Strangers to Sisters - Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Library: Essays

Tjernagel: Today conditions have become quite well
settled, so that there can be little excuse for not knowing
the spirit which prevails in the various Lutheran
synods…At the present time there is also little excuse for
any Lutheran synod to continue in error through
ignorance…All possible encouragement has hereby been
given to those in error to examine carefully their doctrine
and practice in the light of God’s Word. If they still persist
in their error, they are without excuse. 231
It is interesting also that the central theme of both Tjernagel’s and Reim’s address
is the interconnectedness of the doctrine of Scripture and the practice of church
fellowship. This point, that church fellowship must result from unity of doctrine and
practice, and must never precede it, is what would set the WELS and the ELS apart from
the other members of the Synodical Conference in years to come.
Further evidence of the strong fraternal respect each synod had for the other is
seen in the correspondence between President John Brenner of the WELS and President
Henry Ingebritson of the ELS during the late 30s and early 40s. In January of 1939,
Ingebritson wrote to Brenner in regard to their protests against the Missouri-ALC dialog
as well as the recent invitation both is synod and the WELS received from President
Behnken of the LCMS to now take part. In the letter, Ingebritson expresses his thanks at
the shared stand the Wisconsin Synod had taken with them against unionism and asks
Brenner how their two synods might coordinate their efforts in admonishing the Missouri
Synod,
We see great danger threatening conservative Lutheranism
in the stand that our brethren (at least some of them) in the
Missouri Synod take at the present time and are happy to
know that we may look to the Wisconsin Synod to fight the
liberal tendencies gaining ground.
231 H.M. Tjernagel, “Unity, Union, and Unionism,” Lutheran Synod Quarterly 43, no.2&3 (June/September
2002), 216.
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