# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1912_S23
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of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1912. 23

[Printed in English.]

5. The Letter in English Translation.

The Venerable Synod of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran
Church of America, in care of its President, the Reverend
Professor H. G. Stub, D. D., St. Paul, Minn.

Esteemed and beloved fathers and brethren in Christ,—

It is just forty years ago since the Evangelical Lutheran Syn-
odical Conference of North America was organized. Your venerable
Synod was a party to this organization, and thereby entered into the
most intimate fraternal union with the other Synods of the Synodical
Conference. About ten years later your venerable Synod severed its
organic connection with, but did not cease its fraternal relation to,
the Synodical Conference. On the contrary, this relation was con-
tinued and cultivated in a true and most pleasant manner by your
sending delegates to the Synodical Conference, by joint conferences
of your pastors with ours, by pulpit and altar fellowship, and by
your cooperating with us in missionary and charitable endeavors.
Even at the last meeting of the Synodical Conference, which was
convened at Saginaw, Mich., August 14 to 19, 1912, we rejoiced
greatly to have with us as your representatives two members of your
venerable Synod, the Reverend Professors Dr. H. G. Stub and Dr. J.
Ylvisaker, who gave expression to the fraternal relation existing be-
tween us. The fact that this relationship, this intimate fellowship,
which unites your venerable Synod with the Synods of the Synodical
Conference, exists despite the existing differences of nationality and
language, moves us to address this letter to you, which emanates
from cordial brotherly love; and we request you, esteemed fathers
and brethren, to receive it in the same spirit.
The fraternal relation existing between us implies solemn duties,
among them the duty of brotherly admonition and appeal. This is
proved by express directions of God's Word and by the beautiful
example of the ancient Christian congregations. The Synodical Con-
ference has taken notice of the union movement among the Norwegian
Synods of our country to which your venerable Synod is a party.
For two days, during one of which your venerable delegates were
present, the Synodical Conference was engaged in a thorough dis-
cussion of the union-theses, the so-called “Opgjör,” which you have
published; we have carefully examined the “Opgjör” by the rule of
the Scriptures and the Confessions. This was done because the union
in question affects Norwegian church bodies which thirty years ago,
and at sundry times since then, have controverted and rejected the
doctrinal position of the Synodical Conference, especially as regards
the doctrine of Conversion and of Election. We are moved, reverend
fathers and brethren, by an examination of the “Opgjör,” to request
you cordially and urgently to heed the three exceptions to the
“Opgjör” which are herewith submitted, to the end that both on