LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1917, Page 43

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Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. 1917. 48

CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS.

DRAFT OF NEW SYNODICAL CONSTITUTION.

The Committee appointed by President Pfotenhauer to draft
a new Synodical Constitution, Prof. L. Fuerbringer, Pastor J. H. C.
Fritz, and Mr. J. W. Boehne, had submitted the result of their pains-
taking labors in the official organs of Synod. Their draft was, in
turn, referred to the Committee on Constitutional Matters. After
spending much time on this important question, and adopting numer-
ous minor changes suggested by the special committee, the Con-
‘ vention adopted the new Constitution, subject to the ratification of
the congregations. The officially adopted form is given in the German
ys. report, pages 86 to 92. We give herewith our translation into English
as published in the Lutheran Witness, Vol. 86, No. 20: —

New Synodical Constitution
of the

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SYNOD OF MISSOURI, OHIO,
AND OTHER STATES.

Reasons for the Organization of a Synod.

1. The example of the Apostolic Church (Acts 15, 1—31).

2. Our Lord’s will that the diversities of gifts should be for the
common profit (1 Cor. 12, 4—31). ’

Article I. — Name.

The name of the body organized under this Constitution shall
be: THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SYNOD oF MISSoURI, OHIO, AND
OTHER STATES.

Article II. — Doctrinal Basis.

Synod, and every member of Synod, accepts without reser-
vation: — :

1, The Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament as the
written Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and
of practise;

2. All the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church as a true and correct statement and exposition of the
Word of God, to wit, the three Ecumenical Creeds (the Apostles’
Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed), the Unaltered |
Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession,
the Smaleald Articles, the Large Catechism of Luther, the Small
Catechism of Luther, and the Formula of Concord.

Article III. — Object.

The objects of Synod are: —

1. The conservation and continuance of the unity of the true
faith (Eph. 4,3—16; 1 Cor.1,10) and a united effort to resist every

‘ form of schism and sectarianism (Rom. 16,17); .

2. The extension of the kingdom of God;

3. The training of ministers and teachers for service in the
Evangelical Lutheran Church;