# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1906_S86
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

86 Constitution and Agreements of the Synodical Conference.

(that is, excommunicated). Here such a judgment must either be recognized as just or else be set aside. On the other hand, whoever in a matter that is not a mortal sin has withdrawn from the exercise of discipline should not be regarded as banned.

§ 10.

For the regulation of a peaceful existence side by side the Synodical Conference [*Synodalkonferenz*] regards local delimitation of the parishes and ordering of mutual intercourse as the most necessary items.

§ 11.

As regards the latter, the Synodical Conference holds that no member may be received by the other congregation against the will of his previous congregation. The pastor to whom such a person wishes to transfer should rather himself do everything to hold him back from it, and represent to him that peace and unity of two entire congregations matter infinitely more than the convenience of the individual and the like. He should also, even if the reasons for which the dismissal is refused seem quite unjust to him, not simply proceed, but rather first seek counsel and mediation with his own president and the opposing president, and, where even this should be in vain, bring complaint against that congregation to its synod, whereupon the synod is obliged to take the congregation into discipline, respectively to exclude it.

§ 12.

The Synodical Conference finally considers it most fitting that in mixed marriages the marriage ceremony be performed by the pastor of the bride, but that then the wife follow the husband into his congregation. (S.-C. III, 36 ff.)

Provision for Such Congregations and Preaching Stations as Are Still Without Synodical Connection.

Although we acknowledge to its full extent the right of our congregations to call a pastor from any orthodox synod, we should nevertheless all work toward the end that each synod retain the congregations and mission fields served by it. Every pastor should therefore, when fields of another synod turn to him with the request to help them obtain a pastor, first testify to them that our synods are united in doctrine and practice, and therefore admonish them to let themselves be advised further by the synod by which they have been served until now. At the same time he should also give notice of the state of affairs to the president of the synod concerned. If it should then indeed turn out that the congregation, without there being evidently unworthy reasons, nevertheless insists on being served by a pastor from another synod, it would be better to leave such a field to the other synod than that the congregation be harmed by delay of service or even run the danger of falling into the hands of false believers.

If a congregation that has until now been served by a synod, without however having been connected with it as a member, directly calls a pastor from another synod, the pastor concerned shall be bound to act just as in the case of a synodical congregation. Before accepting the call he shall give notice to the president of the synod that has until now served the congregation,