# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1884_S79
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1884. 77

Pastor Kügele stressed repeatedly and expressly that he was far from demanding an English synod at the expense of the German congregations, as if one should now quickly found English congregations everywhere that there are German congregations, for the sake of English-speaking Lutheran young people, and then join these into an English synod. The inquiry was rather directed only to whether enough English Lutheran material is already available for the founding of an English synod, and, if that is the case, in what way it could best be done.

It was then shown that for the present there are not yet enough English congregations to found an English synod.

This discussion was followed by the question: Whether, for the sake of the young people becoming Americanized out of the German congregations, an English mission should not be called into being, especially in the larger cities? To this it was objected that experience in all the larger cities shows that the young people who withdraw from the Lutheran church, although Americanized, do not go over into English congregations, but rather fall wholly to the world. The cause why many young people leave our congregations is that they hate our discipline. And such persons will just as little enter into the English congregations we are to found, with the same discipline. One cannot therefore reproach us, as the rumour has already been spread here and there, with hating everything English. This is indeed already sufficiently refuted by the publication of the "Lutheran Witness" within the Missouri Synod, as also by the fact that its Western District has taken up the English Lutherans in the State of Missouri, has entered into a connection with them, and visits and inspects them, whereas the Ohio Synod, even at that time, when it was still in connection with us, rejected a union with these English Lutherans.

Thereupon it was resolved that the Synodical Conference holds that it is not yet time to proceed now to the founding of an English synod, because there is a lack partly of English pastors and partly of English congregations.

Nevertheless one should keep this goal in view. Pastor Kügele was therefore encouraged by unanimous resolution, wherever the opportunity offers itself to him, to enter into connection with other English Lutheran pastors and congregations, and so perhaps prepare the way for an English synod later.

Finally, President J. H. Niemann was commissioned to write a friendly letter to the congregation of Pastor Kügele about the proceedings held on this matter.