USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Minutes twenty-sixth annual convention Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1896 > Part 5
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ing to this Synod who shall after due admonition, persist in fellowship and co-operation with any such anti-christian society or order, whether secret or not, shall be subject to discipline.
SEC. 8. If any minister in good and regular standing in this Synod removes from its bounds to enter a field of labor within some Synod in the same fellowship of faith with this body, he shall, upon application, be entitled to a certificate of honorable dismission, which the President shall furnish him; but any minister so dismissed shall be amenable to this body until formally received into the Synod to which he has been granted dis- mission.
SEC. 9. It shall be required of all ministers of this Synod to attend all its Synodical Meetings, and the meetings of the Conference to which they belong, from beginning to the end; and nothing but urgent necessity or positive inability to attend shall be regarded as a valid excuse for ab sence. In case of unavoidable absence, the absentee shall send to the meeting a statement of the reason of his absence, that he may be regularly excused, and three repeated absences without excuse shall subject the of- fender to discipline.
SEC. 10. All ministers, members of this Synod, shall exercise and cherish the spirit of respect, brotherly love and unity, one toward an- other, as laborers together in the same vineyard, children of the same Father and servants of the same Lord Jesus Christ, in whom standeth each one's salvation.
ARTICLE 1X. CONGREGATIONS.
SEC. 1. Every congregation belonging to this Synod shall respect its Constitution and recommendations, and endeavor to carry them into ef- fect. It shall make annual contributions to the Synod's Treasury, and so arrange that every member shall have an opportunity to give according to ability to the various benevolent operations of the Synod.
SEL. 2. Each congregation shall make due and liberal provision for the support of the Gospel and the ministration of the Word and Sacra- ments among its members, endeavor to arrange for at least one service every Lord's Day; see that the pastor whom it has called be properly supported, according to I. Cor. IX: 7-14, and make all necessary provision for the instruction of the young, that they may grow up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
SEC. 3. In cases of vacancy, difficulty or strife in the congregations, Church Councils should seek the instruction and advice of the President of the Synod.
SEC. 4. All the congregations are urged, as far as possible, to con-
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form their public worship and ministrations to the recommendations of the Synod.
SEC. 5. Should any portion of a congregation belonging to this Synod, reject the faith of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as set forth in her Confessions, that part of the said congregation, which remains true to this faith and its connection with this Synod, shall be recognized as the true congregation.
SEC. 6. It shall be the right and duty of every parish belonging to this Synod to appoint a lay delegate to represent it in the meetings of the Synod and of the Conference, each parish being entitled to as many lay representatives as it has pastors. The lay delegates must be regular com- municant members in the parish represented. They shall have the same rights and privileges on the floor of the Synod and Conference as the ministers, their appointment as delegates being duly certified.
ARTICLE X. CONFERENCES.
SEC. 1. The District Conference shall consist of the ministers and congregations belonging to this Synod, located within a given territory, as from time to time may be determined by Synod.
SEC. 2. Ministers shall belong to that Conference in whose bounds they reside, unless specially transferred by Synod.
SEC. 3. The Conferences shall meet at least twice in each year, and one-third of the ministers belonging to the Conference, together with the lay delegates present, shall constitute a quorum. Special meetings may be called by the President of the Conference at the request of five of the Ministerial members.
SEC. 4. The officers of each Conference shall be a President, a Sec- retary, and a Treasurer, and their duties shall be such as usually devolve on these officers. The Secretary shall bring his records to the conventions of the Synod.
SEC. 5. The work of the Conferences shall be to assist in carrying out the resolutions of the Synod, to call attention to new fields of labor and aid the President of Synod in supplying the vacant congregations; to ex- amine and decide on cases of discipline or appeals from decisions of con- gregations or church councils; to discuss doctrinal, exegetical, pastoral and practical subjects for instruction and edification, and to attend to such other duties as may be assigned to them by the Synod.
SEC. 6. Conferences may adopt for themselves any rules and regula- tions not in conflict with the Constitution and By-Laws of the Synod.
SEC. 7. The President of the Synod shall have a seat in the meetings of each Conference, and shall be entitled to be heard on any subject engaging its attention or which he may wish to present.
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ARTICLE XI.
COMMITTEES.
The Standing Committees shall be appointed by the President, and shall be a Committee on Examination, one on Foreign Missions, one on Home Missions, one on Education, one on Benevolence, one on Discipline, one on Reception of Congregations, one on Parochial Reports and Apportionments. Such other committees as the business of the Synod may demand may be appointed.
