# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_October 1862_S296
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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

§ 39. For the orderly administration of the congregation's monetary affairs,
the collection and disbursement of salaries, etc., a member skilled in such
business and of proven Christian character should be appointed as congregational
treasurer, and he should not only render account,
either monthly or quarterly, in a public congregational assembly, but his
account should also, from time to time, be exactly audited, partly at set and partly
at unannounced times, by persons appointed for the purpose, 2 Corinthians 8:20–21.

§ 40. For the orderly care of the poor, widows, orphans,
the aged, the infirm, the sick, etc., in the congregation, one or more
persons should be appointed to administer the office of deacon of alms
and to see to it that no one be overlooked with regard to the support
and help he needs, Acts 6:1–7; Romans 12:8;
1 Timothy 3:8–13.

§ 41. The congregation should, if its means allow, be
intent on acquiring property serviceable to its congregational purposes,
such as: a well-arranged, spacious church, school,
parsonage and teacher's house, a burial ground, etc., and on choosing men
who not only hold this property as the congregation's representatives before
the state, but also have oversight of it and should take care
that damage be averted, that everything be kept in good repair, and that
necessary improvements, extensions, etc., be carried out.

§ 42. The congregation should procure everything necessary for divine worship — a
church Bible, an agenda [service book], baptismal and communion vessels, vestments, etc. —
and choose a sexton, who should have these in his keeping, keep the church building
in cleanliness and order (1 Corinthians 11:22), conscientiously attend to
the elements for baptism and the Lord's Supper, and in general render the pastor
whatever assistance is needed in divine worship. The seats should
not be rented out, but special ones assigned to those holding office in the congregation,
and a sacristy provided for the preacher.

§ 43. The time for the beginning of each assembly of the congregation should
be exactly fixed and kept.

§ 44. In the congregational assemblies, nothing important should
be brought to a vote out of hand — that is, without prior joint discussion,
explanation, and deliberation.

§ 45. To be sure, as a rule everything that God's Word does not determine —
that is, that is therein neither commanded nor forbidden — should be decided
and settled by majority vote, as the decision that nature itself teaches
(1 Corinthians 11:14); but if, as a result of the majority pressing through its decision,
a division or some other harm were to be feared on account of the weakness of many,
then the majority should yield to the minority for the sake of love
and of peace, 2 Corinthians 10:8.

§ 46. The chairman of the assembly should see to it that always
only one person speak after another, 1 Corinthians 14:31, and that in this way everyone have