Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1950, Page 10

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10 Proceedings of the Forty-First Convention,

3. When we now add the discussion that has arisen about the
question of the Church and the Ministry, we do so in a similarly
optimistic spirit. In this matter there is no doubt that we were on
the point of drifting into a certain externalism which eventually
would have led us into the error of the Papistic and other sectarian
churches. For the past forty years or more the question has been
debated in one form or the other — nay, it was the problem of
Walther and of Luther, but we did not always recognize the dif-
ficulty as it appeared in its various shapes and sizes and forms.
There has been confusion with regard to a proper definition of the
ministry of the Word; with regard to the Church and the Christian
congregation; with regard to the offices in the Church, with regard
to the peculiar institution known as the chaplaincy,.

But as the members of the churches, pastors and lay, quietly
meet with one another, particularly in smaller gatherings, to dis-
cuss these matters in their various ramifications and on the basis
of the Word, the blessing of God descends with the same still voice
as of old; clarity is being won as the blessed prize of a God-fearing
search of the Scriptures. May this spirit prevail and bless us, though
the way seem long and arduous.

In this connection we do not hesitate to point to the clouds of
war that hang over us even now, Another occasion may arise when
the question of the chaplaincy may be upon us in full force. Is this
not the time to make another joint study of this whole matter, which
for years has raised such a problem and has agitated our churches
so mightily? Even without full agreement on the question of the
chaplaincy as it presented itself to us during the last war, our joint
constituency might agree to the making of a joint appeal to the
War Office, asking for a return to the arrangements of the First
World War. For if the Government has been willing to make spe-
cial arrangements with the press by which representatives of the
press were privileged to go in and out in the Army camps and on
the battlefield in the service of their home constituency, recognized
by the Government for their necessary work, but sent and salaried
by their home organizations, the Government might in the same
fashion and spirit be willing to approve and recognize ministers of
the Word for their necessary work, though sent and salaried by
their home churches. If such an agreement would help to re-estab-
lish unity, at least of action, among us, let us not say that it is
not worth the attempt.

These are some of the areas where God may well be said to be
tempting us. There are others, as, for example, the Boy Scout issue.
And let us remember: these difficulties are real, and they dare not
be put aside as if they do not belong within the realm of a doctrinal
debate. God tests us also here, pointing to these issues and saying:
What will you do about them? Will you let the Word decide and
let the Word govern, or must convenience, sloth, emotions, reason,
prevail to the further loss of My precious gifts?

We have been frank and open in all of this. There is no other
way if we seek a genuine cure. And we must, even at this conven-
tion, go aside into the privacy of God’s presence and let Him show
us from Scripture the way that is right, even if this lead to. Moriah
and the slaying of beloved ambitions and hopes. As Abraham
needed to discover that the promise of God was not so dependent