ARTICLE XII. RECEPTION OF MINISTERS.
SEC. 1. All applications for ordination, or for reception into this Synod, shall be made to the President, and referred to the Examining Com- mittee, which shall report on the same. And if two-thirds of the mem- bers present vote in favor of the reception of any applicant he shall be admitted to ordination.
SEC. 2. Every candidate applying for ordination must be of good natural ability, and give satisfactory evidence of Christian character and life, as well as of attainment in knowledge and grace; and no one shall be ordained without being examined as to his fitness and qualifications for the ministry.
SEC. 3. No graduate from a foreign theological seminary shall be ex- amined for ordination, until he shall have spent at least one year in church work or theological study in this country.
SEC. 4. Candidates shall give notice of their intended application to the President at least two weeks before the meeting of Synod.
SEC. 5. Each applicant for ordination to the office of the Holy Min- istry, in this body, shall pass a creditable examination in such branches as the Synod may determine.
SEC. 6. The examination shall be made by the Examining Com- mittee, but shall be open to all members of the Synod who wish to be present.
SEC. 7. When the Examining Committee has reported favorably in the case of candidates before them, the vote shall be taken on the question of the approval of each applicant, and, if two-thirds of the members pres- ent be favorable to a candidate, he shall be ordained, and when ordained, an attested Certificate of Ordination shall be given him; but no one shall be ordained without a rightful call to the work of the ministry, received either from a local congregation, or from a regularly constituted mission board or committee; nor until he is twenty-one years of age.
SEC. 8. Any regularly ordained minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, who may apply for admission into this Synod, shall furnish satis-
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factory evidence of his ordination, and of his good and unblemished Chris- tian character; he shall also be subject to a colloquium with the Examining Committee as to his agreement with the confession and usages of this Synod; and if, on favorable report from the Examining Committee, two- thirds of the members present approve, he shall be received.
SEC. 9. Any minister of other than Lutheran connection, who may apply for membership in this Synod, shall be subject to the same regula- tions; and the members present shall determine what further, if anything, is expedient or necessary in view of his previous connections.
SEC. 10. When the Synod has decided to receive ordained ministers into connection with this Synod, the Examining Committee shall present them to the President, who shall announce to them the decision in their case, and by subscribing to the Constitution, they shall be members of this Synod.
SEC. 11. When the Synod has decided to admit candidates to ordi- nation, they shall in like manner be presented to the President, who shall announce to them the decision in their case, inform them of the time when their ordination to the Holy Ministry shall take place, admonish them to due solemnity and earnestness in taking upon themselves the ob- ligations and duties of ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by their ordination and subscribing the Constitution, they shall become members of this Synod.
SEC. 12. Should extraordinary cases occur in which it is necessary to ordain a candidate during the interval between the meetings of the Synod, of which necessity the officers of the Synod shall be the judges, a special meeting of the Examining Committee shall be called by the Presi- dent of the Synod to proceed as in ordinary cases; and if the Examining Committee recommend the applicant for ordination, the President of the Synod shall have power to ordain him at such time and place as he may deem proper, and all persons called to take charge of congregations be- longing to this Synod, shall apply to this Synod for their ordination.
SEC. 13. The ordination of candidates shall be performed by the clerical officers of the Synod, who may call in aid, and shall be conducted in accordance with the Order perscribed by Synod.
ARTICLE XIII.
RECEPTION OF CONGREGATIONS.
Any congregation which maintains a Constitution in accord with the faith of this Synod (see Article Il.) may become an integral part of the Synod by presenting a copy of its Constitution, sending a delegate to represent it, and by its delegate signing its Constitution. A majority of the votes of Synod at any regular meeting shall suffice for its reception.
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ARTICLE XIV.
DISCIPLINE.
SEC. 1. The offences for which the ministers of this Synod shall be subjected to discipline are:
(1.) With reference to purity of doctrine: Denial of any doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures, and in the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
(2.) With reference to purity of life: Any conduct which is incom- patible with the purity of the Christian life, or with the character of the ministerial office.
(3.) With reference to the government and order of the Church: The violation of any of the provisions or requirements of this Constitu- tion, the appended By-Laws, or the resolutions of Synod.
SEC. 2. Should any congregation in connection with the Synod per- sistently refuse to pay respect to any requirement of this Constitution, the Synod shall endeavor to induce it to conform to the Constitution; and should these efforts prove unavailing, the Synod shall have power to ex- clude such congregation from its connection.
ARTICLE XV. PENALTIES.
The penalties which may be imposed are the following:
(1.) Private admonition and censure by the President.
