Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1920, Page 20

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20 Verhandlungen der ſiebenundzwanzigſten Verſammlung

die alte Stellung ihrer Synode Zeugnis ablegten und ſich gegen die
Vereinigung ihrer Synode mit den andern norwegiſchen Kirchenkörpern
auf der Baſis des „Opgjör“ ausſprachen, nach Kräften mit ihrem Rat bei.

Die Verſammlung der Norwegiſchen Synode hat Ihr Komitee nicht
beſucht, um nicht herausfordernd und aufdringlich zu erſcheinen; aber
Herr D. Stub wurde von der Anweſenheit des Komitees in St. Paul
durch ein Glied derſelben benachrichtigt, und Ihr Komitee nahm die
Gelegenheit wahr, noch mit einem andern Glied der Norwegiſchen Synode
wegen der ſchwebenden Lehrdifferenzen eine Privatbeſprechung zu halten.

An den ferneren Verſammlungen der Minoritätspartei im Aber⸗
deen⸗Hotel hat Ihr Komitee — nach Abreiſe Prof. Schlüters nur Herr
D. Pieper und Prof. Dau — teilgenommen, ſolange Lehrſachen zu be⸗
ſprechen waren. Als die Minorität, die mit ihrem Zeugnis auf der
Synode nicht durchgedrungen war, die Frage einer eigenen Organiſation
zur Beſprechung aufnahm, meinten die noch anweſenden Glieder Ihres
Komitees, daß es im Intereſſe aller Beteiligten ſei, wenn Ihr Komitee
an dieſer Beſprechung nicht teilnehme, damit nicht ſpäter der Vorwurf
erhoben werden könne, Ihr Komitee habe die Minoritätspartei beein⸗
flußt, eine Oppoſitionsorganiſation gegen die Norwegiſche Synode ins
Leben zu rufen. Eine ſolche Organiſation iſt ſeitdem tatſächlich ent⸗
ſtanden und weiß ſich mit uns in Lehre und Praxis einig, unterhält auch
brüderlichen Verkehr mit der Synodalkonferenz.

Von dem Komitee der Norwegiſchen Synode, das Ihrem Komitee
eine Beſprechung immer noch in Ausſicht geſtellt hatte, langte ein am
22. Februar 1918 datierter Brief von D. Stub an Ihr Komitee an,
deſſen Inhalt folgender iſt:

“At the last meeting of our Church Council I again brought up
the matter about a possible colloquium between the committee of the
Norwegian Lutheran Church of America and the committee from the
Synodical Conference. The following resolution was unanimously
adopted by the Church Council: —

“ ‘Although the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America through
its chosen representatives gladly would meet a similar committee of
representatives from the Synodical Conference and discuss the doc-
trines of God's Word with the end in view of coming to an under-
standing and mutual recognition, the Church Council nevertheless is
of the opinion that the opportune time for such a colloquium is hardly
at hand. It might easily lead to new controversies and complications,
if we were already at this time, immediately after the union, to com-
mence new discussions about the doctrine of election.

“ ‘Our people desire and need peace and rest, and the Church
Council therefore, through its President, desires to submit to the dear
brethren of the Synodical Conference to postpone these negotiations
indefinitely, so that our Church, which lately, through the wonderful

20 Proceedings of the twenty-seventh convention

the old position of their synod and spoke out against the union of their synod with the other Norwegian church bodies on the basis of the "Opgjör," with their counsel to the best of its ability.

Your committee did not attend the convention of the Norwegian Synod, so as not to appear provocative and intrusive; but Dr. Stub was notified of the committee's presence in St. Paul by one of its members, and your committee took the opportunity to hold a private discussion also with another member of the Norwegian Synod about the doctrinal differences that were pending.

At the further meetings of the minority party in the Aberdeen Hotel your committee — after the departure of Prof. Schlüter only Dr. Pieper and Prof. Dau — took part as long as doctrinal matters were to be discussed. When the minority, which had not got through with its testimony at the synod, took up the question of an organization of its own for discussion, the members of your committee still present thought that it was in the interest of all concerned that your committee should not take part in this discussion, so that it could not later be reproached that your committee had influenced the minority party to call into being an organization in opposition to the Norwegian Synod. Such an organization has since in fact arisen and knows itself to be at one with us in doctrine and practice, and also maintains brotherly intercourse with the Synodical Conference.

From the committee of the Norwegian Synod, which had still held out to your committee the prospect of a discussion, a letter from Dr. Stub to your committee, dated 22 February 1918, arrived, the content of which is as follows:

[Printed in English.]

“At the last meeting of our Church Council I again brought up the matter about a possible colloquium between the committee of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America and the committee from the Synodical Conference. The following resolution was unanimously adopted by the Church Council: —

“ ‘Although the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America through its chosen representatives gladly would meet a similar committee of representatives from the Synodical Conference and discuss the doctrines of God's Word with the end in view of coming to an understanding and mutual recognition, the Church Council nevertheless is of the opinion that the opportune time for such a colloquium is hardly at hand. It might easily lead to new controversies and complications, if we were already at this time, immediately after the union, to commence new discussions about the doctrine of election.

“ ‘Our people desire and need peace and rest, and the Church Council therefore, through its President, desires to submit to the dear brethren of the Synodical Conference to postpone these negotiations indefinitely, so that our Church, which lately, through the wonderful