The Synodical Conference and Prayer Fellowship

Abstract

John F. Brug’s essay traces the historical and theological development of prayer fellowship within the Synodical Conference, focusing on the divergence between the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) and the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). Brug defends WELS’s “unit concept” of fellowship, which requires full doctrinal agreement for all expressions of fellowship, including joint prayer. He argues this was the original position of the Synodical Conference and of leaders like Walther. The essay refutes claims that early Lutherans or apostles practiced prayer fellowship with false teachers, and it documents how LCMS gradually shifted toward a “levels of fellowship” approach, allowing joint prayer without full doctrinal unity. Brug examines historical examples, including free conferences and doctrinal colloquies, and emphasizes the distinction between weak brothers and persistent errorists. He concludes that WELS’s position remains consistent with Scripture and historic Lutheran practice, while LCMS’s evolving stance contributed to the dissolution of the Synodical Conference. Abstract prepared by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4).