FIRST SYNODICAL REPORT OF THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL-LUTHERAN SYNOD OF MISSOURI, OHIO AND OTHER STATES OF THE YEAR 1847. Translated by Erika Bullmann Flores From: Der Lutheraner, Vol. 3, Nos. 24,24, pp. 132-133; 136-137. This report, prepared by the Synod's secretary, omitting all unessential items, is an extract of the minutes of this year's meeting, and has just been made available in print. We must not neglect to share the following excerpts with our readers: Several servants of the Evangelical-Lutheran church had met in September 1846 in Cleveland, and during July 1846 in Fort Wayne. The main topic of these conferences was to discuss and draft a constitution--based on the Word of God and the true confessions of the Evangelical-Lutheran church for the Synod. As agreed to during the last conference, therefore, a number of preachers and deputies met in Chicago on April 24, 1847 and following, to convene as the "German Evangelical-Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other States," according to the Synodical Constitution printed in No. 1, Vol. III of Der Lutheraner, which was also published as a pamphlet. Regretfully, many who had attended the previous conference, as well as many other colleagues who were interested in joining this Synod, were unable to attend this very important meeting. A valued participant of previous conferences, our dear Brother Burger, Pastor at Wilshire, VanWert County, Ohio, had been called to his heavenly home by the Lord of harvest on March 26 of this year. However, others attended the Synod's meeting, brothers-in-the faith who had come from Germany during the past year to enter into the work-arena of the "far West." Even before the start of the business meetings, that is on Sunday Jubilate, as well as during the actual conference, several of the colleagues delivered their sermons. The meetings began on the morning of Monday, April 26 and continued through Thursday evening, May 6. Each day the meetings were begun with song, and at the start and conclusion the President would chose a brother who would beseech God, the giver of all good things, to grant His support and blessing. Morning meetings usually lasted from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon, while afternoon sessions were scheduled from 1:30 or 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. Preliminary adoption of dockets as well as actions taken later on, were usually conducted in open meetings. Items which demanded prior preparation or additional examination where assigned to a committee, which would later present their report. The Synod would then carefully examine the report, if necessary improve on it, and then present it for appropriate action. All written material prepared on behalf of the Synod by the Secretary or individual members, were also presented to the Synod for examination and approval. The regulation described in Chapter V, paragraph 24, which directs that the appropriate preachers are to be subject to a colloquium, was enforced several times. However, these colloquiums were not conducted in open meetings. During the Synodical conference ten ad hoc committees were formed to deal with some important and difficult issues. An expert opinion was prepared, as well as three sets of instructions and three other papers. Four colloquiums were conducted, two preachers were ordained, and seven sermons were delivered. All together 18 open synodical meetings were conducted. During the last one officers and standing synodical committees for the next three-year term were elected, and finally the participants were formally dismissed. A list of participating preachers and congregations of this Synod, as well as their postal addresses, follows. A. Voting Pastors. Pastor C.F. W. Walther, pastor at the German Ev. Luth. Congregation of Unaltered Augsburg Confessions in St. Louis, Mo. Post Office: St. Louis, Mo. Pastor A. Ernst, pastor at the German Ev. Luth. St. John Congregation, Unaltered Augsburg Confessions, in Neudettelsau, Union County, Ohio. Post Office: Marysville, Ohio. Pastor Dr. W. Sihler, pastor at the German. Ev. Luth. St. Paul Congregation in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Post Office: Ft. Wayne, Ind. Pastor F.W. Paeschke, pastor of the German Ev. Luth. Congregation in the Hassler Settlement, and of the French Ev. Luth. Congregation at Saminaque, Illinois. Post Office: Peru, IL. Pastor F. A. Craemer, pastor of the German Ev. Luth, Congregation in Frankenmuth, Michigan. Post Office: Bridgeport, MI. Pastor F.W. Hausmann, pastor of the German Ev. Luth. St. John Congregation at Allen and Adams County, and of the German Ev. Luth. Congregation near Foelling in Adams County, Indiana (residing in Marine Township, Adams Co., IN). Post Office: Fort Wayne, IN. Pastor G.H. Jaebker, pastor of the German Ev. Luth. Congregation in Adams County, IN, left bank of the river St. Marys. Post Office: Poughkeepsie, IN. Pastor G.K. Schuster, pastor of the German Ev. Luth. Congregation in Kosciusko and Marshal County, Indiana. Post Office: Mishawauka, IN. Pastor G. Streckfuss, pastor of the German Luth. Zion