(2.) Public censure by the President before the Synod.
(3.) Suspension from the office of the ministry until satisfactory evi dence of repentance and amendment.
(4.) Deposition from the office of the ministry.
ARTICLE XVI. PROCESS OF DISCIPLINE.
SEC. 1. Charges against a member of this Synod may be brought by the council of a congregation, or by not less than two reputable members of the church, or by a clerical member of Synod.
SEC. 2. All charges must be written, signed by at least two reputable witnesses, and sent to the President, who may, if he considers the matter of sufficient importance, suspend the accused until the next meeting of Synod, when he shall lay the case before it for its action.
SEC. 3. If a charge cannot be sustained by direct evidence, but per- sistent rumor, which charges some specific sin, is widely spread, is not transient, but continues to gain strength, and is accompanied with pre- sumption of guilt, such rumor may be received as evidence.
SEC. 4. The President shall take care that the accused receives a copy of the charges against him, and be duly cited, at least twenty days previous,
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to appear before Synod for trial. If, after being duly cited, he refuses or fails to appear, without assigning sufficient reasons, the trial shall proceed as though he were present.
SEC. 5. All relevant testimony shall be heard, and in the presence of the accused, if he desire it.
SEC. 6. The accused shall have the right to be heard in his own defence, but he shall not be allowed to appear or defend himself by legal counsel.
SEC. 7. After hearing the accusation, the testimony, and the defence of the accused, the body shall decide as to his guilt or innocence. If the accused be declared not guilty, the President shall at once announce to him the decision. If he be declared guilty, the body shall determine which of the penalties prescribed in Article XV. shall be imposed upon him, and the President shall pronounce the sentence before the body, and the person adjudged guilty, if present.
SEC. 8. The proceedings in case of discipline shall not be publislied before they have been finally decided and the sentence declared.
ARTICLE XVII. THE SEAL.
SEC. 1. The Seal of Synod shall be in charge of the President, who shall affix it, or cause it to be affixed to all documents, certificates, deeds, legal papers, or official copies of resolutions requiring the Seal of Synod.
SEC. 2. The Seal shall be the same that has hitherto been in use by the Synod, with the exception of name, to wit: In the outer circle the words, "Chicago Synod, Evang. Lutheran Church;" in the center, a cross and crown facing an open Bible; at the top the words, "Fides, Spes et Amor," and at the bottom the date, "1871."
ARTICLE XVIII. OF THIS CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS.
SEC. 1. Every thing in any resolution, enactment, Constitution or By-Law of this Synod differing from, or in conflict with this the fore- going Constitution, is hereby superceded, repealed, and made of none effect.
SEC. 2. This Constitution shall go into effect when acted upon and approved, as required by Section 3, Article XV., of the Constitution of which the foregoing is a substitute, viz: The Constitution of Indiana Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, adopted October 9-13, 1871.
SEC. 3. The Synod shall have power to make such By-Laws and to adopt such measures as may be necessary to carry out the principles laid down in this Constitution.
SEC. 4. Any article or section of this Constitution, excepting Article II., may be altered or amended, when proposed in writing, at any regular
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meeting of Synod, and if supported by three members, it shall lie upon the table until the next annual meeting of Synod, when it may be dis- cussed, and if two-thirds of the members vote in its favor, it shall be adopted, and become a part of this Constitution.
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INDEX.
ABSENTEES
. 24|Jubilee Committees
41
Applicants for Ministry
5 Jubilee Fund.
14, 16, 36
Apportionments
36 LUTHERAN Union Church.
.23
Auditing Committee.
.23 MELANCHTHON Quarto-Centen-
BENEFICIARY Education
.32
nial
.. 30
CHICAGO Seminary
31, 40 Minutes, file of.
39
Church Extension
14 Minutes of Previous Convention ..
25
Church Paper.
30 Missionary Director.
18
Committees, Regular
42 NEXT Convention
2, 42
Revised
17
Invitations for
40
42 OFFICERS
2, 9
Special.
Standing
41 Ordination Certificate
31
Congregations, Delinquent
15 PAROCHIAL Report
44
Paid in full and overpaid 15 Passavant Memorial Hospital .. 23, 35, 38
Reception of .23 President's Report. 6, 35
Register of
6 REGISTER of Congregations.
6
Constitution
Reception of Congregations
23
16, 23, 24, 35, 37, 40, 41, 48 Religious Services.
DEACONESS Work
38 Roll of Synod. 4
Discipline.
