# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1873_S6
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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justifying and saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, which, with and in him, also grasps and holds fast his most holy and perfect merit.

Thesis 2.

The only outward bond of fellowship between the individual Lutheran congregations among the many peoples and languages is the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.

Note: The acceptance of the other Lutheran confessional writings is not absolutely required for Lutheran church fellowship, provided it is not denied that these stand in orthodox agreement with the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.

Thesis 3.

Because the Unaltered Augsburg Confession (which in its origin is as historically particular as it is ecumenical in its doctrinal content) is, in all its articles of faith, the pure and unadulterated explanation and presentation of the divine Word, in its teaching and its defense [*Lehre und Wehre*], the consciences of all Lutherans, whether individuals or congregations or church bodies, are bound to it.

Thesis 4.

Accordingly there is no orthodox Lutheran congregation or Lutheran church body that does not accept the teaching and defending words of this Confession as they read.

Thesis 5.

Even one who denies the conclusions that follow logically from the words of this Confession is no true member of the Lutheran Church, although he unlawfully retains the Lutheran name.

Thesis 6.

From the kind and nature of this orthodox confession it follows of necessity that church practice be in accord with it. For every churchly act is either an immediate expression and actual realization of the confession, or at least one that, even if it moves within the realm of Christian freedom, may nevertheless not in deed contradict the confession.

Thesis 7.

From this necessary connection between confession and practice it follows logically that a Lutheran synod in which the prevailing practice is in accord with the church's confession, with no other