# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1906_S85
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Constitution and Agreements of the Synodical Conference. 85

bitterness or irritation of minds prevails, to content oneself for the time being with seeing to it that on both sides everything is carefully avoided that could pour oil on the fire.

§ 3.

The Synodical Conference [*Synodalkonferenz*] is nevertheless of the opinion that even in such conditions occasional substitutions of the pastors are not to be omitted, but rather are to be practiced as far as possible as a good preparation of the congregations.

§ 4.

Likewise the Synodical Conference warns, under such circumstances, especially against striving for union by correspondence, since this has always proved disastrous in experience.

§ 5.

The Synodical Conference declares that in its conviction an attempt at an orderly existence side by side can be made only when both have already begun to regard each other from the heart as sister congregations; an attempt at amalgamation, however, is not to be ventured until both are ready, in case of need, to enter the opposite synod.

§ 6.

The Synodical Conference is convinced that the best, if not the only promising way is this, that first the two pastors concerned, after they have in general become fully united in doctrine and practice, now also come to complete agreement among themselves on the goal to be striven for (existence side by side or amalgamation) and on the way to be taken to it, then each bring the same proposals to his board and his congregation, whereupon both boards and congregations deliberate these proposals together and only then draw up a written document on the agreement reached.

§ 7.

Public hearing and decision by mixed investigating committees, especially if the congregations are to bind themselves in advance to this decision, the Synodical Conference regards as unsuitable, yes, dangerous.

§ 8.

The Synodical Conference admonishes the pastors and congregations concerned to consider that in such unions conscience by no means demands in all cases that one go back to the first origin of the dissension and investigate and judge everything that happened (which is also mostly impossible); that it is further in itself not at all wrong, for the sake of love and peace, simply to let the old quarrels lie, since the mark of a Christian does not consist in his insisting on his right, but rather in his giving up his right for the sake of love and peace.

§ 9.

The Synodical Conference is rather convinced that only where God's honor and the salvation of souls require it is an investigation of past occurrences necessary, thus where, for instance, the key of binding has been used on a person