Timeline of the Downfall of the LCMS (Part 1)

[2024-11-06: updated most reference links at bottom; as time permits, will update line item links as well; 2019-07-30: added several links to documents; 2019-07-28: added hyperlinks to CTM sources; 2019-01-29: hyperlinks added (1938, etc.); 2018-07-24: hyperlinks are being added over time, first one is on "Statement of 44"]

I put the below table/timeline together over 10 years ago and it still is probably the most comprehensive listing of it's kind. See the end for a listing of the references I used. -->

This is part 1 covering 1921 - 1946.  See next post Part 2 for years 1947 - 1995.

Year	Mon/ day	Description	Document	Person	Source
		Last update: 2/18/01 Lcmstimec.doc; 10/12/1999
1921	3/29	Graebner- Lutheran Witness article: 'Unionism without Unity is Treason'		Graebner	CTM 1961 pg 533
1923	06/01	Bente’s ‘Following Faith of Our Fathers at June convention		Bente	Tower p93
1923	12/03	Life insurance vote by faculty- NO except T. Graebner/Dau (ads in Walther Messenger, Alma Mater)		Graebner, Dau	Tower p110
1924	10/26	Cornerstone laying- new Sem. Bldg, KFUO 1st broadcast		Pieper, Behnken	Tower p243
1926		J.W. Behnken at dedication of new St. Louis seminary: '..in many theological institutions...some professors have joined the ranks of Moderns, evolutionists, higher critics, etc.  By the grace of God this shall never happen at our new Conc. Sem. (see 1958		Behnken	C.S. Meyer 'Hist Br Stmt' CTM 1961 pg 423
1926		Round Table secret meetings in Chicago w/ foreign missionaries, pastors, professors w/ Graebner as head: 'too strict application of Scripture, esp. Ro 16:17'		Graebner	HMF pg 44
1926	09/01	Walter A. Maier allowed Harvard doctorate study fall semester – sabbatical; faculty approved		WAM	CSM-LogCabin, pg 190
1926	10/01	WAM completes doctorate at Harvard – ‘request endorsed by faculty’;		WAM	Tower p190
1927	10/04	Martin Graebner ltr to Theo. Graebner: I wrote ‘very strong letter to Pfotenhauer about Kretsmann and Mueller and their ungodly degrees…” (Chicago Luth. Sem and Xenia Presbyterian Sem.)		PEK, JTM	Tower p191
1927	12/10	T. Graebner ltr to Martin Graebner: ‘On other hand I confessed intense misgivings regarding the entire matter of university degrees or their equivalent.		Graebner, PEK, JTM	Tower p110
1927	12/28	Martin Graebner ltr to PEK: ‘I regard action of you & JTM as the beginning of the end of our orthodoxy. When the future church historian will trace the downfall of Mo. Lutheranism he will point to you two… not possible for you consistently to tell your students that all false doctrine is an abomination before the Lord, a thing they should avoid even to the extent of never attending a Sectarian church service…’		PEK	Tower p 192
1928	05/28	T. Graebner resolution – hold abeyance to university training for our prefs – present condition of large classes, too much work.		T. Graebner	Tower p191
1930		A.L.Conf. formed from Ohio, Iowa, Buffalo Synods			Fendt
1931	06/03	Franz Pieper dies		Pieper	Tower p184
1935		Theo Graebner writes "The Problem with Lutheran Union"; J.H.C. Fritz writes introduction		Th. Graebner (Fritz)	Fendt
1935		American Lutheran Publicy Bureau (started in 1914) campaigns for LWF membership thru 1960			Inter Nos  pg 47
1935		Missouri Committee on Lutheran Church Union meets 6 times thru 1938 with ALC Commission; eventually produces 'Declaration'			City pg 140
