This is a continuation of Part 1 which covered years 1921 - 1946. This Part 2 covers years 1947 - 1995. The sources were listed at the end of Part 1.
Timeline of the Downfall of the LCMS (Part 2)
Year
|
Mon/ day
|
Description
|
Document
|
Person
|
Source
|
1947
|
LC-MS Committee on Doct. Unity
report: there are differences but let's KEEP GOING
|
pg 73- 74 Fendt
|
|||
1947
|
Result of '43 - '47 mtgs of theo profs- "What
Lutherans are Thinking" (Fendt, Graebner, etc.)
|
Fendt
|
|||
1947
|
Romoser words to Behnken after
Statement withdrawn: "You have sprung the escape hatch...the destruction
of the Missouri Synod as an orthodox church body."
|
Statement of 44
|
Romoser
|
Events OLC - pg 11
|
|
1947
|
1/11
|
Behnken informs his committee:
signers of Statement withdrawing it; nothing has developed, however, which is
divisive of church fellowship'; Behnken elevates some signers to higher
positions
|
Statement 44
|
Behnken
|
HMF pg 48
|
1947
|
1/28
|
Lutheran Witness editorial -
Polack: ALC OK - 1938 resolutions & Brief Stmt not violated
|
Polack
|
pg 80 Fendt
|
|
1947
|
3/04
|
ALC Committee meets - Fendt
invited by Poppen
|
Fendt
|
pg 80 Fendt
|
|
1947
|
3/10
|
Graebner phones Fendt
personally to warn of Missouri Committee report 'in conflict' with reports of
8/23/46 joint meeting - Der Lutheraner to publish - Graebner witholding from
Luth. Witness; Fendt put on committee
|
Fendt
|
pg 80- 81 Fendt
|
|
1947
|
3/30
|
Graebner writes letter 'Info.
Pertinent to A Penitent Jubilee': 'I do not accept opinion of Der Lutheraner
that NLC membership not advisable & Brunn report is false- - Lutherans
not bound by exegesis Ro 16:17 (not even Book of Concord)
|
Graebner
|
pg 82 Fendt
|
|
1947
|
5/03
|
ALC Committee: back to 1938
resolutions- Brief Stmt with Declaration is sufficient- nevermind
non-fundamentals
|
pg 89-90 Fendt
|
||
1947
|
5/08
|
LC-MS Committee meeting -
chair Fritz had Graebner's accusation letter read and requested he RETRACT
(Arndt/Behnken absent); Graebner did not
|
Fritz, Graebner
|
pg 83 Fendt
|
|
1947
|
5/09
|
ALC-LC-MS joint meeting of
committees: - Ludwig to Fritz: 'your alterations of Doct.Aff hurt our
precious Decl.; -Matzner: we object to Obj Just as you intuiti fidei; -
Fritschel: BUT Romans 5 says 'OUR justification (Christians only- denies
UnivJust)
|
Doctrinal Affirmation
|
Fritz (chief editor of D.A.)
|
pg 96-98 Fendt; City 166
|
1947
|
7/00
|
LC-MS Chicago convention voted
Brief Statement in Proceedings
|
Brief Statement
|
CTM 4/62 pg 204; City 167
|
|
1947
|
7/00
|
(cont'd): -dozens memorials to
break neg w/ ALC; -but resolved to have another Committee; -retreated from
1938 resol. & D.A. not satisfactory; -ONE documnt (B.F. w/ others(?));
Brief Stmt removed as basis
|
Doct. Affirmation, Brief
Statement
|
pg 99 Fendt
|
|
1947
|
7/01
|
Behnken says errors "are
in themselves potentially divisive of fellowship"
|
Statement 44
|
Behnken
|
HMF pg 48; City pg 162
|
1948
|
Late 40's-early 50s :
O.P.Kretzmann (at Graebner's suggest) calls conference of theology profs at
Valpo and Graebner leads discussion
|
pg 22-23, 25 Fendt
|
|||
1948
|
LC-MS experiencing pains of
separation from Norwegian/Wisconsin : only 'hope' - keep talking with ALC.
