# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1930_S8
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

8 Proceedings of the thirty-second convention

likewise members, and so through the same faith all are also members one of another" [Rom. 12:5, "every one members one of another"].

"2. According to God's will this inner unity is now also to show itself outwardly, through agreement of all members of the Church in doctrine under the one LORD, Jesus Christ.

"3. Disobedience toward our LORD Jesus Christ is the cause of all division, sectarianism, false doctrine, separation and fragmentation in Christendom.

"4. The Holy Spirit is the efficient cause of all true inner and outward unity of the Church."

Since so much material on this question is already at hand, many a one may well ask: Why again a theme that is so closely related to the others, indeed at bottom entirely the same as they? I answer: First, because the theme is especially timely in our own days, as we shall see repeatedly in the course of the paper; second, because the biblical principles on which the Synodical Conference rests must be stressed again and again, particularly in this year of the great jubilee celebrations and of church mergers in our country. In addition, the theme is posed somewhat differently this time and is therefore also to be treated somewhat differently than in the papers mentioned. Let us therefore treat in these days the important doctrine:

True Union as Opposed to Unionism and Separatism.

The presentation shall be made in six theses:

1. Unity in the Spirit is an essential attribute of the whole of Christendom on earth, of the Church in the proper sense of the word. This unity is a fruit of the Spirit, an expression of faith, which relies on Christ as the Savior of sinners and therefore also accepts the Scripture and holds fast to it in all points. Since, however, the members of this one holy Christian Church are known only to God, he alone knows how perfect or imperfect the knowledge and confession of the individual member of this Church are.

2. This inner unity is, according to God's will, to express and exercise itself in complete agreement in all the articles or points of doctrine revealed in Holy Scripture. This includes the recognition of all those who stand on the same scriptural ground with the actual confessors of the truth.

3. Although in the Church much must be forgiven for the sake of true unity, this may under no circumstances occur with denial of the truth. On the contrary: every departure from a doctrine clearly revealed in Scripture contains possibilities of church division and, if the departing party persists in the error, must lead to a dissolution of the bonds of brotherhood.

4. Although uniformity of ceremonies is not necessary for the true unity of the Church, such uniformity nevertheless has confessional value and under certain circumstances must be demanded.

5. Syncretists and unionists of every kind offend against the unity of the Church.

6. Schismatics and separatists also offend against the unity in the Spirit.