1935	3/13	Pastor J.E. Thoen (ELS) writes in Lutheran Sentinel: "...for the reason of our hope is based entirely and solely on the merits of Christ" against ULCA/ALC invitations			City pg 136f
1935	7/00	Missouri Convention: Theo Graebner prods resolution to confer with others			Fendt
1935	9/00	Theo Graebner visits mtg of Lutheran Editors & Publishing House Mgrs Assn(not yet member)			Fendt
1936		(and 1938)ULCA - Missouri mtg - verbal inspiration  Brief Stmt, verbal denied!			pg 28-29 Fendt
1936		ALC- Missouri discussions begin
1936		ELS synodical essay 'Unity, Union, and Unionism': we learned our lesson in 1917 and "the footsteps terrify" (this essay quotes Th. Laetsch CTM 1935 Jan. pg 8-10); approved by S.C. Conv in 1938 Watertown		Laetsch	City pg 137, 140
1936	2/11	First mtg of Inter-Synodical Comm (to further discuss after Chicago Theses unacceptable)	Chicago Theses		Fendt
1938		ALC-ULCA - Baltimore Declaration	Baltimore Declaration
1938		LC-MS Union Committe meets with ULCA- inspiration (per Brief Stmt) denied by ULCA			CTM 4/62, pg201
1938	10/14	ALC Conv. (Sandusky) adopts Brief Stmt but adds Declaration: Br. Stmt ok "in light or our Declaration"	Brief Stmt, Declaration		Fendt pg 18; City pg 142
1938	11/02	ELS Committee letter to J.W. Behnken: 1) remember unionism of ALC, 2) need clear official stmts, 3) insist on church practice			City 145
1938	12/00	ELS editors met with Missouri editors about union movement: nothing			City pg 145
1938	6/20	Missouri Convention(St. Louis) resolves 'qualified alter/pulpit fellowship' with ALC with Brief Statement and Declaration of ALC; OFFICIALLY TOLERATED ERROR/FALSE PRACTICE; advises Committee to reach full agreement on the very doctrines 'NOT DIVISIVE'			pg 45-6   Fendt; City pg 141f Proceedings pp 221-233
1939		Oesch reports Der Lutheraner pg 170f L. Fuerbringer's concerns over 'discussions'; personal note expressed opposition to Committee recommendation		L.Fuerbringer, Wm. Oesch	CNE pg 2803 top rt
1939	1/01	CTM says Pieper noted for doctrinal clarity- study Brief Statement (and also those of ALC)			CTM 4/62, pg 202
1939	1/15	'The Crucible Jan/Feb: PARTING OF WAYS;with 1938 resolution; (Mar- April -W.M. Oesch): 'ALC and ULC 'Agreement' nullifies Brief Statement; Fuerbringer writes Oesch- 'I disagreed'	Declaration/ Pittsburgh Agreement	W.M. Oesch	CTM 4/62; CNE 2803; Recall'- pg 187;City 146
1939	2/16	ELS Committee met with Missouri Comm. on Luth Union to voice doctrinal basis: nothing			City pg 145
1939	4/00	Norwegian Synod writes "A Letter to Pastors/Profs of Missouri Synod": warns of unionism, verbal inspiration (based on Declaration- M. Reu)	Norwegian Letter		Document, CTM 4/62, pg 203
1939	9/29	ALC- Missouri 8th mtg -- ALC tries to explain Declaration (Apparent Wisconsin warning but Missouri doesn't listen)			Fendt
1940		ALC convention: contains letter from Missouri committee; Poppen opens w/o prayer in deference to Arndt, Engelder, K.Kretzmann			pg 49,34-35 Fendt
1940		ULCA convention not happy with Pittsburgh Agreement- verbal inspiration			pg 32-Fendt
1940	10/00	ALC convention (Detroit)- leans to Pittsburgh Agreement (ULCA should to!)			pg 34-35Fendt
1940	1/01	Confessional Lutheran publishes first issue- successor to Oesch's Crucible: 1938 resolution is source of problem, even Chicago Theses - early 1920s, discontinued late 1950s		Paul Burgdorf , Arthur Beck	HMF pg 46; OLC pg 12; City 146
