# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1847_S15
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 15 —

who in the old fatherland take an interest in the welfare of the Lutheran
church here, for support toward founding such an institution. This
letter should point out that the synod intends to direct this support
toward the further aid of the theological college [*Collegium*] at
Altenburg, Mo., if that college should be handed over to it by the
congregations concerned for direction and oversight.

The Präses [president] then questioned the synod's ministers regarding
their ordination and the obligation thereby undertaken to all the
symbolic books [confessional writings] of our church, under Chapter II,
Section 2, and Chapter V, Section 11 of the constitution.

This was followed by a discussion of the written call [*Vocation*] of
ministers and their being called away to other congregations.

The committee charged with investigating and reporting on the matter
brought to the synod by Messrs. J. D. Bewersdorff and C. Kauffung
concerning the Lutherans they represented at Milwaukee and Freistadt
now discharged its assignment by presenting the outcome of its
unpleasant work. The opinion [*Gutachten*] contained in this report was
discussed at length and repeatedly, and finally, after some corresponding
modifications, was unanimously adopted as the opinion of the synod.

Opinion.

Messrs. J. D. Bewersdorff of Milwaukee and C. Kauffung of Freistadt,
Wisconsin, delegates of 57 Lutherans at the named places who had
signed their names, appeared before the German Evangelical Lutheran
Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States assembled here, and
requested from it an opinion as to whether they, together with those
like-minded persons by whom their credentials were signed, could with a
good conscience call another pastor in place of their former pastor,
Pastor Krause of Freistadt and Milwaukee, or not.

After those two delegates had laid before us, in written testimonies, a
quite detailed account of the proceedings that had taken place in the
disputes that arose with Pastor Krause, and had reported orally
whatever further was necessary to understand the whole matter, the
following conclusion presented itself to us, as best we can judge from
these submissions — as to whose credibility we, moreover, have no
reason to doubt:

Pastor Krause has made himself guilty of

I. The following false teachings:

1. Concerning the church, he teaches that the pastor and the leaders of
the congregation are the church, and that whatever the pastor ordains,
even without the unanimous consent of the congregation, is church
order; and, in general, that the Lutheran church is a visible one, outside
of which no one can be saved.

2. Concerning church orders, he teaches that whoever does not keep a
congregation's order is not only no longer a member of the parish, but is
no longer even a Lutheran; likewise, that whoever does not give credence
to the so-called acts of the church — that is, to the pastoral office's
reports — is no longer a Lutheran.