Lehre und Wehre St. Louis, Missouri — Mai 1858, Seite 155

German transcription AI-corrected against the scan

Cited in Eckhardt's Reallexikon (1907) under: Gemeindekonſtitution 3

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Form einer Constitution für eine englisch⸗lutherische Gemeinde.    155

as a body, and never shall be conveyed either to an individual or a small body in the congregation.

Sect. 11. The successive church wardens have no more power in the congregation then is given them, and have it only so far and so long as they are commissioned with it by the congregation. The instructions given them by the congregation may at any time be altered or abolished by the collective congregation.

Sect. 12. All the property of the congregation is committed to the successive Trustees elected by the congregation, in such a manner, that they are to manage the same as property belonging to other persons, but entrusted to them, to conclude contracts in reference to it, to pay out moneys, to collect and receipt therefor, sign documents, appear before court, and carry out all the transactions which the congregation as possessor would herself have to do; yet in such a manner that they are not authorized to dispose of these goods according to their own will and opinion, but to carry out the said transactions only according to authentic resolutions and orders of the congregation. And for that which the Trustees do upon the resolution and in obedience to the order of the congregation, the latter has to be responsible with her goods, and ever to secure the Trustees against injury; but if, on the other hand, the Trustees arbitralily manage the congregational property without resolution of the congregation, according to their own will, they are personally responsible for the same to the congregation.

Sect. 13. All officers of the congregation may, in christian order, be discharged from their office. Determined adherance to erroneous doctrine, a scandalous life, or wanton unfaithfulness in the discharge of official duty, shall be sufficient ground for the removal from office of ministers and other officers of the congregation.

Sect. 14. For a general assembly of the congregation, it shall be necessary that at least one-fourth of the members having the right of suffrage be present; and for a congregational resolution the agreement of at least two-thirds of those present shall be necessary. Each church member is in duty bound to be present at the assemblages of the congregation if possible, and the absentee renounces by his non-appearance his right to a vote on such occasion of his absence.

Sect. 15. All writings proceeding from the congregation, except those mentioned in Sect. 12, shall be signed by the wardens in office at the time, in the name of the congregation.

Sect. 16. Should a schism arise in the congregation, (which may God mercifully prevent,) the property and all the interests connected therewith shall belong to those members of it who steadfastly acknowledge the unaltered Augsburg Confession, and agreeable to this require the ministers and wardens to be bound to the collective Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Sect. 17. Those members in the congregation who are yet minors, are required to attend the catechetical instructions to be conducted with them. Parents who are church members, are required to provide for the instruction of their children in the true doctrine and faith of our Church.

Sect. 18. In the public worship none but pure Lutheran Hymns are to be used, and in all official transactions, none but pure Lutheran forms.

Sect. 19. Persons wishing to be received into this congregation, have to make known their desire to the Pastor of the congregation, in order that he may examine them in reference to christianity, and hereupon to make known to a church warden their request for reception. The latter makes known this to the congregation; if no objection is found by the congregation, the applicant has, if he is a male past nonage, to subscribe the church regulations before the public assembly

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Form of a Constitution for an English-Lutheran Congregation.    155

as a body, and never shall be conveyed either to an individual or a small body in the congregation.

Sect. 11. The successive church wardens have no more power in the congregation then is given them, and have it only so far and so long as they are commissioned with it by the congregation. The instructions given them by the congregation may at any time be altered or abolished by the collective congregation.

Sect. 12. All the property of the congregation is committed to the successive Trustees elected by the congregation, in such a manner, that they are to manage the same as property belonging to other persons, but entrusted to them, to conclude contracts in reference to it, to pay out moneys, to collect and receipt therefor, sign documents, appear before court, and carry out all the transactions which the congregation as possessor would herself have to do; yet in such a manner that they are not authorized to dispose of these goods according to their own will and opinion, but to carry out the said transactions only according to authentic resolutions and orders of the congregation. And for that which the Trustees do upon the resolution and in obedience to the order of the congregation, the latter has to be responsible with her goods, and ever to secure the Trustees against injury; but if, on the other hand, the Trustees arbitralily manage the congregational property without resolution of the congregation, according to their own will, they are personally responsible for the same to the congregation.

Sect. 13. All officers of the congregation may, in christian order, be discharged from their office. Determined adherance to erroneous doctrine, a scandalous life, or wanton unfaithfulness in the discharge of official duty, shall be sufficient ground for the removal from office of ministers and other officers of the congregation.

Sect. 14. For a general assembly of the congregation, it shall be necessary that at least one-fourth of the members having the right of suffrage be present; and for a congregational resolution the agreement of at least two-thirds of those present shall be necessary. Each church member is in duty bound to be present at the assemblages of the congregation if possible, and the absentee renounces by his non-appearance his right to a vote on such occasion of his absence.

Sect. 15. All writings proceeding from the congregation, except those mentioned in Sect. 12, shall be signed by the wardens in office at the time, in the name of the congregation.

Sect. 16. Should a schism arise in the congregation, (which may God mercifully prevent,) the property and all the interests connected therewith shall belong to those members of it who steadfastly acknowledge the unaltered Augsburg Confession, and agreeable to this require the ministers and wardens to be bound to the collective Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Sect. 17. Those members in the congregation who are yet minors, are required to attend the catechetical instructions to be conducted with them. Parents who are church members, are required to provide for the instruction of their children in the true doctrine and faith of our Church.

Sect. 18. In the public worship none but pure Lutheran Hymns are to be used, and in all official transactions, none but pure Lutheran forms.

Sect. 19. Persons wishing to be received into this congregation, have to make known their desire to the Pastor of the congregation, in order that he may examine them in reference to christianity, and hereupon to make known to a church warden their request for reception. The latter makes known this to the congregation; if no objection is found by the congregation, the applicant has, if he is a male past nonage, to subscribe the church regulations before the public assembly