# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S920
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

APPEAL MATTERS ‘334

“The Board of Appeals in its decision felt that certain state-
ments in the Smith Case Reporter about “I. M. Busy” and “Home-
town Church” transgressed the Eighth Commandment and asked
that an apology be made. ~

“After considering the matter, I have come to the conclusion
that it is manly, Christian, and in the interest of unity and good
’ will in our’ Synod to make this apology and to end further strife.

“I therefore ask ‘Hometown Church,’ ‘I. M. Busy,’ and any
other members of Synod in the spirit and for the sake of Christ
to forgive the statements in the Smith Case Reporter which have
wronged them. I sincerely pray that they will accept me as a
brother in Christ, as I want to consider them brethren in Christ,
so that we may serve our common Master in unity of spirit in
difficult days.”

_ The Board of Appeals recommends that Synod accept this
apology and consider the matter of the Smith Case Reporter closed.

Late in 1941 President Behnken turned over to the Board an
appeal of Pastor Paul Melcher and Zion Congregation of Owens-
ville, Mo. Pastor Melcher and Zion Congregation had been ex-
pelled from membership in Synod by the Western District. On
their appeal to Synod from this action of the Western District,
an investigating committee appointed by President Behnken upheld
the sentence of expulsion. This last-named committee finished
its work after the convention of 1941. Thereupon Pastor Melcher
and Zion Congregation again appealed to Synod, and their appeal
was referred to the Board. After careful study of the formidable
mass of documents that had accumulated, followed by a formal
hearing in St. Louis, the Board, in a lengthy Opinion, held that
the expulsion of Pastor Melcher and Zion Congregation was not
justified.

Three other cases occupied the attention of the Board. Mr.
Henry F. Pieper, of Edwardsville, Ill., whose appeal has been
before Synod at each convention for many years, brought his case
before the Board. The Board did not enter upon an investigation
of the case, but earnestly counseled the appellant to make his

peace with the congregation which excommunicated him many.

years ago. One member of the Board made a trip to Edwardsville,
but was unable to accomplish anything. In the appeal of Mr. Wil-
liam Meyer and others of Shobonier, Ill., the Board could find
nothing in the documents submitted to justify taking up the case.
A case of excommunication brought to the Board from the Southern

California District was referred to the Board of Appeals of that

District and has since been settled.

It was the intention of the Board to publish notice of its
Reports and Memorials 22