|
pg 115 Fendt
|
|||
1948
|
H.W. Romoser mimeograph:
'Notes on Rom. 16:17,18'
|
Romoser
|
CTM 4/62, pg 200
|
||
1948
|
P.E. Kretzmann document
"Sowing the Wind - Reaping the Whirlwind": deplorable lack of
discipline, Statementarians had sown wind, LCMS & Syn Conf reaping the
whirlwind
|
P.E. Kretzmann
|
OLC pg 20 - 21
|
||
1948
|
01/01
|
TV- WAM on 1st
program (This is The Life)
|
WAM
|
||
1948
|
10/00
|
ALC Convention(Fremont, OH):
Committee said: 'Let's join with LC-MS and then agree on unified document'
|
pg 107 Fendt
|
||
1948
|
1/09
|
LC-MS Committee meets: -what
about joint prayer??; -invite sister synods in on next mtg with ALC;
|
Fritz, Behnken
|
pg 101 Fendt
|
|
1948
|
11/17
|
Poppen letter to Behnken:
'I've got Fendt/Holm lined up - bring 2 of your men to make new statement'
|
pg 108 Fendt
|
||
1948
|
4/08
|
F.H. Brunn writes circular
letter to Committee members; 'Ludwig's writing is unionistic - avoiding
doctrine
|
Brief Statement defended
|
Brunn
|
pg 102 Fendt
|
1948
|
4/28
|
Ludwig letter to Arndt: 'Why
not joint prayer?';
|
pg 103 Fendt
|
||
1948
|
5/17
|
ALC- LC-MS joint meeting:
'manifest lack of doctrinal unity ; ALC: 'Who, us??'
|
pg 104- 105 Fendt
|
||
1948
|
5/21
|
Australian pastoral conference
@ Jindera: prayer fellowship allowed and new interpretation of Ro. 16
|
Hamann Sr.
|
HMF pg 60
|
|
1948
|
6/00
|
Synodical Conf Proceedings:
Norwegians joyous over LC-MS reaffirming Br. Stmt in 1947, but Missouri
violated 'spirit and letter of Br. Stmt' by various acts of unionism
|
CTM 4/62 pg 206
|
||
1948
|
6/00
|
ELS Convention: joy over 1947
LCMS re-affirming Brief Statement and dis-avowing 1938 resolutions, however
unionistic practices rampant in LCMS; J.A.O. Preus addresses (just left ELC
in '47)- false doctrines rampant in ELC (proves Luth Witness wrong)
|
JAO Preus
|
City 167ff
|
|
1948
|
6/11
|
ALC- LC-MS joint SUB-committee
meeting: Fendt/Ludwig & Arndt/Fritz; JOINT PRAYER was made (including
Fritz); Ludwig agrees to Doct. Affirmation again
|
Fritz (Joint Prayer)
|
pg 106- 107 Fendt
|
|
1948
|
6/30
|
P.E. Kretzmann Open Letter to
Pres & members of Synod: liberalism at Sem, lack of discipline,
Statementarians allowed
|
P.E. Kretzmann
|
OLC pg 21- 22
|
|
1949
|
ALC- LC-MS subcommittees meet:
-we ate together; -only what fully revealed in Scripture, leave out
'synodical bias'; - NO ANTITHESES; -
|
Fritz
|
pg 137 Fendt
|
||
1949
|
ELS states 1) free conferences
are NOW unionism 2) cooperation in specific externals unionism 3) prayer
fellowship is fellowship
|
City 170f
|
|||
1949
|
1/06
|
LC-MS Committee appoints
Fritz/Jurgens to meet ALC Fendt/Holm for 'a single statement' (to be Common
Confession)
|
Common Confession
|
Fritz
|
pg 136 Fendt; City 172
|
1949
|
12/05
|
ALC- LC-MS joint Committees
meet: -Arndt tells Fendt to offer joint prayer (but of course no fellowship);
-Common Confession (Part I) seems OK
|
Common Confession- Part I
|
Fritz, Brunn
|
pg 137- 138 Fendt
|
1949
|
4/26
|
A.L. Conf. subcommittee
(Bodensieck chair of Wartburg): Poppen reports O.P. Kretzmann letter on LC-MS
district pres.(32) meeting- passed resolution on unity & fellowship -
goes much further (federation
mentioned)
|
O.P. Kretzmann
|
pg 130- 132 Fendt
|
|
1950
|
Wisconsin's E.C. Reim
Northwestern's publication 'Where Do We Stand?': Common Confession doesn't
measure up to Brief Stmt; (but see pg 189- Fendt - Arndt introduces Reim to
Fendt - 'left out')
|
Common Confession, Brief Stmt
|
E.C. Reim
|
