# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1875_S6
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 6 —

Preliminary Remark on the Following Theses.

The word "Kirchengemeinſchaft" [church fellowship] is not treated here in its wider sense. For in that sense a certain church fellowship already exists, on the ground of the confession of the Holy Scripture as the Word of God, among all congregations that stand in this confession, over against heathens, Jews and Mohammedans.

Rather, this word is taken here in the narrower sense, as the fellowship of the Evangelical Lutheran congregations over against the more or less corrupted church communions that hold false belief.

Thesis 1.

The only inward bond of fellowship between the individual Lutheran congregations among all manner of peoples and languages is the true, justifying and saving faith in the LORD Jesus Christ, which together 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 all manner of peoples and languages is the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.

Note: For Lutheran church fellowship the acceptance of the other Lutheran confessional writings is not absolutely required, 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 much historically particular as in its doctrinal content it is ecumenical) is, in all its articles of faith, the pure and unfalsified explanation and exposition of the divine Word, in doctrine and 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 he who denies the binding force of the conclusions that follow consistently from the words of this Confession is no true member of the Lutheran Church, even though he wrongly retains the Lutheran name.