# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1876_S44
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 44 —

Misgivings were now raised again as to whether one must say that a temporary call is no call at all or only a bad call. The temporary element in the call is the bad part of it, but one is nevertheless expressly obligated in it to God's Word. Does not in this case, too, the right part of the call swallow the false and erroneous part? Now it was said earlier that the temporary element in the call lies so far from the right that it cannot be swallowed, but that is a *petitio principii* [begging the question]; that must first be proved. If the truth in the call among the heterodox can swallow the obligation to the error, should not the truth in this case also be strong enough to swallow the error and defect of the temporary? To this it was answered: The difference between a temporary and a fixed call is not merely a formal one. The question is also not how it may become a lawful call, but whether a temporary call is a call at all, and whether one can say that someone stood in a divine call who let himself be called for a period of five years. This one must deny, for he is called to something other than what Christ instituted. Where does it say in the Bible that a man fit for the office is to be called to the office only for a time? A congregation calls only in God's stead. Only then is one divinely called when he is called as God wants it. In the case of the temporary call a special revelation of God would have to be present as to how long such a one is to last. Without such a revelation one cannot know it, but one must leave it to dear God how long he wants to leave his servant in the office. If a congregation does not do this, it denies its Christian calling and intrudes upon God's right. The permission to call temporarily the Church does not have.

Because of many important business matters the Conference could not discuss this subject further.

Business Proceedings [*Geſchäftsverhandlungen*].

I. Establishment of State Synods [*Staatenſynoden*].

According to p. 35 of last year's 4th Report of the *Synodalconferenz* [Synodical Conference], a committee was to submit for this year's sessions proposals for the attainment of the purpose (named in the Constitution § III.), "striving for a delimitation of the synods along territorial boundaries." It had accordingly sent in the following

Committee Report

"In compliance with the commission received from the Honorable Synodical Conference, to submit to it at its sessions this year proposals for the