Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1954, Page 95

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Ev. Luth. Synedical Conference of North America, 1954 95

“Under the Same Plea (‘This Gives Opportunity to Witness’)
Taking Part in Unionistic Religious Programs and in Activities
of Unionistic Church Federations” (5)

“Co-operation with Unorthodox Church Bodies in Matters
Clearly Not in the Field of Externals” (2)

Under these headings our Wisconsin Synod brethren have
listed a number of cases to substantiate their charges of “persistent
adherence to its unionistic practices” leveled against our Synod.
These cases have been cited in articles, in pamphlets, recently in
Wisconsin Synod Tract 8, and in papers delivered at the Presidents’
conference in January of this year. We shall discuss a number of
these cases. Before we do so, let us examine one of the terms
commonly used and often misunderstood.

“Co-operation in Externals.” This is a phrase used in our
circles to designate work done jointly by Lutheran church bodies
or groups from such church bodies not in church fellowship with
each other. This is work which does not involve the joint use
of the Gospel and the Sacraments and does not compromise the
confessional position of our own Synod. It involves us in no
practice of church fellowship. Whether the term “externals” is the
best one to use is debatable, but until a better, clearer term is
offered, we will continue to use it. “Externals” must never be
understood as though the work involved had nothing to do with
the faith and love of the child of God, as though the work were not
a part of the work a child of God does for the King.

Federations — Charities

For example, when our North Dakota District made an ar-
rangement with The Lutheran Welfare of North Dakota, made up
of all Lutherans that wished to join, asking them to receive our
unfortunate children, and place them in Synodical Conference
homes — we offering to pay our way —no joint use of the means
of grace was involved, no form of church fellowship was set up,
no confessional principle of our Synod was set aside. Yet the
work done is work for “one of the least of these My brethren” that
Jesus speaks of. In a sense it was like the arrangement the Wis-
consin Synod made with a non-Synodical Conference Lutheran
welfare organization in Pennsylvania to distribute clothing to war
sufferers in Europe. (See Wisconsin Tract 8, p. 3.)

What substantial and essential difference is there between this
arrangement and that which goes under the head of Lutheran
Charities in Chicago? This is a co-operation with other church
bodies in the civic and business aspects of works of charity (King-
dom work, if you will), at the same time in no way involving the
joint use of the means of grace or any spiritual fellowship. You
will find Article II, OBJECTS, of the Constitution of Lutheran
Charities printed in Another Fraternal Endeavor, pp. 66,67. You
will note that the constitution clearly limits the purpose of the
organization to civic and business matters. The Board and annual
meetings are luncheon and dinner affairs, and the prayer is a table
prayer before the meal like that of Paul’s on board his ship. There
isn’t even the semblance of the practice of church fellowship and
unionism.