# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1874_S15
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 15 —

one looks to the gifts; instead of the office, to the person; and if one then does not call oneself of Paul, of Cephas, of Apollos, one is such in fact; but that is fleshly, not spiritual (1 Cor. 4:1–5, 21);

4) in an upright, God-obedient congregation there shall be church discipline and the exercise of the ban against those who call themselves brothers and yet in doctrine or life are offensive, who in deed deny the brotherhood and cause the name of the LORD, His Word and His congregation to be blasphemed among those who are outside (Matt. 18:15–17; 1 Cor. 5:2, 10–13; 2 Thess. 3:6, 14; Rom. 16:17; Titus 3:10; 2 John 10, 11); but through lack of a boundary line enclosing the congregation this wholesome discipline, demanded by God's honor and the salvation of the weak and unbelieving, is, if not made impossible, yet often hindered and made difficult;

therefore Scripture never names the churches or congregations after their preachers, but after places, after houses (Rom. 16:5), cities (1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Thess. 1:1; Rev. 2:1 ff.), provinces (Gal. 1:2), regions and peoples (Gal. 1:22; Rom. 16:14; ἐκκλησίας τῶν ἐθνῶν [churches of the Gentiles]).

Already last year two different opinions came to light in the discussion of this Thesis. On the one side it was maintained that territorial delimitation is the only right and normal thing, and everything else is in itself disorder. Such [other arrangement], it was said, is indeed to be tolerated for a time where it has to some extent become necessary through historical circumstances; but it should always be kept in view that it ought to become otherwise.

On the other side it was conceded that territorial delimitation is perhaps the best and finest order, and is therefore certainly to be striven for. But it was protested that only a territorial delimitation should be a real order and everything else disorder. There are, besides that one, other ways of delimiting, which are perhaps not so good as that one, but nevertheless also orders.

In support of the former view it was urged that territorial delimitation is an order made by the apostles themselves, enlightened by the Holy Spirit; one must therefore suppose that it is the best, indeed the only right one. Further: it is contrary to love to pass by one's nearest church, where God's Word and Sacrament are rightly administered; this also gives offense, even among worldly people, and gives occasion in general for disorder, strife and confusion. For the other view appeal was made chiefly to experience. This shows that even with another way of delimiting equally well

[Three handwritten lines in pencil or ink in the right margin, illegible and partly cut off, beside the lines "territorial delimitation is an order ..." through "worldly people, and gives ..."; the words "eine Ordnung" are underlined by hand.]