Report of the Cleveland Conference 18 Septembert 1845 "Latest News from our Friends Abroad" from Kirchliche Mittheilungen, Vol. 4, No. 1 translated by Erika Bullmann Flores Already in our last issue of last year's publication, No. 34, we spoke in general about our friends' convention. Since then we have received more detailed reports. We must thank God for the stand they are taking. Would God that we Lutherans here in the Fatherland would conduct our fights in the same manner. We beg permission to be silent for a little while about news from the Cleveland convention. In due time, nothing will be held back. At this time we are sharing a letter signed by pastors who thus far were members of the Ohio Synod, but are now separating themselves from the Synod. The letter was forwarded to the Synod's President. The views expressed in this letter assure us that our friends who so strongly said "No" will be found to be wise, faithful, patient, and victorious as they work at the establishment of ecclesiastical conditions. Their letter of resignation follows. Prior to reading it, the reader is advised to examine No. 9 and No. 10 of last year's issues in order to acquaint himself with the situation. Honorable Mr. President: It is certainly true that the undersigned sincerely dislike any willful and factious separation, neither are they ignorant of concerns or possible dangers in the event of a separation from the synodical association. However, there are two reasons which make it a matter of conscience for us to separate ourselves from the existing General Synod of Ohio and the other two District Synods, though we are doing this regretfully and sadly. The first of these two reasons is of a purely ecclesiastical and confessional nature based on the following facts, which cause us to doubt the Synod's sincerity and steadfastness regarding matters of spiritual convictions and direction and the assured protection against treacherous unions. These are the facts: 1) The important question: "Which Synods are Lutheran?" was raised last year at the convention by an East-Ohio District, discussion of which was postponed till this year. It was put on the table by the manner in which the speakers of the so-called Lutheran General Synod-- which have only recently begun to call themselves "The American-Lutheran Church"--are wantonly trampling our church's pure doctrine of sacraments with their feet and are introducing secular and Methodist customs. 2) Several of the undersigned had requested that the current unionist communion distribution formula "Jesus says. . ." etc, be abolished. Their request was denied, yea use of the agende which was introduced in 1842 which in all its absolution formulas is secular and Calvinistic and which at the time of ordination does not obligate to the confessions of the Lutheran church, was recommended to the members of the Synod as a duty. 3)An important appeal from some of the undersigned concerning: a. Synod's confession of all Lutheran symbols; b. a synodical statement against the so-called Lutheran General Synod's false doctrine of sacraments; c. sweeping reform of examination practices; d. obligation to all symbols of the Lutheran church at the time of ordination; e. none-service of reformed Lutheran congregation which constitutes approval of the wrongful unionism of our times; was delayed and returned to the committee because of minor infractions of form. Finally, towards the end of the convention and after the illegal resolutions concerning the seminary in Columbus, the petitioners withdrew their petition and presented only the short motion: "That the Synod will from now on confess all Lutheran symbols and at the time of ordination pledge to uphold them, even though the agende introduced in 1842 does not have such a formula"-- this matter was once again postponed for three years by the respective office. This convinced us that the majority of Synod's members are not sincerely willing to fight our church's battle against the wrongful unionism of our time. The second reason for separation is of a moral nature and concerns the resolutions on behalf of the seminary in Columbus. These resolutions consist of the following: a. The 1844 resolution of Zanesville was invalidated, and yet it was just this resolution which reinstated the seminary's constitution and the preservation of its basic German character. It stated that the German language is the only language theological instruction. This constitution states that all important classes shall unalterably and for all times be taught in the German language. However, considering the church's need the Zanesville resolution gladly added that the English language is to be taught theoretically as well as practically (thus also used for practice sermons), and that every graduate must be able to preach in both languages, according to the church's needs. b. Almost all German-English synods approved this resolution, who now, after one year, voted for its cancellation. Why? Because as the Board of Directors reported openly, the income was less than expected. Especially the English-Lutheran congregations refused to pay their subscriptions, who are not really obligated to pay if they had subscribed based on the Synod resolution of 1839 which states that the English language is to be an equal medium in the instruction of theology. There is, however, the thought provoking addition: "in such a manner where the German language is not supplanted". c. History since the year 1839, however, has shown that some former students of this German seminary--who are now preachers--do not understand nor speak German, maybe in part because they do not wish to do so. d. The 1844 Zanesville cancellation of the synodical resolution of 1839 which re-instituted the constitution, and again the resolutions of the Lancaster conference in 1845 which again trod on the original constitution, makes it clearly obvious that the majority of the Synod is not interested in the steady focus of "what is right?" but the changing focus of "what is expedient". e. The latest decisions finally placed complete power into the hands of the totally English-German Board of Directors, enabling them to make amendments to the original constitution. They can even nominate the candidates from whom new board members are to be chosen. All of this has intensely offended and wounded the undersigned in heart and conscience. First of all because the constitutional German basic character of the seminary is extremely endangered. Its preservation is utterly important to us, especially in view of the predominance of the English language in this country as well as the development of the theology of the Reformed. In addition, of the four Lutheran seminaries in this country, the one in Columbus is the only constitution-based German seminary. Moreover, we cannot neither do we want to deny that in part because of the changing and vacillating views of most of the English-German synods and other like-minded synods we no longer have the proper confidence. In part we fear--and most likely rightly so--that remaining in such a synodical association will increase the tension and mistrust rather than diminish it. Therefore, because of the decisive results in Lancaster by majority vote by which the Synod has seriously transgressed on the Seminary's original constitution; and because--which is the main reason for our separation--the disregard of our church's glaring need in the face of oppression by the wrongful unionism, denying even the most justified requests of help to alleviate the worst conditions; and finally because neither spoken nor written reasons for these requests for help are being considered; it is for us a matter of conscience to separate from the Synod. However, we beseech the Synod most urgently that it will not remain in these circumstances, and for the sake of Christ and the precious, saved souls and the true confessions, as well as its own, profound accountability, that it will not remain fearful of men and strive for their favor, avoiding the good fight, but give the right witness against the false unionism and the church-mongering of our time. May the gracious and merciful God help. Amen. Cleveland, Ohio, September 18, 1845 Respectfully, Fr. Winkler, Luth. Pastor in and near Detroit, Michigan Dr. W. Sihler, Luth. Pastor in Fort Wayne, Indiana Fr. Becker, Luth. Pastor in East Ohio Ad. Ernst, Luth. Pastor in New-Dettelsau, Union Co., Ohio G. Burger, Luth. Pastor in Hancock, Ohio A. Schmidt, Luth. Pastor in Cleveland, Ohio A. Selle, Luth. Pastor in Lebanon, Ohio W. Richmann, Luth. Pastor near Lancaster, Ohio A. Saupert, Luth. Pastor in Evansville, Indiana Schrmann, currently Teacher in Pittsburg [sic] _____________ _________________________________________________________________ This text was translated for Project Wittenberg by Erika Bullmann Flores and is in the public domain. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary. E-mail: cosmithb@ash.palni.edu Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (219) 452-2123 Fax: (219) 452-2126 ________________________________________________________________