Congregation at Van Wert County, and the German Ev. Luth. St. Paul Congregation at Mercer County, Ohio. Post Office: Wilshire, OH. Pastor J. C. H. Fick, pastor of the German Ev. Luth. Congregation in Neumelle, St. Charles County, Missouri. Post Office: Femme Osage, MO. Pastor E. Mor. Buerger, pastor of the German Ev. Luth. Trinity Congregation at Buffalo, New York. Post Office: Buffalo, NY. Pastor W. Scholz, pastor of the German Ev. Luth. St. John Congregation in Minden, Washington County, Illinois. Post Office: Nashville, IL. B. Advising Pastors. Pastor G.H. Loeber, Altenburg, Perry County, MO. Post Office: Apple Creek, MO. Pastor Ottom. Fuerbringer, Elkhorn Prairie, Washington County, IL. Post Office: St. Louis, c/o. Rev. C.F.W. Walther. Pastor Ch. A. Selle, Chicago, Cook County, IL. Post Office: Chicago, IL. Pastor F.W. Richmann, Fairfield County, Ohio. Post Office: Lancaster, OH. Pastor J. Trautmann, Danbury, Ottawa County, Ohio. Post Office: Port Clinton, OH. Pastor C. L. A. Wolter, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Post Office: Fort Wayne, IN. Pastor Th. Jul. Brohm, New York City. Post Office: New York, NY. Pastor W. Hattstaedt, Monroe, Michigan. Post Office: Monroe, MI. Pastor J.E. Schneider, Marine, Marine County, Ohio. Post Office: Marine, OH. Pastor A. Detzer, Williams County, Ohio. Post Office: Bryan, OH. C. Preacher Candidates. Carl Fricke, visitor in Wisconsin. Post Office: Fort Wayne, IN. J. Lor. Flessa, Frankenmuth, Michigan. Post Office: Bridgeport, MI. D. Delegates Present at This Year's Convention. Ernst Voss, delegate of the congregation at Fort Wayne as well as the congregations at Allen and Adams County, IN. F.W. Barthel, delegate of the congregation in St. Louis. J. Heinke, delegate of the congregation in Kosciusko and Marshall County, IN. J. L. Bernthal, delegate from Frankenmuth, MI. The conference was opened by Pastor A. Selle, who addressed the assembled brothers and stressed the importance of this meeting. Then followed the preliminary signing of the Synodical Constitution by those pastors and delegates who during the previous conference had been instrumental in its drafting. By their signature they formed the Synod, and later accepted the others into membership. These first signers then formally became the body of the organization as they elected Officers pro tempore as follows: President: Pastor C.F.W. Walther Secretary: Pastor W.F. Hausmann Treasurer: Dr. W. Sihler. Then followed acceptance and signature by the remaining pastors, which was continued through the coming days as more participants arrived. However, according to Chapter III, paragraph 3 of the Constitution, the following was observed: Only those pastors, delegates and their congregations became voting members if they were so empowered by their congregations. Those pastors who joined without their congregations were accepted into Synodical membership in an advisory capacity. (Secretary's Note: Advising members of the Synod are not, as is the case with other synods, only occasional or temporary members, but their membership is "real and permanent.") The Secretary FIRST SYNODICAL REPORT OF THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL-LUTHERAN SYNOD OF MISSOURI, OHIO AND OTHER STATES OF THE YEAR 1847. (Conclusion) Referring to our Synodical Report we wish to inform our numerous readers of the following synodical resolutions. 1. Concerning the Synodical Constitution. a. Resolved: As an addendum to the Constitution, regarding acceptance or rejection, the following shall be presented to the congregations: "In view of the congregations' autonomy, the Synod is only an advisory body, therefore no Synodical resolution shall be binding to any congregation. A synodical resolution can only be binding after each congregation has examined it, and formally and voluntarily agreed to it. Should a congregation deem such a resolution against God's Word or inappropriate relative to their situation, the congregation has the right to reject it." b. Resolved: Addendum to Chapter IV, paragraph 10 of the Constitution: "According to Chapter IV, paragraph 10, the Synod will strive toward uniformity of ceremonies, as much as possible. The reason here, as described in Chapter V, paragraph 14, is not that such uniformity of ceremonies is a necessity for the true church; but the Synod deems such uniformity as wholesome, considering the circumstances our church faces.---Neither is it the Synod's desire that any force be used at the introduction of such ceremonies, but rather that the congregation exercise its Christian freedom, after having been thoroughly instructed in such matters." 