# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1847_S3
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Preface.

Following the conferences held by several ministers of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in September 1845 at Cleveland and in July 1846 at Fort
Wayne, whose main purpose was to deliberate and draft a synodical
constitution founded on the Word of God and the pure confession of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church, and in accordance with the resolution
reached at the latter conference, a number of pastors and delegates
assembled on April 24, 1847, and the following days, at Chicago, Illinois,
to organize — on the basis of the synodical constitution that had been
drawn up at that latter conference, published in No. 1 of the third
volume of the "Lutheraner," and later printed as a pamphlet — as the
"German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other
States."

Unfortunately, some who had been present at those conferences, as well
as other fellow ministers inclined to join this synod, were prevented by
difficult circumstances from appearing in person and taking part in this
first important assembly. A dear member of those conferences, the
beloved Brother Burger, pastor at Willshire, Van Wert County, Ohio, had
been called home to heaven by the Lord of the harvest on March 26 of
this year. On the other hand, other brothers in the faith who had come
over from Germany in the course of the past year, and who had entered
here into the great mission field of the "far West," appeared at the
synod.

All who were present at this, our first synodical assembly, surely look
back with heartfelt thanks to God, who has visibly furthered the work
begun in his name, and with inward joy over the results already gained,
upon those days of brotherly fellowship; and, trusting in the continued
gracious help of our God, they look forward with the fairest hope for a
blessed continuation of the work begun. Our congregations will feel
reassured about the various misgivings that may have arisen among them
at first over such a synodical union, once they see from these
proceedings that the synod, true to the spirit of its constitution, seeks
only the true welfare of the congregations.

No doubt, too, all true friends and promoters of the kingdom of God will
share those feelings of thanks and joy with us, once they become
convinced — not only from our constitution but also through this first
synodical report — that this synod now stands as a fresh, vigorous plant
on the churchly ground of the pure and unadulterated confession of
divine truth, needing and hoping only that it be watered with prayer,
counsel, and deed, while God grants the increase!