# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1857_S346
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— Page 346 —

...content with nothing other than, on the one hand, confession of the
articles of faith, and on the other, rejection of chiliasm. One
question had been answered; the other — concerning his agreement with
the condemnation — not yet.

The president then pointed out that the Synod first had to state its
own definite position on whether it agreed with the Western District's
judgment on chiliasm.

To the question put to the Synod, whether it agreed with the Western
District's judgment on chiliasm, a unanimous "Yes" followed (including
the advisory members).

It was then resolved: that a committee be appointed to formulate
definite questions to be put to Pastor Schieferdecker, to be submitted
to the Synod that afternoon for review.

Resolved: that a plain, definite answer of "Yes" or "No" be required
of Pastor Schieferdecker on these questions.

Resolved: that the questions to be put be delivered to Pastor
Schieferdecker in writing beforehand, so that he would have the
opportunity to consider the answer to be given.

Resolved: that one member of the committee be designated as the sole
interlocutor, so that the matter not be hindered by cross-talk. —

Sixteenth Session.

Pastor Schieferdecker was indeed asked to answer the questions put to
him with a simple Yes or No, and the questions were phrased
accordingly. The Synod, however, could not obtain this from him. Since
he complained, after answering the questions, that he had not been
allowed to say everything he had to say, he was given the opportunity
once more to give his full answer to each question, which was then
attached to the minutes in his own handwriting.

The questions and answers read as follows:

1. Does the Church of Christ in the proper sense — that is, the sum
total of believers — remain invisible and hidden under the holy cross
until the Last Day?

Answer: Yes, provided this does not mean rejecting the hope that the
kingdom of God will yet, even in this present life, celebrate a final
victory over the antichristian world powers, and will show itself in
a great abundance of heavenly, spiritual goods — particularly in a
widely spread, true knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ.

2. Does the general resurrection of all the dead, righteous and
unrighteous alike, without exception, occur solely and exclusively on
that same Last Day?

Answer: Yes, but I cannot subscribe to the words "without exception."

3. Is it on this Last Day alone and exclusively that the visible
coming of Christ is to be placed, as one that will occur solely and
exclusively for the judgment of all nations without exception?