2. Concerning Educational Institutions. Concerning establishing, maintaining, and supervision of institutes intended for educating pastors teachers in service to the Church according to Chapter V, paragraph 9 of the Constitution, the Synod desires that those private institutes which at this time are only loosely connected to the Synod via some of its members, shall come directly under the supervision of the Synod. Therefore: Resolved: a. That the Delegate of the German Brothers, Rev. Loehe, shall be asked if the founders of the seminary at Fort Wayne are willing to voluntarily and formally place the seminary under the Synod's authority, and continue to support it as the Lord enables them, with money, books, etc., because the Synod, at the time of its founding, is as yet unable to support this seminary. b. Concerning the probable call of Pastor Oster to the Fort Wayne Seminary, Pastor Loehe shall be asked to collect and make available to the Synod all of Pastor Oster's writings. c. The Committee is to inform Pastor LLoehe in Neudettelsau - Franconia, Professor Dr. Delitzsch and Dean Karsten in Rostock, Pastor Dr. Petri in Hannover, and Professor Dr. Harless in Leipzig of our church's need here in this country, especially regarding an academic-theological institute for the preparation of Lutheran pastors and to beseech them to approach those in the old fatherland who have an interest in the growth of the Lutheran church in this country, asking them to support such an institute. The letter shall explain that the Synod will make such support available to the Theological College in Altenburg, MO, once the respective congregations have placed it under the supervision and direction of the Synod. 3. Regarding Missions, Local and Abroad Resolved: a. To send Candidate C. Fricke, with instructions, as a visitor to the vacant, western settlements. b. An elected Board of Missions, shall, in the name of the Synod, make contact with the Central Missions Association in Nuernberg, and ask Pastor Loehe for an official report whether this association in Germany has decided to place their Lutheran Mission in Michigan under the auspices of the Synod. 4. Regarding the Synod's Preachers and Congregations. Resolved: a. It is the Synod's opinion that next year primarily the following issues shall be dealt with, using the spoken word and Scripture: church, salvation, relationship of prayer to church and salvation, justifying faith, law and gospel, Christian freedom. With doctrine and resistance (Lehre und Wehre) we must fight Methodism--and whatever else it is called--especially the so-called "Evangelical Community" which under this name is trying to infiltrate various congregations, as well as all other kinds of "church mongering." b. After Mr. Ludwig of New York announced that he is planning to publish the Book of Concord and also Luther's Small Catechism, the Synod declared to do everything in their power to further this proposed publication of the Book of Concord, and that they will call the attention of all congregations in their districts to the publication of the Small Catechism. c. Because we have learned that some congregations are concerned that joining the Synod would result in payment of annual dues, we want to declare hereby that 1) we will request only those monies made available for us, and 2) that we will receive these monies only through voluntarily collections. d. All of the Synod's pastors are to establish schools in their congregations, and, if necessary, function as teacher. e. Plans are to be made for publication of a German poetry book and reader. f. The entire Synod shall be divided into the following six districts: 1st District: St. Louis, MO 2nd District: Chicago, IL 3rd District: Fort Wayne, IN 4th District: Monroe, MI 5th District: Fairfield, OH 6th District: New York, NY. g. In deference to the invitation by the congregation in St. Louis, and for other important reasons, it was decided to conduct next year's synodical conference in St. Louis, on the Wednesday after Trinity Sunday. It was also agreed to invite Pastor L”he to attend this conference. Questions pertaining to the publication of Der Lutheraner are also part of the Synod's resolutions, as already mentioned in previous editions. This includes three Instructions: 1) for the Synod President, concerning his travels; 2) for visitors invited by the Synod -- also consisting of 13 paragraphs; 3) for the President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Board of Missions--all of them important documents for the Synod, which would take too much space to report here. In addition, the Synodical Report contains several decisions regarding several petitions, among them an opinion on a number of complaints made against Pastor Krause by former parishioners; further a reply to Pastor Geyer's concerns about the Synod; also the reply regarding disagreements between Mr. P. Buerger and several Lutherans in Buffalo, which had been submitted to Synod for intercession. In conclusion, we list the following synodical committees and Officers elected for a three-year term: a. Officers: President: C.F. W. Walther Vice-President: Dr. W. Sihler Secretary: F.W. Hausmann Treasurer: F.W. Barthel. b. Members of the Board of Trustees: The President, G.H. Loeber, and Dr. Sihler. c. Corresponding Secretary for Abroad: G.H. Loeber. d. Chronicler: Ottomar Fuerbringer e. Board of Missions: J.C.H. Fick, chair; A. Craemer, secretary; F.W. Barthel, treasurer. f. Editorial Board for Der Lutheraner: J. F. Buenger and F.W. Barthel. May the Lord, our God, be gracious unto us and bless the works of our hands, yeah, may he bless our hands' works. B.