37 St. John's Mission, Anderson,
.21
EDUCATION
. 12, 31, 32, 40 St. John's Mission, Chicago,
20
Elwood Mission.
18 St. Mark's Congregation, Chicago,
.. 23
English Church Paper.
30 St. Paul's Mission, Frankfort,
20
Establishment of an Academy
8, 35 St. Peter's Mission, Chicago,
23, 38
14
Foreign Missions
11, 39 Sunday School Work
30
HOME Missions. . 10, 28, 37, 40, 43 Synodical Expense Fund. 13
Home Mission Committee
40, 41 THANKS
39,.41
Hours of Sessions
16 Treasurer's Report.
10
JEWISH Missionary Work
41 WOMAN'S Work
18
Jubilee.
8 Works of Mercy
14, 38, 43
Jubilee Celebration
43|ZION'S Mission, Portland,
20
43
Delegation to General Council.
25 ST. JOHN'S Church, Ovid,
21,23
FIRST English Mission, Decatur .... 19 Summary of Finances
Publications of General Council.
HYMN BOOKS.
1. Church Book. New edition with Common Service. Large size. Small size, in one and two volumes. Mission edition, Pulpit edition. Altogether 23 styles.
2. Kirchenbuch. Large edition in 5 varieties. Small edition in one and two volumes in 14 varieties.
3. Sunday School Book. With music, in two styles. With- out music, in one style.
4. Sunday School Book. New edition with music.
5. Sunday School Book. New edition without music.
6. Sonntagsschulbuch. With or without music, in many styles of binding.
7. Little Children's Book. Service and Hymn Book for the little ones in school and family. In two styles of binding.
8. Orders for Ministerial Acts. English, German, or German and English.
9. Luther's Small Catechism. German or English.
10. Constitutions for Congregations. German or English.
11. Constitution, By-Laws and Charter of General Council. German or English.
If these books are purchased direct from the GENERAL COUNCIL'S BOARD OF PUBLICATION, all the surplus from sales will go to the Mission Treasuries of the Council.
Address, REV. J. K. PLITT, Agent, 1204 Walnut St., Philadelphia.
PAPERS.
The Lutheran. A Weekly for the Christian Home. The official Organ of the General Council. Address, Rev. G. W. Sandt, 1204 Walnut St., Philadelphia.
Lutheran Lesson Quarterly for Teachers.
Lutheran Lesson Quarterly for Scholars.
Both of these are authorized by the General Council. Address, General Council's Publication Board, 1204 Walnut St., Philadelphia. The Foreign Missionary. An illustrated Monthly, issued at Philadelphia, in the interests of the Mission in India.
Missionsbote. The German Foreign Mission paper, issued monthly. Illustrated.
Siloah. The German Home Mission Paper. Monthly. Illustrated. All profits on these papers are devoted to the Missions of the General Council. The Agent for the last three:
REV. H. GRAHN, 1233 N. 29th St., Philadelphia.
Benevolent Work of Synod.
All contributions made under the head of Synodical Apportionment are devoted to the following four objects:
Home Missione of Synod and of the General Council.
Foreign Missione in India under the control of the General Council.
Beneficiary Education In College and Seminary.
Synodical Expenses.
The following educational, charitable and missionary enterprises are earnestly commended by Synod to the liberality of all congregations:
The Theological Seminary, Chicago, (See pages 9, 31, 40) Waveland Av., between Clark St. and Sheffield Av.
Passavant Memorial Hospital, (See pages 23, 35, 38) East Superior St., Chicago, Illinois.
Jewish Missionary Work, (See page 41) Rev. E. N. Heimann, 1835 Reta St., Chicago, Illinois.
Deaconess Work, (See page 38) Dr. J. F. Ohl, Rector, Wilwaukee, Wisconsin.
Form of Bequest to the Chicago Synod.
I give, devise and bequeath to the Trustees of the Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church the sum of. Dollars. [Or, if real estate, a description of property devised. ]
Dupl
inutes of Chicago Synod Twenty=Seventh Conventions
1897
newberry, Indiana.
CALENDAR.
1897.
November 28-First Sunday in Advent.
December 25-Christmas.
1898.
January I-Circumcision of Christ-New Year.
January 6-EEpiphany.
St is recommended by the Seneral Council, that during the Epiphany Season, offerings be made for Foreign Missions.
February 23-Ash Wednesday, or First Day of Lent.
It is recommended by the General Council, that during Cent, self-denial offerings be made for Church Extension.
April 10-Easter.
April 27-Wednesday, 8 p. m., Annual Commencement of Chicago Theological Seminary.
