# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_Juli 1858_S213
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

On the Advancement of Pastors. 213

in particular. So too some churches have so abundant a surplus of teachers
that they bear the loss of a single one, without evident danger, with
equanimity. Others suffer a sorry want of deserving and capable men and are
in such poverty and need that, should those men leave, every misfortune is
at once to be feared. There are some that have long since attained the
fairest bloom and vigor, not only of pure doctrine, but also of church
discipline with respect to order and oversight. Others, by contrast, are
only now being set in order and lack this rightful ornament, or at least
need a great increase of it. One sees, further, some that have the will and
readiness to keep their preachers, and the means to maintain them; others
lack either both or one of the two. There are also some which, as to the
greater and better part of their members, are willing and give ear to the
word of their pastors; others cast forth into the world the filth of the
most godless swine of Epicurus's herd, from whom no conversion is to be
hoped, who reject God, count the Word as nothing, hold the sacraments in
low esteem, despise their preachers, give themselves to fornication,
surrender themselves to drink, hanker after usury and plunder, and
contrive and devise every abominable and detestable outrage. It is not so
much of the former that we speak here as of the latter.

When, therefore, a call comes in every respect in a lawful and thus
God-pleasing manner, through those to whom the right of calling belongs,
and godfearing and learned men, after the most fervent prayers, advise
accepting it: then one should not decline that same call without due
consideration — especially when it has been extended against all hope and
expectation — especially when what is incumbent on the overseers *) of the
church whose office it is to call has also been observed.

For these must, first, take it to heart that they transfer no one without
first having duly weighed whether the welfare of the calling congregation
could not be provided for in some other way; for no flock ought to be
defrauded of its shepherd if help can be procured for a congregation
bereft of its pastor by any means whatsoever. It is a serious matter, and
one not to be attempted without sufficient cause, that a pastor be parted
from his congregation. I grant that the general good of the church takes
precedence over the particular, but only when unavoidable necessity
demands it.

2) Those making the transfer must take care that the congregation,

*) The author has in view the conditions of the German state churches,
where the transfer and advancement of preachers lies in the hands of the
territorial consistories. Since here the power of the German consistories
lies in the hands of the two estates of which alone the church here
consists, the civil estate being excluded — namely, preachers and hearers
— may these lay to heart the following words of faithful admonition.
                    The Translator.