Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1890, Page 33

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der ev.⸗luth. Synodalconferenz von Nord⸗Amerika. 1890. 33

eingereichten Conſtitution genannter Conference ernannte Committee reichte
folgenden Bericht ein:

„Die Conſtitution der Synodalconferenz ſagt über die Aufnahme kirch⸗
licher Körperſchaften: ‚Allein die Geſammtheit der in der Synodalconferenz
vertretenen Synoden hat über die Aufnahme kirchlicher Körperſchaften in
den Verband der Synodalconferenz zu entſcheiden, und kann alſo ſolche
Aufnahme nur durch zuſtimmenden Beſchluß aller verbundenen Synoden
geſchehen.‘ Da nun einerſeits die Glieder der Allgemeinen engliſch⸗luthe⸗
riſchen Conferenz ſchon vor ihrem Zuſammentritt zu dieſer Körperſchaft der
Synodalconferenz angehört haben und nie eine Differenz in Lehre oder
Praxis zwiſchen ihnen und der Synodalconferenz zu Tage getreten iſt,
andererſeits aber doch ein Aufnahmegeſuch einer unter einer neuen Ver⸗
faſſungsurkunde conſtituirten neugebildeten Körperſchaft vorliegt, ſo glau⸗
ben wir empfehlen zu ſollen, daß man den beiderſeitigen Umſtänden in der
Weiſe Rechnung trage, daß wir, die verſammelten Vertreter der zur Syno⸗
dalconferenz gehörigen Synoden, die Aufnahme der ‚General English
Ev. Luth. Conference of Missouri and other States‘ als einer ihrer
Conſtitution nach rechtſchaffen lutheriſchen und mit uns in Lehre und Praxis
übereinſtimmenden kirchlichen Körperſchaft in den Verband der Synodal⸗
conferenz beſchließen und unſeren Synoden die Zuſtimmung zu dieſem Be⸗
ſchluß zur Ratificirung desſelben empfehlen.

„In aller Hochachtung ergebenſt die Committee

A. L. Gräbner.
A. F. Ernſt.
C. Gauſewitz.“

Aus der Conſtitution genannter Conference wurden verſchiedene
Paragraphen mitgetheilt, aus denen ihre treulutheriſche Stellung in Abſicht
auf Lehre und Praxis klar hervorgeht, z. B.:

“Art. 2. This body receives the canonical books of the Old and
the New Testaments as being throughout the inspired Word of God
and the only rule and standard of doctrine and life.”

“Art. 3. As a pure and faithful exhibition of the doctrines of
the Holy Scripture, this body receives the Symbolical Books of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church, contained in the Book of Concord of
the year 1580.”

Art. 4. This body rejects all ecclesiastical union and coopera-
tion that is not based upon the pure Lutheran faith, such as having
mixed congregations, exchange of pulpits with non-Lutherans, open
communion, forming religious societies conjointly with sectarians,
and the like. Hence no pastor shall be received into this body, un-
less he have previously furnished due evidence of his ability to teach
and of his occupying a sound position in regard to doctrine and of

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1890. 33

the constitution submitted by the said Conference, presented the following
report:

"The constitution of the Synodical Conference [*Synodalconferenz*] says, concerning the admission of church bodies: 'The whole body of the synods represented in the Synodical Conference shall decide on the admission of church bodies into the federation of the Synodical Conference, and such admission can therefore take place only by the concurring resolution of all the federated synods.' Now, on the one hand, the members of the General English Lutheran Conference belonged to the Synodical Conference even before they came together as this body, and no difference in doctrine or practice has ever appeared between them and the Synodical Conference; on the other hand, there is nevertheless an application for admission from a newly formed body constituted under a new instrument of constitution. We therefore believe we should recommend that the circumstances on both sides be met in this way: that we, the assembled representatives of the synods belonging to the Synodical Conference, resolve upon the admission of the 'General English Ev. Luth. Conference of Missouri and other States' into the federation of the Synodical Conference, as a church body that is by its constitution sincerely Lutheran and in agreement with us in doctrine and practice, and that we recommend to our synods their approval of this resolution, for its ratification.

"With all respect, submitted by the Committee

A. L. Gräbner.
A. F. Ernst.
C. Gausewitz."

Several paragraphs of the constitution of the said Conference were read out, from which its faithfully Lutheran position with regard to doctrine and practice clearly emerges, for example:

"Art. 2. This body receives the canonical books of the Old and
the New Testaments as being throughout the inspired Word of God
and the only rule and standard of doctrine and life."

"Art. 3. As a pure and faithful exhibition of the doctrines of
the Holy Scripture, this body receives the Symbolical Books of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church, contained in the Book of Concord of
the year 1580."

Art. 4. This body rejects all ecclesiastical union and coopera-
tion that is not based upon the pure Lutheran faith, such as having
mixed congregations, exchange of pulpits with non-Lutherans, open
communion, forming religious societies conjointly with sectarians,
and the like. Hence no pastor shall be received into this body, un-
less he have previously furnished due evidence of his ability to teach
and of his occupying a sound position in regard to doctrine and of