# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1882_S6
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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Doctrinal Proceedings,

as they have hitherto been customary in the *Synodalkonferenz* [Synodical Conference] and took up the greater part of the sessions, especially all the morning sessions, the Conference this time unfortunately could not hold. There was by no means a lack of theses, for no fewer than four doctrinal subjects lay before the Conference in the form of theses, namely:
1. Theses on the *Gnadenwahl* [election of grace / predestination], as composed by Dr. C. F. W. Walther and adopted by the Venerable Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States at its last convention at Fort Wayne, Ind.
2. Theses on church fellowship.
3. Theses on the *Jus Parochiale* [parochial right].
4. Theses on home mission.

But whoever reads the following report attentively will readily see why this time there could be no actual and customary doctrinal proceedings; he will, however, also have to admit that almost the whole report is basically nothing but doctrinal proceedings.

There now follow the subjects and their treatment in the Conference.

I. Protests of the Synods of Missouri, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

After the organization of the Conference, still in the first session on Wednesday afternoon, 4 October, the Synodical Conference resolved to hear at once the grounds of the protests that had been raised, in the order in which they had been lodged. Pastor O. Hanser therefore read the written, reasoned protest of the delegates of the

Venerable Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States.

It reads as follows:

To hold colloquies, disputations and the like with someone who has gone astray in the faith, even with an openly heretical person, does not conflict with God's Word, and therefore not with a conscience bound in God's Word; indeed, under certain circumstances it can even become a sacred duty for orthodox Christians, especially for servants of the church. For, as regards first the orthodox Christians, the holy Apostle Peter expressly requires this of them: "Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you." (1 Pet. 3:15.) Of a servant of the church, however, it is re-