May 19-Ascension Day.
May 29-Whitsunday.
August 26-Sesqui-Centennial of the Organization of the Mother Synod.
September 20 and 21-Third Annual Convention of the Luther League of Indiana and Kentucky, Whites- town, Indiana.
September 22-Thursday, 10 a. m., Twenty-Eighth Con- vention of Chicago Synod, Whitestown, Ind. October 6-Thursday, 10:00 a. m., Chicago Theological Seminary opens.
October-Third Annual Convention of the National Lu- ther League, New York.
October 31-Festival of the Reformation.
St is recommended by the Seneral Council, that on the Sun- day nearest this Festival, offerings be made for its Home Mission Work in every Sunday School and Congregation.
November 17-Donation Day at Passavant Memorial Hospital, Chicago.
Officers of the General Council.
President, REV. E. F. MOLDEHNKE, Ph.D., D.D., 124 E. 46th St., New York. Secretary, REV. WILLIAM K. FRICK, 2305 Cedar St., Milwaukee, Wis. Treasurer, WILLIAM H. STAAKE, EsQ., 133 S. 12th St., Philadelphia, Pa. Superintendent Bome Missions, REV. J. E. WHITTEKER, Easton, Pa. Superintendent foreign MDissions, REV. J. TELLEEN, Rock Island, II1.
1
MINUTES
Twenty-Seventh Annual Convention
Chicago Synod
OF THE
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH,
St. Peter's Church, Newberry, Indiana,
SEPTEMBER 21-25, 1897.
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THE BENHAM PRINTERY ANDERSON, INDIANA.
St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Newberry, Indiana.
The Place of This Year's Convention One of Great Historic Interest. The Congregation among the Oldest Lutheran Organizations in the State.
In 1825 Jonathan Slinkard and Andrew Slinkard, with their families, moved from North Carolina and located at what is still called Slinkard's Mill, east of the village. Shortly after came the Wesners, Killians and Skomps, most of whom were Lutherans. They were parishioners of Rev. Moretz in North Carolina. Rev. Moretz was invited to visit them and conduct services, which he did in the year 1827, making the journey on horseback. The first services were held in Jonathan Slinkard's barn, a large log structure. Two years later Rev. Moretz again visited them. In 1830 he located in their midst, and shortly after organized the St. Peter's Church. The services were held in barns and residences for some years, when Union Church, Daviess County, was organized, and the St. Peter's Church was merged into that organization. About 1850 the St. Peter's congrega- tion was resuscitated and a church erected. In this building Rev. W. H. Deck conducted an academy for some years, when death ended his useful career.
The present edifice was erected in 1890. It is a churchly structure and stands as one of the results of the earnest labors of Rev. J. M. G. Sappenfield. The present pastor is Rev. I. Whitman.
MINUTES.
Opening Service.
The Twenty-seventh Annual Convention of the Chi- cago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church was held in St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Newberry, Indiana, Rev. I. Whitman, pastor, beginning September 21, 1897, at 2:30 p. m. The convention began with the full Morning Service of the Church Book, followed by the Synodical Sermon by the President, based on Revela- tion XXII:17, and the celebration of the Lord's Supper.
After these services, the Synod was opened by the President according to the Order prescribed in the Church Book. Announcements for the evening service were made and Synod adjourned with the Lord's Prayer.
First Session. St. Peter's Church, Newberry, Indiana,
September 22, 1897, 9 a. m.
The devotional services were conducted by Rev. Wes- ner. The roll was called and the credentials of the lay delegates were received.
Report of Examining Committee.
Your Committee respectfully submits the following:
Rev. S. P. Fryberger appeared before the Committee. He presents a letter of honorable dismission from the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Northern Indiana. We find him in accord with us and recommend that he be received as a member of this Synod.
In reference to Rev. William Evans, we wish to state that he appeared before the Committee last year for membership, but his
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letter of dismissal from the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America had failed to reach him. Synod ordered that as soon as he presented his dismissal to this Synod he be entered upon its roll as a member. Rev. Evans has presented his letter of dis- missal to the President and said paper is in our hands. In the judgment of this Committee he is already a member of this Synod and no further action is required in his case. COMMITTEE.
The report was received and adopted.
Roll of Ministers.
NAME.
ORDI- NAT'N.
PARISH.
ADDRESS.
Rev. J. Good, a. e.
1850.
No Charge.
Whitestown, Indiana.
Rev. M. J. Stirewalt, D.D.
1859.
E. Germantown
New Augusta, Indiana.
Rev. J. Wesner,
1861.
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