# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_October 1862_S292
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

292 Report for the Sessions of the Synod of Missouri, etc., Western District.

and under a hearty common invocation of God, the congregation draws in,
where possible, one or more experienced ministers already standing in office,
avails itself of their counsel, and, if they are able to be present, entrusts to them the
direction of the public election proceedings, Acts 1:15–26; 6:1–6;
14:23; Titus 1:5. Every member entitled to vote
is permitted to propose a candidate, Acts 1:23. The eligibility of each
of those proposed is then discussed on the basis of
1 Timothy 3:2–7; Titus 1:6–9; 2 Timothy 2:15, 24–26; and the one
who, of those recognized and put forward as eligible, receives all
the votes, or at least an absolute majority of the votes, is recognized and accepted as
the one called by God through the congregation. On the basis of
this election a letter of call is drawn up, read aloud to the
congregation, and after its approval is signed, in the name of the congregation, by
the officers or persons chosen for the purpose, and sent to the person
called, 1 Corinthians 16:3. In such a document the one called is, by
the congregation, bound to the writings of the Apostles and Prophets of the Old and
New Testament as God's Word, as well as to the public
confessions of the evangelical Lutheran Church, and to the faithful discharge in every
particular of the holy preaching office, Colossians 4:17.
(Compare Acts 26:22; 20:20–21, 26–27; 2 Timothy 1:13–14, 8; 4:2, 5;
1 Peter 5:1–4.) In such a letter of call, however, the congregation
must at the same time promise that it will recognize the one called as its shepherd, teacher,
and watchman, receive the word of divine preaching from him as God's Word,
obey him, love him, live at peace with him, honor him, and
provide for his support. Luke 10:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; 2:13;
Hebrews 13:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:13; 1 Timothy 5:17; Luke 10:7; 1 Corinthians 9:7–14;
Galatians 6:6. If the one elected accepts the call, the congregation then presents
him, where this is possible, to orthodox ministers already
standing in office, Acts 6:6, so that these, if this has not yet been done,
may "try" or examine him, 1 Timothy 3:10, and, by public ordination
according to apostolic order, declare, obligate, and confirm him
as one lawfully called, 1 Timothy 5:22; 4:14, or at least publicly
and solemnly install him in his office, Acts 6:6; 13:2–3.

§ 22. In order that the Word of God have right free course in a congregation,
there belongs further the introduction — not as a matter of legal compulsion,
but as a matter of eager observance — of the Sunday and customary services, as well as of certain
weekday services, especially the Advent and Lenten weekday services, of the yearly days
of penitence, harvest, and thanksgiving and other holy days, and of public catechetical
examinations with the young. Acts 2:46; Hebrews 10:24–25.

§ 23. In order that the Word of God have right free course in a congregation,
there belongs further, that the congregation have its newborn little children
baptized without delay by its preacher, and prepare its young people for the full
enjoyment of the means of grace and have them, in due time, publicly confirmed,
1 Corinthians 4:1; Mark 10:13–16; Matthew 21:15–16; that it