# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_October 1864_S302
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

302    Two Documents from the Prussian Lutheran Church.

II.

The Diedrich faction, too, held a synod this year, and resolved to hold such a one annually from now on, and also drafted, adopted, and published a kind of synodical constitution, which we communicate to our readers below as the second document. The synod was held in Magdeburg on July 19–21, and indeed at the express wish of the congregation there, which among other things requested of the synod that it take counsel on this occasion regarding the refilling of its pastorate, left vacant by the death of Pastor Wolf. Present were 7 pastors from the Prussian state who had separated from the Supreme Church Council (Pastor Dr. Schröder was prevented from coming by illness): Ehlers, Diedrich, Zöller, Crome, Räthjen, Könnemann, and v. Kienbusch, the last of whom had separated from the Supreme Church Council only shortly before the synod. In addition there had come Pastor Vollert from Clodra near Weide in the Grand Duchy of Weimar, and Pastor Weinel, as well as two candidates of theology, namely Cand. Gädtke (formerly a schoolteacher) and N. v. Holcken from the Russian Baltic provinces (Livonia), who took his theological examination at Dorpat after having previously studied law. Pastor Witte was also present, as was the preacher v. Haugwitz, the latter taking part in the synod. Finally there were present a number of about 20 congregation members, some belonging to the Magdeburg congregation, others to other congregations, one from Hamburg. Ehlers makes the remark on this: "We have held this synod in such a way that access stood open to all adult male members of our congregations, and everyone was permitted to speak his opinion freely. For thus, we think, it is right, after the pattern of the synod at Jerusalem, of which Acts 15 tells us. For there too the apostles and elders came together to look into the disputed question; but these were not assembled alone, but other congregation members were also present, as the opening of the letter which the synod issued shows: We, the apostles and elders and brethren. And before that it says: And it seemed good to the apostles and elders, together with the whole congregation. For as it is right that the pastors, as the shepherds of the congregations, should also have the leadership at the synods, so the Spirit is nevertheless not to be quenched in any member of the congregation, but every member is to be allowed to speak and testify freely what benefits all."

For the conduct of synodical business two seniors were elected, namely Pastors Ehlers and Diedrich, the latter functioning as president. Ehlers also reports of the first day: "First a letter from the head of his congregation, a Mr. Merz (a jurist), was read to the synod by Pastor Vollert, in which the latter set forth and defended principles peculiar to himself concerning church discipline. The pastors present were already acquainted with these very strict principles, through which, if they were put into practice, the congregations would not, in their conviction, be edified, but