# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S347
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

. Appeal Matters 847.

Board of Appeals in its decision felt that certain. state-
in the Smith-Case Reporter about “I. M.Busy” and “Home- |
hurch” transgressed the Eighth Commandment and asked
‘an apology be made.

‘After considering the matter, I have come to the conclusion
is: manly, Christian, and in the interest of unity and good
in our Synod to make this apology and to end further strife.
I therefore ask ‘Hometown Church,’ ‘I. M. Busy,’ and any
ber members of Synod in the spirit and for the sake of Christ
forgive the statements in the Smith Case Reporter which have
mged them. I sincerely: pray that they will accept me as.a
ther in Christ, as I want to consider them. brethren in Christ,
that we may serve our common Master in unity of spirit in
cult days.”

“The Board of Appeals recommends that Synod accept this
logy and consider the matter of the Smith Case Reporter closed.
Late in 1941 President Behnken turned over to the Board an
ippeal of Pastor Paul Melcher and Zion Congregation of Owens-
é, Mo. Pastor Melcher and Zion Congregation had been ex-
led from membership in Synod by: the Western District. On
their appeal to Synod. from this action of the Western District,
investigating committee appointed by President Behnken upheld
sentence of expulsion. This last-named committee finished
work after the convention of 1941. Thereupon Pastor Melcher
Zion Congregation again appealed to Synod, and their appeal
‘was referred to the Board. After careful study of the formidable
‘triass‘of documents that had accumulated, followed by a formal
hearing in St. Louis, the Board, in a lengthy Opinion, held that
e expulsion of Pastor Melcher and Zion Congregation was not -
ustified.

Three other cases occupied the attention of the Board. Mr,
lenry F. Pieper, of Edwardsville, Ill, whose appeal has been
efore Synod at each convention for many years, brought his case
efore the Board. ,The Board did not enter upon. an investigation
the case; but earnestly counseled the appellant to make his
“peace with the congregation which excommunicated him many .
years ago. One member of the Board made a trip to Edwardsville,
but was unable to accomplish anything. In the appeal of Mr. Wil-
‘liam Meyer and others of Shobonier, Ill., the Board could find
“nothing in the documents submitted to justify taking up the case.
A case of excommunication brought to the Board from the Southern
“California District was referred to the Board of Appeals of that
istrict and has since been settled.

_.. It was the intention of the Board to publish notice of its
_decisions -in the official organs of Synod. This was done in the