1940	3/26	ALC brings ULCA-ALC resolutions (Pittsburgh Agreement-pg 32) to 9th mtg of Inter-Synodical Comm. -- No action taken.			Fendt
1940	6/00	Synodical Conf Conv Chicago: Missouri- no fellowship until we all agree; also frame ONE (?) document of agreement			City 146
1941		ALC president sends "invitation to meet" to ULCA			Fendt
1941	12/29	ELS Committee with other Synodical Conf. Committees- S.C. Ylvisaker reports: Engelder and Brommer stand firm, Missouri wrong to continue with ALC		Ylvisaker	City 149
1941	2/04	(also 5/13) Lutheran Witness reports on LC-MS- ALC conferences; guidelines prepped by CTM editorial staff; after study of Minneapolis Theses (1925), suggested Brief Statement	Minneapolis Theses (1925		CTM 4/62, pg 201
1941	6/00	Mo. Synod 'Reports and Memorials', Pittsburgh Agreement contains loopholes to deny verbal inspiration and inerrancy	Pittsburgh Agreement		CTM 4/62, pg 202
1941	7/00	Missouri conv in FtWayne: no to ALC request to address; -Missouri wants ONE document, but some statements of Brief Statement need more sharp definition or amplification; - No pulpit/alter fellowship; WAM given leave for ‘Lutheran Hour’			pg 50 Fendt; CTM 4/62 pg 203;City 147f; Tower p189
1942		ALC convention(Mendota):Missouri- Brief Stmt & Declaration , ULCA- Pittsburgh : 'Let's get together'			Fendt
1942		ULCA convention (Louisville): to ALC - 'Let's do it!'			Fendt
1942	5/00	ALC committee informed that Synodical Conf sister synods objecting			Fendt
1943		(thru 1947)All Lutheran" theo. profs met at Augustana (Rock Island)->Graebner & Arndt represent St. Louis. Mtgs also @ Dubuque, Philadelphia (Graebner's "coming out"), and Columbus.		GRAEBNER	pg 23,25-26 -Fendt
1943		Graebner/P.E. Kretzmann write "Toward Lutheran Union"		Graebner/ Kretzmann	Fendt
1943		Norwegian Synod requests Missouri to revoke 1938 'St. Louis Articles of Union' and let Brief Statement stand; -they accept Br. Stmt 'unreservedly'	Brief Statement		CTM 4/62 pg 203
1943		W. Arndt writes defense of ALC Declaration sentence "God purposes to justify those that have come to faith": everythings ok with ALC		Arndt	CTM 1943 v14 pg 787-791
1943	11/01	P.E. Kretzmann's first writings over concern unionism - reviewed Lutheran Outlook (also August, 1943 review of American Lutheran); did not name names yet		P.E. Kretzmann	OLC pg 18, 19
1943	2/11	LC-MS Committee on Doctrinal Unity: Engelder absent (later resigned) - 'useless to continue negotiations'; Arndt says faculty unanimous in continuing BUT Engelder voted neg. - some didn't vote - P.E. Kretzmann absent;		Engelder; PE Kretzmann; Arndt, Behnken	pg 62-64 Fendt
1943	2/12	(cont'd) LCMS Comm: K. Kretzmann disgusted BUT keep going; F.H. Brunn- resolved: ALC either chg or we stop; Behnken: No, let's ask - WHY?; 3 to 2 against (including Brommer) -NO vote; forced to meet ALC by Arndt/Behnken			pg 63-64 Fendt
1943	2/12	ALC-Missouri  1/2 day meeting (includes Behnken & Poppen)			pg 53, 64-65 Fendt
1943	2/12	New ALC committee meets- M. Reu's paper (Selective Fellowship)- Let's do it on basis of Declaration		Reu	pg 39 Fendt
1943	7/12	ELS memorializes Missouri for 1944 Conv: revoke 1938 Union Articles because of false doctrine on justification in "Declaration" and don't require full agreement; publishes special Lutheran Sentinel pointing out facts of M. Reu, Walther's teaching, etc.	Declaration	Ylvisaker	City 150f
