# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1876_S45
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

— 45 —

attainment of the goal, to merge our synods into state synods, the undersigned committee submits the following report.

Since the means employed by the Honorable Synodical Conference since its origin to promote unity in doctrine and practice have been effective for years, and fully suffice for what is attainable in this direction while the individual synods retain their independence; the connection hitherto maintained among orthodox synods of different languages has proved sufficient for the preservation of this unity; evils demanding removal in the present synodical connection exist only among the German synods belonging to it; these evils can disappear only in the actual merger of the German synods into state district synods, it appears most expedient, for the preservation of the good and the removal of the abuses in the present connection,

1. that all the German synods within the Synodical Conference unite into one church body, say under the name of the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of North America;

2. that this synod be divided into district synods whose geographical boundaries form the state boundaries;

3. that the general synod, through the delegates representing it, chosen by the district synods, administer everything that is to be administered for all the individual district synods as a whole;

4. that this German general synod maintain the connection with the synods of other languages within the Synodical Conference.

For the carrying out of this arrangement in detail, the appointment of a committee of members from all the German synods belonging to the Synodical Conference, for the purpose of drawing up a proposal, appears necessary.

Respectfully signed:
H. Wunder.
A. Mikkelsen.
R. Lange."

From the above report it appears that the committee had three kinds of connection in view, namely:

1. State synods, as far as the German Lutherans are concerned,

2. Union of all these German state synods into one larger body with church government [*kirchenregimentlicher Körper*], and

3. The present *Synodalconferenz*, which (for the sake of the synods of other languages) is to remain in its existing form.

The committee believes further that only through the establishment of state synods can the existing great evils be removed.