# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1916_S75
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1916. 75

majority, but only according to God's Word and the symbolic books of our Church.'

"The minority is therefore well within its right when it maintains that the union matter — which is surely a 'matter of doctrine and conscience' — has in reality not been settled by the Synod through the vote at this convention.

"Therefore the minority also gave the following joint declaration: 'Whereas the proposed constitution for the united body, which is to be known under the name "The Norwegian Lutheran Church in America," has been adopted by the convention,

"'and whereas the "Opgjör" represents a definite departure from the confessionally Lutheran standpoint hitherto held by the Norwegian Synod;

"'whereas, further, it has been resolved to carry through the union without the slightest regard for the wish that changes be made in the "Opgjör," which are specified in a resolution presented by Rev. I. B. Torrison on Friday morning, and whereas by this action the conscience of the members of the minority has been wronged, in conflict with Article 5, paragraph 4, of the synodical constitution:

"'therefore the minority hereby declares that, if these changes are not granted, it cannot enter the new body, but is compelled to maintain the Synod, to continue its work and to safeguard its interests.'

"When one holds this calm and definite declaration together with the request for changes in the 'Opgjör' grounded above, it seems indeed strange that members of a body should pay no regard to it.

"It no longer avails to come with the excuse that the minority 'does not itself know what it wants,' or that 'there is no unity in its own midst.'

"In the light of this simple declaration one will hardly any longer assert that 'the minority will make ever greater demands the more is conceded to it,' or that one 'has no certainty that it would go along in the union even if those corrections in the "Opgjör" were made.'

"Not even the excuse can any longer be put forward by the majority that, 'in order to satisfy the minority, doctrinal negotiations with the other bodies would have to be started from the beginning.' For the minority's demand is quite definite, simple and clear.

"But perhaps many a one will say bluntly that the minority is so small and insignificant that one need take no notice of its representations.

"Such talk ought not to be heard at all in a church body in which both God's Word and the constitution protect the conscience of the individual. In a church in which an Athanasius and a Luther alone with their God over against the whole