# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1888_S30
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

30 Proceedings of the twelfth convention

we refuse sacramental fellowship [*Sacramentsgemeinſchaft*] to a Reformed person whom, in charity, we regard as a Christian? We have against such a Christian in the Reformed communion several things that must be removed according to God's Word before we may admit him to the Sacrament. First, he does not have the right doctrine of the Holy Supper at all; he cannot, as the Apostle demands in 1 Cor. 11:29, discern the Lord's body; for that reason alone we cannot admit him to our Sacrament. But let us suppose the case that he were one who for his own person is one with us in the doctrine of the Supper: then we still have something else against him. He stands in an enemy camp, in a camp that continually throws bombs into the camp of the orthodox church. The Reformed communion as such is at war with the orthodox church, against God's will; it is in many points in rebellion against God as he has revealed himself in his Word. Therefore we must say to this Christian: "You, my dear friend, stand in the foreign camp and therefore on a strained footing with the church of God here on earth. This position you must first give up; then you may go to the Supper with us." We let no one go to the Supper with us who lives in unreconciliation with his brother, or who has given the congregation a public offence. Likewise we may not admit anyone who gives offence by standing in the Reformed communion, which confesses errors and fights against the truth. — So we ought also to deal with weak Lutherans, e.g., those in the General Council. There are certainly also individual persons there, indeed congregations, who are one with us in faith. And yet we cannot practice fellowship as brethren in the faith with them, because the body to which they belong has not yet declared itself clearly in all points that call for an open confession. But our aim shall be to arrive, with this communion too, at complete unity, the unity in the truth. That is the unionistic error, that one thinks to establish fellowship of brethren in the faith by covering over the disunity.

Thesis V.

Those who stand in unity of faith should cultivate this as an exceedingly glorious gift bestowed by God's free grace, with all diligence, and seek to preserve it.

It is something exceedingly glorious to stand in a communion that, in accordance with God's will, accepts the whole Word of God and confesses all articles of the faith revealed in Holy Scripture. God's revealed Word is God's name, God's honor. Where, therefore, the whole Word is accepted, there God is given the honor in full. On the other hand