# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1846 09 05_S5
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

§ 12. If congregations without a pastor apply to the synod for a preacher, the synod shall take earnest care that they be provided as soon as possible with faithful shepherds, in that the synod proposes candidates for the vacant pastorate to these congregations. Should the petitioning congregation, however, be one that has hitherto been mixed—that is, made up of Lutherans, Reformed, and so-called Evangelicals or United [Union-church members]—then it is indeed not rejected outright with its petition; yet the honor of God, Christian sincerity and integrity, and true love of neighbor require that such a congregation may be served by a preacher of the synod only under the following conditions:

a.) if it declares that it wishes to submit unconditionally to the Word of God, as the Lutheran Church alone does;

b.) if it accordingly, after due prior instruction, confesses the sole Scripture-faithful doctrine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, namely concerning the Holy Sacraments and the Office of the Keys, and rejects the contrary doctrine as contrary to Scripture;

c.) if those formerly not Lutheran assent to the declaration that, by receiving the Holy Supper from the hand of a minister of the Lutheran Church, they publicly enter into the fellowship of the Lutheran Church and hereby cease to be Reformed, so-called Evangelicals or United members, and the like.

§ 13. Only in such cases may the synod be approached for the rendering of theological opinions and judgments, and for the settlement of disputes at hand—namely, where neither worldly quarrels are thereby drawn into its purview, nor the rights belonging to each individual congregation are infringed upon, nor, in general, the rules of Christian love and church order are disregarded and violated.

If the synod is approached about this during the time of its session, what is requested is carried out by the assembly then present, unless an investigation of the circumstances in question on the spot is necessary; if, however, such a request comes to the president outside the synod's session time, the matter, if urgent, is handled by a committee chosen by the president.

§ 14. The synod indeed holds that, according to Article Seven of the Augsburg Confession, uniformity of ceremonies is not necessary for the true unity of the Christian Church; yet, on the other hand, such uniformity appears to it salutary and expedient, for the following reasons:

a.) because through a complete diversity in the external ceremonies the weak may easily be led into doubt concerning the unity of doctrine of the Church;

b.) because the Church, in abolishing customs and usages already proven, should avoid the appearance of a love of innovation and of frivolity.

[p. 5]

Moreover, the synod also considers it necessary, for the purification of the American Lutheran Church, that a stand be taken against the emptiness and poverty in the outward form of worship which has become dominant here through the intrusion of the false Reformed spirit.

The synod requires of all preachers and congregations who are to be recognized by it as orthodox that they adopt or retain no ceremony by which the confession of the truth is weakened, or a false doctrine is approved and strengthened—especially where the retention or abolition of such ceremonies is being urged by those of erring faith. (3.)

Where private confession already exists, it is to be retained according to Article 11 of the Augsburg Confession; where it does not exist, the preacher is to work toward its introduction through instruction and teaching. General confession and absolution may, however, be retained alongside private confession in those congregations where insurmountable obstacles stand in the way of its complete abolition.

The intended uniformity in the ceremonies is to be brought about chiefly through the adoption and use of, as far as possible, uniform, purely Lutheran service books [agendas].

§ 15. The synod as a whole has oversight of how pastoral care is exercised by the individual preachers belonging to it. It therefore has the right to make inquiry about this and to judge what is reported. In particular, it is incumbent upon it to see whether its preachers have let themselves be led astray into applying the so-called "New Measures" (4.) that have become dominant here, or whether they carry out pastoral care according to the sound, Scriptural manner of the orthodox Church.

It is also incumbent upon the synod to ask the preachers how matters stand in their congregations with regard to Bible reading, family devotions, the raising of children, registration for confession, church attendance, participation in the Lord's Supper, the choice and use of religious writings, and whether separatist tendencies and conventicle practices*) are perhaps found in the congregations, and what, in general, is their ecclesiastical and moral condition.

§ 16. The synod supports, for the maintenance of the pastoral office, only such congregations as are truly in need of this and give evidence of a sincere desire for the full enjoyment of the means of grace.

§ 17. The synod is to see to it that a good printing of the original text of the Small Lutheran Catechism, together with a corresponding book of Scripture proof-texts, is always available.

A catechumen can receive confirmation only when he is able to recite from memory at least the text of the catechism without explanation, and has been taught its meaning to such an extent that he is able, according to 1 Corinthians 11:28, to examine himself. More capable catechumens are, where possible, to be brought to the point where they can establish the doctrines of the Christian faith with the clearest proof-texts from Scripture, and refute from these the false doctrines of the sects.

*) By conventicles are to be understood all para-church and extra-church gatherings held for the purpose of edification, which exceed the bounds of family devotions and withdraw from the oversight and supervision of the lawfully called pastor.

For confirmation instruction, close to a hundred hours are to be devoted, where possible.

Finally, the preacher is to see to it that his confirmands have impressed upon their memory a good number of such core hymns of the Church as can serve them as a provision for their whole life.

§ 18. The synod makes it a matter of conscience for its preachers not to lose sight of the catechumens after their confirmation, to take them up in an especially fatherly manner, and therefore, among other things, wherever at all possible, to hold public Sunday examinations on the catechism with them.

§ 19. The synod requires of each of its preachers that he bring to its annual assembly a written report:

a.) on the state, in the year just past, of the parishes with regard to the congregations belonging to them, the number of souls, those entitled to vote, and the schoolchildren, both those from the congregation and those from outside it;

b.) on the number, in the year just past, of those baptized, confirmed, communed, married, and died in their parishes.

§ 20. The synod elects a capable man to conduct correspondence with the Lutheran Church abroad, especially with the witnesses to the truth in Germany. The purpose of this correspondence is to maintain a living fellowship between the Church here and that abroad, and thereby to bear witness and give proof that the Church is but One in spirit, faith, doctrine, and confession, at all times and in all places.

The synod elects a preacher to establish a chronicle of the American Lutheran Church, in which the most notable events and movements within it, its struggles, and the influences it experiences from without, are to be recorded with the authentication of the synod.

§ 21. The synod recommends to its preachers the establishment of district ministerial conferences, which are to be held, where possible, twice a year.

§ 22. For the valid holding of the synodical assembly, a lawful convocation of it and the presence of at least one third of the voting members are required. If officers are absent at the assemblies, temporary substitutes for those officers are chosen from among the synod members present.

§ 23. New officers are elected at the close of the synodical assembly in which the term of office of their predecessors expires.