CTM 4/62 pg 207;(Fendt 189)
|
|
1950
|
11/16
|
ELS Pastoral Conf and
Lillegard review: Common Confession "the least pertinent to the real
questions at issue"
|
Common Confession
|
City 173f
|
|
1950
|
6/00
|
Synodical Conf Proceedings pg
128-130: unionism fully explained by Brief Statement, section 28
|
CTM 4/62 pg 206
|
||
1950
|
7/00
|
LC-MS Reports & Memorials:
Wisconson bases protest against unionism on stand of Brief Statement
|
CTM 4/62 pg 203
|
||
1950
|
7/00
|
LC-MS Proceedings pg 655-658,
esp 656: reaffirm Ro 16:17 as in ....Brief Statement
|
CTM 4/62 pg 205
|
||
1950
|
7/01
|
LC-MS Convention(Milwaukee):
we accept 'Common Confession' but maybe not (anyway we don't repudiate BRIEF
STATEMENT, we don't think); -we must now put before Synodical Conf. sisters
|
Common Conf., Brief Statement
|
pg 144f Fendt; pg 3 Frat.
Word; HMF pg 49
|
|
1950
|
7/01
|
(cont'd) we acknowledge
letters of Wisc and ELS- Behnken, you answer them; Behnken: free confs ok, no
response on externals, joint prayer is fellowship, except when it's not
(1944)
|
Behnken
|
City 171
|
|
1950
|
8/00
|
ALC convention- Schuh elected
president 1950 - 1960; Comm. Conf Part I adopted
|
Part I
|
Schuh
|
pg 121, 151 Fendt
|
1950
|
9/06
|
O.P. Kretzmannn letter to
Yochum/Fendt: -from the beginning the Missouri Synod had made up mind to
adopt Common Confession; -small group opposing- JUST A FEW SCATTERED NO'S IN
BACK; -we of course don't know what plans of God are in present situation
|
pg 186-187 Fendt
|
||
1950
|
11/14
|
Theo. Graebner dies
|
|||
1951
|
Common Confession Part I joint
meeting- Arndt asks Fendt to pray JOINTLY for FIRST TIME - you will know what
to pray for; -Behnken- from now on we pray together - one of LC-MS stayed in
hall
|
Common Confession Part I
|
Arndt, Behnken, Fendt
|
pg 194 Fendt
|
|
1951
|
1//01
|
Synodical Conference reps meet Committee on Unity: -'some need for
clarification'
|
pg 147 Fendt
|
||
1951
|
6/00
|
Norwegian Convention: NO to
Common Confession- -no rejection ALC errors (verbal inspir.); -no stmt full
objective justification; conversion left; -intuiti fidei; -last things; -MISSOURI
- COME HOME to BRIEF STMT!!!; But, no also to i'n statu confessionis
|
Common Confession (Part I);
Brief Statement
|
pg 147- 149 Fendt; City 174f
|
|
1951
|
8/00
|
Wisconsin Convention (New Ulm)
- several Committee on Unity (LCMS) members present; Common Confession-
serious omissions- Justif., Convers., Election, Means of Grace, Church, Last
Things, also Sunday, and Scripture; untruthful - NOT settled!
|
pg 147, 149 Fendt
|
||
1951
|
9/25
|
OLC formed @ St. John's
Lutheran Church Okabena MN; PE Kretzmann respected in ELS
|
McLaughlin, Kretzmann,
Strumpler
|
OLC pg 28- 30; HMF pg49; City
176
|
|
1952
|
Slovak Church Convention:
Common Confession OK- go ahead Missouri (but go ahead with Part II)
|
Common Confession
|
pg 150 Fendt; City 176
|
||
1952
|
1/15
|
Sasse reports in CTM pg 221 on
his Theses (Austral.) on Scripture & Inspiration: "We tried to
overcome the old scheme of the Orthodox fathers and to build the doctrine on
Scripture on Luther's understanding of the Word of God"
|
Sasse
|
HMF pg 94
|
|
1952
|
2/11
|
Behnken press release to LC-MS
clergy: OLC doctrines same as ours, they should withdraw avoidance based on
Ro 16:17
|
Behnken
|
OLC pg 46- 47
|
|
1952
|
3/13
|
ALC-ULCA Committees joint mtg:
Holm- ALC trying to 'thaw' Missouri as part of whole Lutheran picture; -ULCA
Fry asks ALC - prefer Comm Conf or Joint Testimony??
