# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1920_S13
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1920. 13

Business Proceedings.

Our Relation to the Norwegians.

Prof. W. H. T. Dau, chairman of our committee, which has existed since 1912 for this matter, first reported in brief outline the course of all the negotiations to date.

The Rev. Ev. Luth. Norwegian Synod had stood in close fellowship of faith with us ever since the founding of the *Synodalkonferenz* [Synodical Conference]. True, about the year 1882 it withdrew organically, but it did not dissolve the relationship of fellowship in faith; it sent delegates to the Synodical Conference regularly. In the year 1912, too, Prof. D. H. G. Stub and Prof. D. Joh. Ylvisaker had appeared as representatives. But by now a movement had developed toward the union of the Norwegian Synod with the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America and the Hauge Norwegian Ev. Luth. Synod of America. The document on the basis of which this union was planned is known as the "Opgjör," or "The Madison Theses." Now since the United Church and the Hauge Synod had for thirty years declared their doctrinal difference with the Synodical Conference and had on that account opposed us, and since the two delegates named from the Norwegian Synod had now, in the year 1912, appeared at the Synodical Conference, it was plainly in keeping with the purposes and aims of the Synodical Conference eminently its duty to enter upon a discussion of this state of affairs. The "Opgjör" was discussed for days. The result was that the following letter was sent, by resolution of the Synodical Conference, to the Norwegian Synod:

"To the Rev. Synod of the Norwegian Ev. Luth. Church of America, in care of President D. H. G. Stub at St. Paul, Minn.

"Dear fathers and brethren, honored in the LORD!

"Just forty years ago the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America was founded. Your Reverend Synod also took part in this founding and thereby entered into the closest fellowship of faith with the other synods of the Synodical Conference. About ten years afterwards your Reverend Synod, to be sure, dissolved the organic connection with the Synodical Conference, but not the relationship of fellowship in faith. This has rather been continued and most lovingly cultivated in the right way through the sending of delegates to the Synodical Conference, through joint pastoral conferences, through pulpit and altar fellowship, through participation in missions and works of charity. At the last convention of the Synodical Conference, too, held from the 14th to the 19th of August 1912 in Saginaw,