its Scripturalness would jeopardize the believer’s faith.
Opposition or neutrality might kill his faith.

Yes, Scripture makes it abundantly clear: When
a Christian competent to judge comes face to face with
a doctrinal statement that is Scriptural, then it is his
duty to acknowledge that the statement in question is
Scriptural.

II. Other Statements on Doctrine and Practice

The Synod is respectfully petitioned to remove from
Resolution 9 of Floor Committee 3 any and every ref-
erence to “other statements on doctrine and practice
formally adopted by Synod” (second “Whereas”).

1) The Brief Statement must be judged by itself.
It is Scriptural in every respect; and this ought to be
acknowledged. No evasion, neutrality, or opposition
can find any support in Scripture whatsoever.

2) The Brief Statement should be named, so that
every one may know just which particular doctrinal
statement is meant. There should not be any question
about the identity of the document whatsoever; other-
wise how can the individual know that it is regarding
this particular doctrinal statement we are asking him
as to whether he considers it Scriptural or not?

3) One or more of the “other statements on doctrine
and practice formally adopted by Synod” may actually
be unscriptural.

Besides, how many laymen could name two or three
“other statements on doctrine and practice formally
adopted by Synod”? Yes, how many pastors could
name five or six such statements?

This element of uncertainty and confusion should
be left aside so that the reference to the Brief Statement
is not mixed up with something extraneous.

WI. The Brief Statement

The Synod is respectfully petitioned to be extremely
careful not to undo any of the good that has been said
about the Brief Statement in Resolution 9 of Floor
Committee 3 of the San Francisco convention of the
Synod (1959); and that any resolution formulated on
the subject of the binding nature of the Brief Statement
be isolated from the consideration of other documents,
so that the Brief Statement can be considered on its
own merits.

Arnoutp H. Gresuarpt, Hooper, Nebr.

[321-A]

To Work Toward Establishment
of a Cooperative Association of Lutheran
Churches in America

Wuereas, For the past two years conferences have
been held between representatives of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod and of the National Lutheran
Council relative to the possibility of increased Lutheran
cooperation; and

Wuenreas, It has been the unanimous judgment of all
participants that there is an agreement among us as to
the doctrine of the Gospel and the meaning of confes-
sional subscription; and

Wuereas, The representatives of our Synod have
reported to our churches that this consensus is sufficient
to justify further steps toward the establishment of an
all-Lutheran cooperative agency; and

Wuereas, The establishment of a truly cooperative
spirit among Lutherans would remove a major cause
of offense and would have the overwhelming support
of all of our people; therefore be it

Resolved, That we memorialize the forty-fifth con-
vention of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod to
approve the report of its representatives and instruct
them to continue negotiations looking to the establish-
ment of a cooperative association of Lutheran Churches

in America.
IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CONGREGATION

New York, N. Y.

Rosert E. WILTENBURG, Pastor

ALEx J. Hamann, President

Karu E. Fritscn, Secretary
[322-A]

To Have the Missouri Synod Invite
All Lutheran Church Bodies Adhering
to the Augsburg Confession
to a Free Conference

Wuereas, Many conflicting doctrines and practices,
and many opposing approaches to the Scriptures and
the Lutheran Confessions have arisen in the church
since the Book of Concord was accepted in 1580; and

Wuereas, It is apparent that the task of the writers
of the Apology of the Augsburg Confession and the
Formula of Concord must again be continued in our
generation; and

Wuereas, It is imperative that the voice of conserv-
ative Lutheranism must be heard —in fact should take
leadership —in the councils of world Lutheranism;
therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod invite all Lutheran church bodies in the world
which accept the Augsburg Confession to a Free Con-
ference for the purpose of declaring in a definitive,
Scripturally based manner what Lutheranism believes,