|
Holm, Fry
|
pg 204 Fendt
|
|
1952
|
4/00
|
Synodical Conf. Convenition
groups meet: Part II discussed
|
pg 150 Fendt
|
||
1952
|
6/00
|
Synodical Conf Proceedings pg
157: Wisconsin - Missouri should conform to these resolutions and to position
of Brief Statement
|
CTM 4/62 pg 206
|
||
1952
|
6/00
|
LC-MS Reports & Memorials:
Norwegians reject Part I, tell LC-MS ONLY Brief Statement
|
CTM 4/62 pg 207
|
||
1952
|
7/00
|
OLC - LCMS court case:
congregation in Minn split - who gets property
|
OLC pg 42
|
||
1952
|
8/12
|
Synodical Conference
Convention (St. Paul): Not all brethren persuaded that Common Confession is
adequate; even though 2 synods reject it, STRIKE preamble and WAIT until Part
II is finished; WELS states 'in statu confessionis'
|
pg 150 Fendt; City 177f
|
||
1953
|
Fendt/Holm also participate in
United Testimony (along with Common Confession)
|
Fendt, Holm
|
pg 160 Fendt
|
||
1953
|
Sister synods remained
unchange in opposition to Common Confession (even after Behnken plea);
'hostility' led to breakup in Synodical Conference
|
pg 189 Fendt
|
|||
1953
|
Arndt arranges for E. Reim of
Wisc. Seminary to meet Fendt; Reim- 'just sour grapes' on Wisc. side - Reu
didn't invite us to meetings - we were 'left out' (sob)
|
E.C. Reim/Fendt
|
pg 189 Fendt;CTM 4/62 pg 207
|
||
1953
|
(thru S.C. break) Franzmann
suffers pain (one of chief writers of Part II) - out of fellowship with son
who went to Wisconsin Sem; -no Scripture to warrant doctrine "God from
eternity ordained certain # of indiv to be saved"; -more Script against
separat
|
Part II
|
Martin Franzmann, Behnken
|
pg 191- 193 Fendt
|
|
1953
|
Fraternal Word- LC-MS defense
did NOT use Brief Statement- 'Scripture passages'
|
CTM 4/62 pg 208
|
|||
1953
|
1/00
|
Synodical Conf. reps meet
(Milwaukee), Norwegian Synod NOT represented
|
pg 151 Fendt
|
||
1953
|
2/00
|
70 men of ALC-LC-MS meet:
union movement & Common Confession reviewed
|
pg 151 Fendt
|
||
1953
|
4/00
|
Common Confession Part II
finished final draft
|
Common Confession
|
pg 151 Fendt
|
|
1953
|
7/00
|
LC-MS Conv. (Houston)
Committee rpt: -sister synods don't seem to agree with us (they should);
-adopt Part II; -we ask LC-MS to remind sisters of Art. 4 of S.C. Constit:
'give...expression to unity of spirit among constituent synods...unity in
doctrine
|
pg 146, 152 Fendt
|
||
1953
|
7/01
|
LC-MS Convention (cont'd):
-many memorials not to approve Part II and reconsider Part I; -postpone
action on Part II; continue Committee on Unity
|
pg 153- 155 Fendt
|
||
1953
|
8/31
|
Missouri writes 'A Fraternal
Word' to Wisconsin Synod: not to worry, everything is OK
|
A Fraternal Word
|
