# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_September 1863_S280
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

280  Report of the Sixth Regular Synodical Convention of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church.

better present the true context of the matter, whereupon the Synod will know how to decide what further is to be undertaken in this affair.

Pastor A. C. Preus has, since the last Synod, left Chicago and accepted a call from the congregation at Coon Prairie, which congregation was vacated by Pastor Stub's remaining in Norway. This last-named dear brother we can accordingly no longer have the joy of counting among the laborers of our synodical body.

In our relationship to the communions of our countrymen that are separated from us, no essential change has taken place. That the preachers of the Augustana Synod have at last agreed to our invitation to a general conference, and have set its holding for the time immediately after our Synod, must revive our hope for the future.

The communion of the Ellingians is in any case becoming more and more manifest in this region as a fanatical, unevangelical, law-driving sect of Pharisees. Luther, whom they have never known, they now wish to burn in his own writings; indeed the fury of some seems to increase all the more, the more Luther's glorious writings come among the people and his pure, evangelical doctrine becomes better known. And that is no wonder; for what teacher depicts and condemns every kind of bondage to the law more sharply than Luther? God look in mercy upon his poor, straying sheep and guide them onto the path of his truth.

Our relationship to the German Lutheran Missouri Synod is unchanged. The same love and self-sacrifice as before have been shown us on their part in the past year as well, both in various other ways and through the training of our older students at their educational institutions. God reward and bless them for it. Since their general synodical convention will be held next fall at Fort Wayne, I believe that our Synod should elect a couple of delegates to it, as a testimony of our agreement in the faith and as a small token of our love and esteem.

As subjects for discussion the following matters lie before the Synod: 1. The proposal, deferred from the previous Synod, for a revision of the fundamental and supplementary laws of our Synod, the joint review of which the church council has entrusted to a committee consisting of Pastor V. Koren and Professors Larsen and Schmidt. 2. The paper prepared by Pastor Ottesen and read at the previous Synod and discussed up to § 2, on the subject of Sunday. 3. A paper prepared by Pastor Ottesen on the doctrine of the parish bond. 4. The doctrine of church discipline; as a basis for the discussion of this point of doctrine I propose an essay in the Maanedstidende by Pastor Schwan. 5. Reports concerning the teaching institution. 6. A call to the congregations regarding the observance of the days of repentance and prayer appointed by the civil authorities. 7. The election of the officers of the Synod. To