# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1851_S168
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 168 —

and practice, would draw some like-minded people closer to us, and would
show a debt of love owed in return to our dear mother church in Germany,
if we could serve her, in her coming reorganization, with the particular
experience regarding church governance [Kirchenregiment] that had to
grow out of the distinctive position of the American church as one
wholly separated from the state. The same letter proposed Professor
Walther and Pastor Wyneken as delegates.

Besides these, almost all of the absent pastors, as well as many
congregations, had signified their agreement in writing and pledged
their active help in covering the costs. Such unexpected participation,
coming from so many sides, not only aroused great joy but also
strengthened the Synod in its conviction that the Lord of the Church
himself favored and furthered this work.

As the reasons already given for the delegation were weighed once more
by the Synod, those that seemed most important to it were the ones
flowing from the command of unity and love toward the brethren.
Professor Walther pointed out in particular that our willingness for the
delegation depended on the conviction that the points of difference were
of incalculable importance; for if experience had already taught us how
harmful the false doctrine of church and ministry [Kirche und Amt] had
proved, then it was to be expected that it would show its harmful
influence to an even greater degree once the separation of church and
state were carried out in Germany, and the organization of the
congregation on a hierarchical principle accordingly met with nothing
further in its way. We too, he said, stood in danger that this principle
might transplant itself here and stand disruptively in the way of the
healthy development of our congregations.

Against these, all other reasons receded into the background — in
particular also the argument that a closer connection with the German
mother church would yield our church here some material advantage. It
was rightly objected that we are directed, first of all, to the
resources that God offers within our own reach; to awaken and make use
of these must be our earnest endeavor, whereas looking to outside help
might easily weaken our own zeal in this matter. Much could be
accomplished in this respect through exhortation and appeal to the
congregations, to the heads of households and families who have capable
children suited to study.

Since it was thought necessary that, on this important matter of the
delegation, every Synodical member present should cast his vote
individually, this was accordingly done, and the final vote on the first
point — namely, the necessity of the delegation — produced a joyful,
unanimous Yes!

Greater difficulty attended the choice of the delegates; for although in
the whole Synod there was only a single vote against choosing the two
brothers Walther and Wyneken, two kinds of difficulty nevertheless stood
in the way: first, because so long an absence of theirs might be of no
small disadvantage both to the college and to the St. Louis
congregation; and second, because that congregation, as far as could be
seen from the negotiations already held with it, would scarcely give its
consent. The first concern, however much weight it carried in itself,
the Synod did not consider so important that it should not be