||
1954
|
'A Fraternal Reply' by
Theodore F. Nickel and Arnold H. Grumm (St. Louis: LC-MS): 'inaccuracies' of
Wisconsin charged in use of Brief Statement
|
Brief Stmt
|
Theo. Nickel, Grumm
|
CTM 4/62 pg 208
|
|
1954
|
6/00
|
Synodical Conf. Convention
(&Proceedings): -E.H. Wendland (Wisconsin) "Inadequacy of Common
Confession As Settlement of Past Differences"; - Norwegian (Norman
Madson) - Comm Conf does opposite of define and amplify Br. Stmt
|
Common Confession, Brief Stmt
|
Wendland, Madson
|
CTM 4/62 pg 207
|
1954
|
8/00
|
ALC Convention approves Part
II, Common Confession
|
pg 179 Fendt
|
||
1955
|
6/00
|
WELS Convention-Saginaw: LC-MS has created divisions but postpone
action on terminating fellowship
|
CLC 'Mark and Avoid
|
||
1956
|
O.P. Kretzmann- laughs at
exegesis of Ro. 16: 17-18
|
O.P. Kretzmann
|
pg 199 Fendt
|
||
1956
|
LC-MS Convention: concerted
efforts to set aside Common Confession & reinstate Brief Statement;
-resolved only not use Comm Conf as functioning union doc; -another
resolution did reject interpretation in disagreement with Holy Script.,
Confessions, Br St
|
Brief Stmt
|
CTM 4/62 pg 208
|
||
1956
|
OLC split-up: Kretzmann &
MclLaughlin and others(Strumpler) form Luth Churches of Reformation
|
OLC pg 49
|
|||
1956
|
6/00
|
WELS recessed convention: hold
'55 Saginaw resolution in abeyance
|
CLC 'Mark and Avoid
|
||
1956
|
7/00
|
LC-MS Conv.: Behnken rpts (w/o
Arndt) - ALC to join with ELC & UELC - Comm Conf. history - 'God in grace
has blessed us with purity doctrine; -Common Conf. in harmony with Script
& Confessions -> 'end of bitter controversies since 1880's'
(election,etc)
|
Common Confession; Part II
|
pg 194-195 Fendt
|
|
1957
|
2/09
|
Bodiensieck of Wartburg letter
to Joint Union Committee: -some passages Exodus, Psalms, Job, Luke NOT
inspired! Inerrancy NOT true of
Bible!
|
J. Bodiensieck- Wartburg
|
pg 233- 239 Fendt
|
|
1957
|
2/25
|
Arndt dies; -'leadership' praised
by Fendt; -has 'ear' of Behnken
|
Arndt, Behnken
|
pg 193 Fendt
|
|
1958
|
1/26
|
Herman Otten/Marquart inform
Behnken of St. Louis profs teaching errors in Bible, no Adam/Eve, Brief
Statement doesn't have to be accepted- Behnken can't believe this (see his speech
of 1926 at St Louis dedication- Meyer 'Hist. of Brief Stmt' pg 423
|
Otten/ Marquart, Behnken
|
Christian News 5/8/95 pg 10
|
|
1958
|
2/13
|
Otten gives 1-hour report at
seminary’s Board of Control at Behnken’s request; “Preus, Rehwinkel, Spitz,
Mueller, Sohns, Wunderlich, Franzmann, Schroeder and som other conservative
profs were in sympathy with my position”; sem profs responded: ‘Who gave you
the right to speak to Dr. Behnken?’