1943	8/17	Graebner in Lutheran Witness reviews ELS 'Grace for Grace' and says Norwegian Lutheran Church didn't fall into false doctrine as feared (slap at ELS); Ylvisaker cried out against Graebner's "fairness" which ignores much false doctrine		Graebner, Ylvisaker	City 152f
1944		Concordia publishes L. Fuerbringer's reminiscences- no hint of rampant unionism all around		Fuerbringer
1944	10/09	ALC convention: 'Let's discuss Selective Fellowship before adopting'			Fendt
1944	2/15	Lutheran Witness editorial (Graebner/ Polack): Yochum of ALC is OK- unity not union			pg 65-67 Fendt
1944	4/00	Graebner/Arndt arrange joint mtg of St. Louis/Columbus faculties.  Graebner pays for big banquet- ALC men drunk.			pg 21, 24 Fendt
1944	5/09	Lutheran Witness editorial (Graebner): Yochum a friend! Brief Stmt not denied by ALC!			pg 67-68 Fendt
1944	5/26	ALC-Missouri (Reu dead) Arndt/FRITZ & Buehring/Hoessel drafted 'Doctrinal Affirmation'; "unifies Brief Statement & Declaration" - this was outgrowth of Missouri difficulties of Brief Statement attached to Declaration; demanded by sister synods of S.C.	Doctrinal Affirmation	Fritz	pg 53, 54 Fendt
1944	6/00	LC-MS Reports & Memorials pg 251: a pastoral conf. requests Brief Statement to be 'our clear Scriptural Confession'			CTM 4/62 pg 203
1944	6/21	Missouri Convention (Saginaw): Unable to act on Doctrinal Affirmation (not available yet); -Yochum of ALC addresses convention!; -N.L.C. membership discussed but closed; NEW Name- LC-MS (a SEGMENT of the Lutheran church); Behnken- 3 more years;		Yochum	pg 59, 61, 69 Fendt
1944	6/28	(cont'd) ALC too chummy with ULCA; Pittsburgh Agreement inadequate; - reaffirmed 1938 resolution; - 'However JOINT PRAYER OK at intersynod. confs'; Boy Scouts issue left to congregations		Ylvisaker	pg 69 Fendt; HMF pg 46; City 148
1944	6/29	(con'd) Ylvisaker (ELS) addresses: You helped us in 1917, you have been true reps of true Church..stay pure; ELS memorial to revoke 1938 St. Louis Resolutions was brushed aside			City 154f, 156
1944	7/00	Ylvisaker of ELS ad		Ylvisaker	City 154
1945		Theo. Dierks (Morrison, IL?) writes Exam of Proposed Doctrinal Affirmation: same old errors (largely M. Reu- verbal, conversion/election, etc); A. V. Kuster wrote flyer summary (CTS File 756 - order from 'Rev. E. Wiedbusch, Elizabeth IL)	Doctrinal Affirmation	Dierks, Reu	Book by Dierks, no publisher
1945		J.H.C. Fritz Pastoral Theology book changes definition of unionism to add subjectivism; WELS uses this false idea in its statements		Fritz	HMF pg 47; City pg 158; Oesch letter to Naumann
1945	11/15	Behnken meets with Chicago Study Club discussing Statement of 44			OLC App A
1945	1/30	Chicago Study Club: Romoser w/ Lams of N.Ill. District met at Trinity - Oak Park; continued  to about 1956			OLC pg 14
1945	4/00	Graebner arranges joint mtg St. Louis/Columbus/WARTBURG (Iowa); Iowa denies inerrancy			pg 21, 25 Fendt
1945	6/09	Arndt's letter to Poppen - 'Let's talk (but NOT DOCTRINE!)		Arndt	pg 75 Fendt
1945	9/07	Graebner...prime mover in formulation/defense of "A STATEMENT OF 44"; Australians received it & Hamann (Snr) promoted it's false teaching	Statement of 44	Graebner, Arndt, Polack, Hoffman, etc	pg 21- Fendt; HMF pg 47, 58; City pg 160
1945	9/30	P.E. Kretzmann resigns from Concordia Sem			OLC App A
