# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1873_S24
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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of Christian freedom, to change his place of residence, for the earth is the Lord's and all that is in it (1 Cor. 10:26). A Christian may indeed sin by changing his domicile while going his own ways and disregarding God's guidance; but the sin then does not relate to a duty toward his parish, to which he would be bound for ever.

Compare on this subject: Consilia theolog. Wittenbergensia, that is, Wittenberg Spiritual Counsels. Frankfurt 1664, Part II, p. 107.

On Thesis I. The word "Predigtamt" [preaching office, public ministry] is taken here in the narrower sense and thus as synonymous with "Pfarramt" [pastoral office]. The truth stated in the thesis is of great importance, namely first for the servant in God's Word, in that he is to bear it constantly in mind, and, in the consciousness of his own unfitness and weakness, may take comfort in his holy office that it is the great God who has placed him in the office, and that He will give him wisdom, courage, strength and blessing for his work. Then, however, the truth in question is also most important for the congregations and all their individual members; for from this truth it follows that they are to receive the preacher's word, so far as he proclaims the pure truth, not as man's word but as God's Word. Nor may they, on account of the human frailties and weaknesses clinging to him, despise their pastor; they would thereby despise God the Lord Himself, who has set him over them and whose good pleasure it is to carry on His work through such frail instruments. Nobody should therefore think that he has no need of the public ministry, since he can read God's Word at home; does he not sin against the will of God, in any case, if he does not make use of the public ministry, as God wills every Christian to do? Likewise it follows from the truth of this thesis that neither does the pastor have the freedom to leave at his own choice the place to which God the Lord has once set him in the holy office, nor may the congregation arbitrarily dismiss the pastor given it by God. Both parties should be mindful, in the fear of God, that the bond tied between them may be loosed only according to His will.

On Thesis II. Because all Christians are bound by God's will to join a congregation, one should be cautious toward the weak, so as not to frighten them away from joining by strict insistence on requirements that need not absolutely be made. It happens, for example, not at all rarely that people do not join the congregation only because, on joining, they are required to sign the existing congregational constitution, while they perhaps have a foolish but not easily removed reluctance about it