# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1874_S28
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 28 —

could agree, it was held best, so that no one be pressed to acknowledge something which he cannot accept according to his conscience, to strike out the grounding of the 5th Thesis, without thereby rejecting what is said in it as untrue. The 5th Thesis therefore reads, in the unanimously adopted wording, thus:
"Following the apostolic precedent of appointing the elders or pastors κατὰ πόλιν, that is, city by city, from town to town, from place to place (Titus 1:5), the parishes [Parochieen] or pastorates should not be determined by an arbitrary number of heads and changing persons, but should be geographically bounded and have their own territory; 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)."

Thesis 6.

Orthodox preachers carry out their office in Christ's stead (2 Cor. 5:20); whoever therefore lives where he has opportunity to enjoy the service of an orthodox pastor as his pastor, and does not make use of him, despises not merely a man but Christ (Luke 10:16).

This Thesis is especially important for America. Hundreds and thousands come from Germany and think that here it would now be in their freedom to join a Christian congregation and to make use of a preacher, or not. To them one should show, according to this Thesis, that this is no matter of freedom and arbitrary choice; God has rather instituted the preaching office. Therefore it is every Christian's most sacred duty to make use of the service of an orthodox preacher. Whoever does not do this commits a terrible sin, whether it be from a craving for separation, or from avarice, or sloth, or enthusiasm [Schwärmerei], or whatever it may be. God's Word demands that every Christian, if it is possible for him, become and remain a member of a Christian congregation. By this we do not here mean that he must necessarily become a voting member [stimmberechtigt]. For that does not belong to the proper essence of the congregation. Whether and when someone is to be a voting member, and so admitted to the governing body [Regiment], each congregation can regulate as it will, only that in doing so it not act against love and justice. There are indeed often Christians who are still so weak in knowledge that they are not fit for the governing body and rather hinder, indeed perhaps disturb, a Christian congregation. But although not every one can and should have the right to vote at once, he should yet again not stand wholly outside and wish to be only a guest of the congregation. He shall be a member of the congregation

[Pencil marginal note in the left margin beside the wording of Thesis 5, illegible.]