# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1853_S254
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 254 —

...truth does not tolerate their testimony, and burdens consciences by
forcing on them its errors and the practice founded on them, then the
case arises where Christians who recognize the truth must separate — and
are entitled to separate — from such a fellowship, even one whose errors
are not in themselves so ruinous as to make it a sect outright. Sadly,
the Venerable Synod of Buffalo now occupies this sorry position, and we
cannot help but remind it of the warning pronounced by St. Augustine,
that there is no schism which, if it takes root, does not in the end
turn into a sect. May God prevent that we, who up to now have had to
call the Synod of Buffalo a dangerously erring but not yet sectarian
fellowship, should come to know the truth of that Augustinian saying in
its case.

We therefore cannot do otherwise than, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ and in the sight of his holy Church, renew the proposal made a
year ago to Pastor Grabau, and now address it to the whole Venerable
Synod of Buffalo: that it not refuse, for the sake of the love of Jesus
Christ and the salvation and peace of his Church, the hand of
reconciliation we extend under the same conditions, and that it enter
with us into a Christian conversation — first of all on the doctrinal
disputes now pending — so that, on the basis of agreement in the truth,
the breach that has arisen between us in the governance of the Church
may be healed.

We would gladly say nothing here of our fear that the Venerable Synod of
Buffalo will also reject this proposal, made in the most honest spirit;
but so many discouraging experiences in the negotiations conducted so
far compel us to add the following declaration in closing: should the
Venerable Synod persist this time as well in its refusal of a
*Colloquium* [formal doctrinal conference] and continue charging us with
the impenitence it claims we are guilty of, we will no longer pay any
further regard to such accusations, but will simply go on exposing the
doctrinal deviations of the Buffalo Synod and demonstrating the
agreement of our doctrine with God's Word and the confession of our
Church. All the ruinous consequences of such an irreparable breach we
would then, of course, have to lay on the conscience of those who, by
their stubborn refusal to take the one right road to peace, made healing
itself impossible.

Since we will remain assembled here only until the tenth of this month,
we urgently request of the Venerable Synod of Buffalo that it send us,
before the expiration of that term, a — God willing — favorable answer
regarding the resolution it has reached in this matter.

The Lord be with us all. Amen.

Cleveland, Ohio, June 3, A.D. 1853.

In the name of the Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States.

Fr. Wyneken, currently President [Präses].

Ludwig W. Habel, currently Secretary.