# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1847_S11
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 11 —

Regarding the criticism that Pastor Geyer had raised about that
expression used in the introduction, the synod declared, in agreement
with the committee, that the introduction published in the "Lutheraner"
did not actually belong to the constitution, but had merely been drafted
privately, at the request of the Fort Wayne conference, by one of its
ministers, and appended to the constitution; that the synod, while it
could not exactly reject that expression, nevertheless wished, for the
sake of the inferences that might be drawn, that the author of the
introduction had instead said: "a sound constitution, not contrary to
Scripture, can also, under God's blessing and grace, serve the church's
benefit and edification." It further wished that, because of possible
misinterpretation, the words of the note to the introduction — "that was
the constitution and order of the good old days, etc." — had been left
out.

Since no other matters were before it, the synod then returned to
Chapter V, Section 8, and resolved, regarding the first half of this
section, to devote itself in speech and writing chiefly to the following
subjects in the coming year: the church; the means of grace; the
relationship of prayer to them; justifying faith; law and gospel; Christian
liberty; and in particular the struggle in *Lehre und Wehre* [Doctrine and
Defense — the projected doctrinal periodical] against Methodism under
all its various names, especially against the so-called "Evangelical
Community," which seeks to creep into the congregations under that
name, as well as against all mingling of churches [*Kirchenmengerei*].

The editor of the "Lutheraner" was asked to publish a special article
rebuking the particular abuse, common among many ministers, of
inviting to participation in the celebration of Holy Communion even
those people who had not made confession.

In the evening the congregation gathered for worship. The Präses
[president] delivered an ordination sermon and then, assisted by the
Pastor loci, conferred ecclesiastical ordination on ministers F. W.
Husmann and F. W. Pöschke, binding them to all the confessional
writings of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as the pure and unadulterated
declaration and exposition of the divine Word and will.

V. Proceedings of Friday, April 30, and Saturday, May 1.

Pastor A. Crämer and several brothers with him had been held fast by
ice on their journey to the synod, aboard a steamboat crossing Lakes
Huron and Michigan up by Fort Mackinaw, so long that they only now
appeared among us and entered the synod.

Pastor E. M. Bürger of Buffalo appeared before the synod and wished to
be received by it as a member; but because disputes existed between him
and some former members of his congregation, from among whom a
delegate had been sent to the synod, and because an examination of his
earlier conduct also seemed necessary, a committee was appointed for
investigation and report.

Pastor Dr. W. Sihler submitted a resolution assuring the congregations
that the synod would not impose any financial contributions on them as
a duty; it was adopted in the following form:

"Since we have learned that some congregations fear that, by joining this
synod, they will be bound to definite annual financial