# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S202
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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202. Constitutional Matters - a

Our synodical reports and proceedings, the essays delivered
before the various bodies, the statements of ranking synodical
officials, officially state the same thing. Synodical Proceedings,
1896; Nebraska District Report, 1905; South Dakota District Re-
Port, 1906; Minnesota District Report, 1933-1939.

Congregations have hesitated to join Synod on the ground that:
they would become subject to synodical control, Presidents, Visi-
’ tors, and. pastors have repeatedly assured such congregations that
that was not the fact; that no congregation would give up any of
its rights relative to its Pastors, its property, the administration of
its affairs, its money matters. Upon such assurances congregations '
have joined Synod. It would be dishonesty if we would now change
our organizational policies and change the. Constitution, Every
congregation should then be apprised of the facts and be given the
opportunity to secede from Synod,

We can also be certain, in the event of such a change, no con- ~
8regation will join Synod in the future. .

Such a change in the Constitution will not avoid controversies
or schisms nor eventual] recourse to.law to adjust difficulties,

Also, our congregations are not ruled by resolutions and deci-
sions, by coercion or enforcement.’ The congregation, the pastor,
has no greater power than the power of the Word of God to ad-
monish, exhort, advise. Our Synod and its congregations have
grown strong under this principle. And we do not need a change
‘now. Why should Synod have different Powers from the God-
established congregation itself!

Such supersynodical government wants to deal with force, -

pointees, is the means whereby we preserve our purity of doctrine
and correctness of practice. This would be destroyed by church ~
government. We have with us already the condition that persons
are afraid to voice their honest opinions because of fear of official
‘ reprisals.
On these and other grounds we ask that the resolution above
referred to be rejected,
SoutHwest CoNFERENCE oF THE MINNESOTA District
W. P. Haak, Secretary Cart A. BRaMscHer

Concerning this same matter a special committee, appointed
by the President pursuant to a resolution of the last convention,
reported as follows: