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LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1926, Page 186

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

186 Proceedings of Thirty-Third Regular Convention,

1. In the first place, we must report that, owing to his stay in Ger-.
many since 1923, Prof. G. Mezger, D. D., who had a prominent part
in drawing up the theses on conversion and election and who is still
a member of the committee, could take no part in the committee’s
work. Prof. W. Arndt served in his place.

2. Together with our brethren from the Wisconsin Synod we con-
‘ducted a number of meetings with representatives of the Iowa, Ohio,
and Buffalo synods. Meetings usually lasted three days.. The colloe-
utors realized the greatness of the duty entrusted to them, and the
endeavor of all was to attain a union on the basis of God’s Word.

3. Already in 1923 it was possible to report to the Delegate Synod
that the collocutors of the different synods had reached an agreement
in the doctrines of conversion and election. The series of theses
drawn up on these doctrines was presented to Synod in that year.
During the past three years these theses were really no longer the
subject of discussion at the Intersynodical Conferences.

4. Since 1923 theses were discussed and adopted offering a précis
of the longer theses on conversion and election. These theses were
augmented by some sentences, which had been previously drawn up
and adopted, dealing with the universal gracious will of God. Our
chief task, however, consisted in discussing, and coming to an agree
ment on, those doctrines which had been under controversy since
1880. Theses were drawn up on the following points: The Scriptures;
Our Attitude to the Lutheran Symbols; Church-fellowship; The
Church; The Spiritual Priesthood; The Office of the Ministry; The
Antichrist; Chiliasm; Sunday; Open Questions. To be sure, the
doctrine of the Scriptures had not been under controversy among
the participating synods. The committee, nevertheless, considered it
necessary to declare its unity in this important doctrine. All the
collocutors ‘agreed to the theses on the enumerated doctrines, which
are herewith presented to Synod.

-B. We believe that the sentences now before Synod cover all
doctrinal questions which have been under controversy among the
participating synods. Whether the theses are adequate in all points,
Synod will have to decide 6n the basis of the report made by the
committee elected to examine the theses. ;

6. The question now arises whether the adoption of these theses
on the part of the participating synods can be followed without more
ado by a declaration of unity in. doctrine and by fraternal recognition.
Such, indeed, ought to be the case. In the present instance, however, -
we fear that further obstacles must be removed, since, for example,
touching the article of church-fellowship a different conception evi-
dently obtains in the synods concerned. At all events a different
_ practise is followed. Still we ought to endeavor, by continued
discussion, to attain unity also in those points where differences
still exist.