# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_October 1863_S307
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Report of the Sixth Regular Synodical Convention of the Norwegian Evang.-Luth. Church. 307

take place between neighbors, relatives, and the like who otherwise stand in a relationship of friendship and acquaintance, or else they must occur on the basis of quite particular circumstances and conditions; and if they overstep these bounds, one must try to bring them back to family devotions, private admonition, and instruction, or to make them into genuine public gatherings, ordered with the consent of the whole congregation and of the pastor.

Accordingly, all the ministers of our synod present found no further reason, in this matter, not to grant the wish of Pastors Rasmussen and Fjeld to be admitted into our synod. Likewise Pastors Rasmussen and Fjeld declared themselves satisfied with the explanation on the Lay Question adopted by the synod from Prof. Walther, except that the word "languish" [verschmachten] caused Pastor Rasmussen concern that it might be misunderstood. He himself found the interpretation of it appended to the explanation sufficient.

When Pastor Rasmussen was next asked to name further points on which he had known himself to be at odds with our synod, he explained that he actually knew of nothing definite, except that he was not quite clear on the matter of slavery. All the props of an opposition against us on this point had, as it were, fallen away for him, and he could well understand that slavery might exist in a Christian manner; but he had not fully grasped the whole matter, and he therefore asked whether this lack of clarity would be regarded as an obstacle to his admission into the synod. It was answered that this question in itself was certainly not of such great importance, but that, on account of the significance it had acquired in our fellowship, and on account of the extensive correspondence that had been carried on about it, it was considered very desirable that Pastor Rasmussen be in agreement with us on this point as well; likewise, that it seemed that after the discussions that had taken place he would have to be able to recognize the truth in this matter. Moreover, it was found that Pastor Rasmussen, with the statements he had made here, had in fact already agreed with our explanation at the previous synod, and at this time did not demand any public assent. Since, however, the false doctrine concerning slavery very often proves to rest on a false doctrine concerning civil authority, Pastor Rasmussen was asked whether on this point he taught in agreement with the Lutheran Church, and his statements on this were found satisfactory.

Pastor Fjeld explained himself on this question in much the same way as Pastor Rasmussen. But whereas he, on the one hand, was unclear on the matter of slavery, it was recognized, on the other hand, by everyone that a public declaration on this point was all the more necessary from him, since at the previous synod he had placed himself in open opposition to us on this matter.

Upon the repeated question as to what points no agreement had been reached on, Pastor H. A. Preus named absolution and its relation to confession, to