1946		ELS report on Doctrinal Affirmation: better than Declaration, but Brief Statement weakened as confessional basis	Brief Stmt, Doctrinal Affirmation		City 164
1946	05/20	PEK resigns seminary- ‘accepted regretfully’		PEK	Tower p186
1946	10/00	ALC convention: added Art II of ALC Conf of Faith as prereq to Declaration; imitating role of Missouri; we don't like Doct. Affirm - gives away too much of our Declaration	Doct. Affirm.		Fendt ;City 165
1946	11/14	Behnken addresses American Lutheran Conference conv: we need doctrinal unity for fellowship (!!)		Behnken	City 162
1946	12/00	Graebner writes letter to pastor- opinion on Doctrinal Affirmation: I don't want this adopted; like Brief Statement NOT a document that would adequately represent our church- too divisive, outdated, too brief, too fulsome, bad English	Doctrinal Affirmation (& Brief Statement)	Graebner	pg 83- 84 Fendt
1946	12/10	Praesidium letter to Behnken: after 3 mtgs with '44' reps- situation may result in division; Errors condemned & if not discipline, WHOLE UNITY OF MO. WOULD BE DISRUPTED		Romoser, McLaughlin,	City pg 161-162; HMF pg 48
1946	2/00	Behnken forms 'Ten and Ten' joint committee: Presidents- Barth, P.F. Bente, Boerger, Hardt, A.T. Kretzmann, Theo Laetsch, McLaughlan, Romoser, Steffen, Viehweg			HMF pg 48; City pg 161
1946	6/26	Buehring resigns ALC committee- told of Fritz using 'potato stomper' to force Brief Statement on ALC men; - did not like Reu's Selective Fellowship		Buehring	pg 77 Fendt
1946	7/00	Arndt reports committee members reaction to upcoming August ALC mtg- they want full doctrinal discussion; 'I want JOINT PRAYER'; - 'I'm in a DEEP FOG as to scope and meaning of joint prayer'		Arndt	pg 78- 79 Fendt
1946	8/23	ALC- LC-MS joint mtg of Committees; Lutheran Witness 11/5/46 reports D.A. abandoned;  official report of LCMS committee said D.A. eliminated by ALC as basis of unity; ALC- Doct. Affirm cancels our Declaration	Doctrinal Affirmation, Declaration		pg 65 Fendt; CTM 4/62 pg 204; City 165f
1946	9/23	Ten and Ten' LC-MS meeting of 44 and those who differed; Behnken writes letter (~1/18/47) to Missouri clergy; 44 did not retract, only withdrew			CTM  April 1962, pg 199
1946	9/25	'Ten and Ten' mtg: Graebner moves to adopt correct understanding of Rom 16:17,18; but Behnken, fearing split in Mo., discontinued mtgs and declared Statement was withdrawn		Behnken, Graebner	HMF pg 48

To be continued in part 2 next post...

Sources:

[2024-11-06: updated most links to copies on Internet Archive.]

Events OLC = The Events and People Which Led to the Formation of The Orthodox Lutheran Conference of 1951: A Thesis by Todd Peperkorn 2/5/92  (CTS - BX 8061.O77 P36 1992)

Fendt = The Struggle for Lutheran Unity and Consolidation in the U.S.A.from the Late 1930's to the Early 1970's - Edward C. Fendt (Augsburg Publishing House, 1980; CTS BX8041.F35)

HMF= How AreThe Mighty Fallen - Gavin Winter - ELCR- Australia 1986

City= A City Set On A Hill - ELS History by Th. Aaberg 1968

S.C. = Synodical Conference

CN = Christian News (Herman Otten)

CNE = Christian News Encyclopedia (Herman Otten)

CTM = Concordia Theological Monthly

Recall = This I Recall by J.W. Behnken 1964

Tower = Log Cabin to Luther Tower- Concordia Seminary During 125 Years Toward a More Excellent Ministry 1839-1964 – C. S. Meyer