# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_October 1862_S298
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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

certificate along to those who move from it to other congregations, 3 John
5–10; Acts 18:27.

§ 56. The congregation should not receive as brothers those lawfully
banned by orthodox congregations, 1 Timothy 1:20; compare 2 Timothy 4:14–15.

§ 57. The congregation should receive as its brothers those driven out, or guests in
general, from other congregations, and care for them as for its own
members, 1 Peter 4:9; Hebrews 13:2; Romans 16:1–2; 1 Corinthians 16:10–11;
Matthew 25:35, 43.

§ 58. The congregation, if it wishes to call the preacher of another
congregation, should ask that congregation for its consent and for the release of its
preacher, and should seek to come to agreement with it concerning the divine character of
the call away; or, if its own preacher is called to another congregation, it should
examine the call according to God's Word, and, if it proves to be
divine, willingly let its preacher go, Acts 13:1–3.

§ 59. The congregation should, in difficult cases, seek counsel from one or more
sister congregations, or, being itself asked for such counsel, should be ready to
give it as far as it is able, Acts 15.

§ 60. The congregation should regard the distress of its sister congregations as its
own and lend them a helping hand to the best of its ability, 1 Corinthians 16:1–2;
2 Corinthians 8:1–3, 7–14; 9:1–13.

§ 61. The congregation should be willing to let a neighboring congregation,
which by itself can neither establish the preaching office among itself nor
be joined to another parish, be served, where feasible, as a filial or
daughter congregation by its own preachers.

G. Seventh Section. On the Exercise of a Congregation's Duty to Help, for Its Part,
That the Church as a Whole Be Built Up and Furthered.

§ 62. The congregation should take care that gifted boys
and young men be dedicated to the service of the Church, and that the preparation
for it be made possible for them, 1 Corinthians 12:7.

§ 63. The congregation should see to it that the bread of life be broken
for its fellow believers who lack a minister,
Acts 11:19–24, and should accordingly support those who wish to carry out this work
of love.

§ 64. The congregation should be zealous for the spreading of the written
Word of God, 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 5:27; Colossians 4:16.

§ 65. The congregation should help see to it that the Gospel be brought also to
those who still sit in darkness and the shadow of death, the poor heathen and
Jews, Acts 13:1–3; 2 Corinthians 11:8.

§ 66. The congregation should be ready to unite with the evangelical Lutheran
congregations of its country, so far as it has opportunity for this, and such a
union is serviceable and conducive to the honor of God and the building up
of His kingdom, Acts 15; Ephesians 4:3–6; 1 Corinthians 12:7.

——