# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_October 1863_S308
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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

the laying on of hands, and to the Lord's Supper, over which he had had a dispute with Pastor Fjeld. He had now in the meantime dealt with Pastor Fjeld about this privately, and had come to agree with him in doctrine (Pastor Fjeld had thus come to the recognition that absolution must always be unconditional; although as a rule private confession should precede it, absolution could nevertheless be given wherever the Lord's Supper could be administered); Pastor Fjeld had only asked how one should conduct oneself toward those who, because of an erring conscience, could not bring themselves to accept the laying on of hands. To this it was answered that if this truly occurred out of weakness, one must bear with it and, in one way or another, clearly make known that the application of the absolution was directed to that one particular person. But if obstinacy were present, if someone wished to make the laying on of hands into a sin, then the minister must not yield. For the rest, both Rasmussen and Fjeld declared themselves in full agreement with the Missouri Synod's report on absolution. — Upon a preliminary question, Pastor Rasmussen also declared that Pastor Amlund was in full agreement on the points discussed here and likewise sought admission into our synod.

Finally Pastor Brandt declared that, in view of the great grace and joy which God had granted us at this gathering after so many troubled prospects and deep wounds, it seemed fitting now to conclude with a definite declaration from Pastors Rasmussen and Fjeld that they acknowledged their previous separatistic conduct toward our synod as sin. This Pastor Rasmussen declared openly and directly, though he also had to confess that, even if in great weakness, he had wished to do the will of God. He hoped that in the future the unity would become firmly established, and he asked forgiveness heartily of everyone whom he might have grieved or offended, especially on account of the divisions that had occurred through his conduct. Pastor Fjeld likewise declared that he had come to America with the sincere wish to unite with us, and that he had felt himself greatly obliged for the kindness with which we had, from the beginning, met him and Pastor Amlund. If, now, his wish had not been fulfilled at once, he believed nevertheless that he could find some excuse in the entanglements that had occurred in the various respects at play here. The situation had become ever more oppressive and painful to his conscience. He recognized that he had erred in many respects, both against ministers and against individual members, and now wished to ask forgiveness of everyone, although he too had done nothing with evil intent. He thanked God heartily for the joy and grace, almost unexpected after the storms of the past year, that God had granted us, and counted these days among the happiest he had had in this land.

Pastor Brandt answered that on hearing these confessions we could not but be filled with gratitude toward God, who so overflow-