|
Otten, Behnken
|
CN 11/18/02 pg 21
|
|
1958
|
3/01
|
Presidium pamphlet (early
1958) for discussion of LWF- did not repeat reasons why decision of not
joining LWF in St. Paul
|
Inter Nos pg 47
|
||
1959
|
William F. Beck tries to
publish memorial warning of error of Isaiah 7:14 almah; Behnken told Beck
"No" and said "Almah can be translated 'young woman'";
Beck said Behnken took side of errors
|
Beck, Behnken
|
CN 7/10/95 pg 17
|
||
1959
|
6/00
|
LC-MS Reports & Memorials
pg 507: all pastors mandatory subscribe to Br. Stmt, as well as Symbols
|
BRIEF STMT
|
CTM 4/62 pg 208
|
|
1959
|
7/00
|
LC-MS Conv (San Fran):
re-affirmed Brief Statement
|
CN 5/8/95 pg 10; Proceedings p 191
|
||
1959
|
7/00
|
LC-MS Proceedings pg 83
resolution binding force for Brief Stmt; pg 191 every doctrinal statement of
confessing nature by Synod - public doctrine-- RESOLUTION 9
|
Resolution 9
|
CTM 4/62 pg 208
|
|
1960
|
7/08
|
NLC - LC-MS mtg: Behnken opens
w/ prayer; -Franzmann essay Augustana(?) Conf. Art VII - enough to agree on
Doctrine of Gospel; -Scripture discussed; -'some believe Doctrine of Gospel'
doesn't coincide with Scripture
|
Franzmann
|
pg 266- 268 Fendt
|
|
1960
|
7/09
|
(cont'd) Franzmann:
proclamation of Gospel as...a savor of death; -Bouman paper on Confessional
Subscription; 'be mending(?)' 2 Cor 13:11
|
Bouman
|
pg 268-272
|
|
1960
|
9/07
|
LC-MS Counselors' Conf at
Valparaiso, Arthur Repp read essay 'Scripture, Confessions, and Doctrinal
Statements' - clarify Resolution 9 of 1959, Scriptures & Confessions, NOT
STATEMENTS
|
Brief Stmt
|
Arthur Repp
|
CTM 4/62 pg 208- 209
|
1961
|
12/00
|
The Faithful Word, Harold
Romoser differing from Repp's essay at Valpo 1960 conference
|
Brief Stmt
|
Harold Romoser
|
CTM 4/62 pg 209
|
1961
|
7/28
|
Wm. Oesch letter to Pres.
Oscar Naumann of WELS about concern of doctrine of Church and Church
Fellowship too subjective and not based on pure objective Means of Grace
(NOTAE PURAE unius sanctae eccleasiae)
|
Oesch
|
CTS library File 141
|
|
1962
|
4/00
|
CTM editors (Bretscher,
Franzmann, Fuerbringer, Hoyer, Piepkorn, Roehrs, Spitz, Thiele): write study
guide for Brief Statement- questioning exegesis, clarity, thoroughness,
agreement w/ Confessns; 'Verbal Inspiration' not in Confessions
|
Brief Statement
|
Bretscher, Franzmann, etc
|
CTM 4/62 pg 210- 223
|
1964
|
1/01
|
Behnken writes 'This I
Recall': Crucible by Oesch hurt; so did Confessional Lutheran; so did sister
synods charges of unionism - 'we had to admit their charges were warranted'
|
Behnken, Oesch
|
This I Recall - pgs 186 - 205
|
|
1966
|
6/19
|
Sasse letter overseas stated
Australian 'Theses of Agreement' were a compromise
|
Sasse
|
HMF pg 72
|
|
1966
|
8/06
|
Behnken (after presidency
according to Otten) asks St. Louis faculty in writing about historicity of
events in Bible - NO answer (see speech at 1926 St Louis dedication)
|
Behnken
|
CN 5/8/95 pg 10; CN 7/10/95 pg
16
|
|
1966
|
8/17
|
Sasse and/or Hamann Jr. at
last ELCA (Aust.) Pastoral Conference, Concordia Memorial College, Toowoomba
Qld, Australia: Genesis 1-3 "QUITE POSSIBLY FIGURATIVE"
|
Sasse
|
HMF pg 78, 142
|
|
1986
|
Pastor Gavin Winter writes
'How Are The Mighty Fallen' of Australia; says of LCMS: Unless complete
turning back to Bible doctrine of Church Fellowship & discipline, will
"LOSE ANY LAST VESTIGES OF LUTHERANISM IT STILL RETAINS"
|
Winter, G.
|
HMF pg 50
|
||
1995
|
6/19
|
Larry Darby, a 'conservative'
LC-MS member, writes 'Historical Development of "Objective
Justification" denying 'old Missouri'
taught doctrine as false.
|
Darby
|
Document mailed by Darby to Xxx Xxxxx
|
|
1995
|
8/00
|
Where will today's hererodox
LC-MS go? Only away from pure
Christian doctrine and deeper into errors for it has left the true Missouri
Synod and is now name-only Missourian.
The pattern of whoredoms and hemorrhoids can be seen in relation to
true doctrine. All who understand
God's directive for his people in Romans 16: 17 will have His peace - in His
Word – the Word of His Grace.
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1995
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8/01
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If ye continue in My Word then
are ye My disciples indeed." John 8:31
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This timeline showed me that if I wanted to grow spiritually, I had to go back to the old (German) Missouri Synod to get the pure teaching that would give me ultimate assurance of salvation.
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