Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1954, Page 91

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Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America, 1954 91

Joint Prayer (1)

Now let us apply theSe Scriptural principles concerning church
fellowship and religious unionism to the cases of “persistent ad-
herence to its unionistic practices” listed by our Wisconsin Synod
brethren against The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. The first
instance mentioned is “Joint Prayer” at intersynodical or free con-
ferences. The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod adopted the fol-
lowing resolution concerning such Joint Prayer (Proceedings, 1944,
251, 252):

“Joint Prayer at intersynodical conferences, asking God for
guidance and blessing upon the deliberations and discussions of His
Word, does not militate against the resolution of the Fort Wayne
Convention (‘that in the meantime it be understood that no pulpit,
altar, or prayer fellowship has been established between us and
the American Lutheran Church, and until such fellowship has been
officially declared by the synods concerned, no action is to be taken
by any of our pastors or congregations which ignore the fact that
we are not united’), provided such prayer does not imply denial
of truth or support of error. Local conditions will determine the
advisability of such prayer. Above all, the conscience of a brother
must not be violated or offense given.”

The Chicago Convention (1947) reaffirmed this resolution, and
at Houston in 1953 the following resolution was passed (Proc.,
1953, 552):

“Wuereas, Such prayer at intersynodical meetings does not
pretend that doctrinal unity exists where it does not exist, nor inti-
mate that doctrinal differences are unimportant, but rather im-
plores God, from whom true unity in the spirit must come, for His
blessing, in order that unity may be achieved in those things where
it is lacking; be it therefore

“Resolved, That Synod declare that it does not consider Joint
Prayer at intersynodical meetings unionistic and sinful, ‘provided
such prayer does not imply denial of truth or support of error.’ ”

Church fellowship includes pulpit, altar, and prayer fellowship.
The first Christian congregation “continued steadfastly in the
Apostles’ doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in
prayers” (Acts 2:42).

But there are also prayers mentioned in the Bible that are not
always necessarily a part of church fellowship, such as private
prayers, e.g. Psalm 4:1, “hear my prayer”; Ps, 17:1: “give ear
unto my prayer”; Luke 1:13: “Fear not, Zacharias, for thy prayer
is heard”; Acts 10:2: “A devout man, and one that feared God with
all his house ... and prayed to God alway”; Acts 10:30: “I prayed
in my house”; and hundreds of others.

When the Apostle Paul, a prisoner on shipboard on his way
to Rome, just before the ship was wrecked, urged the shipmen and
soldiers on the ship to eat, and he himself “took bread and gave
thanks to God in presence of them all” (Acts 27:35), we have an
example of a prayer which is not necessarily a part of the practice
of church fellowship as we have defined that term. In this case
Paul’s prayer in this group was an act of confessing. Let me here
add a few more texts which emphasize receiving food with thanks-
giving. “For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of
for that for which I give thanks? Whether, therefore, ye eat or

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