USA > Ohio > Richland County > Mansfield > A history of the Wittenberg Synod of the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1847-1916 > Part 4
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Thus, little by little the General Synod with its District Synods approving, came to the possession of its complete heritage of faith and doctrine in the realization of a true Lutheran consciousness, moving on through many a struggle, and amid multiform dis- couragements, just as God led ancient Israel to possess the land, "driving out the Canaanite, the Hivite, and the Hittite, not in one year lest the land become desolate and the beast of the field multiply against them, but by little and little" he said, "I will drive them out from before thee until thou be increased and inherit the land."
In 1872, 1884, 1895 and 1905 the constitution was revised and amendments adopted with the re- codifying of by-laws and standing regulations from time to time.
Following is the present constitution with by-laws, rules of order, and standing regulations together with rules and regulations governing the Committee on Ministerial education.
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HISTORY OF THE WITTENBERG SYNOD
CONSTITUTION of
WITTENBERG SYNOD.
WHEREAS, it was found necessary and profitable, in the primitive Church, to have an occasional meeting of the dif- ferent individual churches for the purpose of consultation and mutual encouragement in preserving their purity and promoting their welfare; and as this apostolic custom is retained in the Lutheran Church under the name of Synod ; and as certain regulations are necessary for the government of such a body, we adopt the following CONSTITUTION :
ARTICLE I.
STYLE OF THE SYNOD.
SECTION 1. This Synod shall be known by Name. the title of "THE WITTENBERG SYNOD OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF OHIO," and shall be composed of ordained ministers, Of whom licentiates, and of lay delegates who subscribe to this Constitution; and of all others who may be hereafter received.
SEC. 2. Each pastoral district shall have the right to send one lay delegate to each convention of the Synod, who shall have, dur- ing that convention, all the rights of mem- bership.
SEC. 3. This Synod receives the General Synod's Formula of government and disci- pline contained in the book of Worship, as its directory, so that our beloved Church may possess and exhibit to the world entire har- mony in the reception of one doctrinal and disciplinarian platform. Any explanations which may be necessary will be embodied in the By-Laws.
composed.
Lay Represen- tatives.
Privileges.
Doctrinal Basis.
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HISTORY OF THE WITTENBERG SYNOD
Duties of Synod.
SEC. 4. It shall be the duty of this Synod to see that the rules of Government and discipline of the Formula are observed by all the congregations and ministers within its bounds : to receive appeals from the decisions of church councils and of special conferences, when regularly brought before it, and review and reverse or confirm the same; to examine and decide on all charges against ministers and licentiates. To this end the Synod shall have power to cite any church members within its bounds to appear before them, and en- deavor to obtain other witnesses when the case may require it. It shall also be its duty to form and change ministerial districts; to attend to any business relating to the churches regularly brought before it; to provide sup- plies for destitute congregations; and to de- vise and execute all suitable measures for the promotion of piety and the general prosperity of the Church, not otherwise disposed of in the Formula.
Delegates from other Synods.
SEC. 5. A delegate from any other Evan- gelical Lutheran Synod shall have all the privileges of a regular member of this body. at the meeting to which he is appointed by his Synod to appear as its representative. except he shall have no vote.
Advisory members.
SEC. 6. Ministers in good standing in other Lutheran bodies, who may be present, may be received as advisory members.
Annual Meeting.
Special Sessions.
What consti- tutes a quorum.
SEC. 7. At least one meeting of Synod shall be held every year, at such time and place as may have been determined; and special meetings may at any time be called by the President, with the consent of one- third of the ordained ministers; and if four ordained ministers and two lay delegates be present at the time appointed they shall constitute a quorum.
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HISTORY OF THE WITTENBERG SYNOD
ARTICLE II.
OF CONGREGATIONS.
SECTION 1. Any congregation situated with- in the bounds of this Synod may become con- nected with it by subscribing to this Con- stitution.
SEC. 2. If any congregation in connection with this Synod should refuse to observe the Constitution, it shall be excluded from con- nection with Synod during the time of its refusal; nor shall any minister or licentiate belonging to this Synod take charge of it without a special permission of the Presi- dent : provided, however, that if the charter of an incorporated congregation be at va- riance with any articles of the Formula, said charter shall have precedence of those articles with which it is in conflict, if the charter be not in violation of the spirit of the Formula : in which case, when any such violation is so declared by the Synod, such congregation shall take all suitable measures to effect, if possible, the necessary alteration in the charter.
SEC. 3. If any congregation in connection with this Synod shall, without the consent of this body, receive as its pastor a minister who has been expelled from any regular ecclesi- astical body, or who is not acknowledged by this body, and shall refuse to dismiss said individual when advised to do so by the Synod or President, it shall be excluded from our connection.
ARTICLE III.
OFFICERS OF SYNOD.
SECTION 1. The officers of this Synod shall be a President, Secretary, Treasurer and Sta- tistical Secretary.
Congregations. How become connected with Synod.
Congregation violating the Constitution.
How dealt with.
Congregations not to employ an expelled minister.
Officers-who.
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HISTORY OF THE WITTENBERG SYNOD
How and when chosen.
Who eligible.
SEC. 2. All these officers shall be chosen annually, by ballot, by a majority of all the votes of the Synod. The President and Secretary shall be ordained ministers of this Synod; the Treasurer may be an ordained minister, or any one of the members of a congregation connected with this Synod.
President.
President's re- port-how and when made.
SEC. 3. The President, at the beginning of every convention of the Synod, shall deliver a Synodical discourse, and make a written report of all the official business transacted. and the official letters received by him since the last meeting, and of all the important events which have occurred relating to this Synod; and may recommend for considera- tion any measure which he may deem neces- sary or calculated to promote the cause of religion. This report shall be laid on the table, and dealt with as all other papers com- ing before the body.
How disposed of.
President shall preside, etc.
SEC. 4. He shall preside at all the meet- ings of the Synod, receive and submit, in the proper manner, all motions and propositions presented by the members; restrain those en- gaged in debate within the rules of order; enforce, on all occasions, the observance of order and decorum among the members; put to vote all question which are regularly moved, and announce the result.
President's right to dis- cuss and vote.
SEC. 5. The President has a right to take part in the discussions, as well as any other member. When the house is equally divided on any question, he has the casting vote; in all other cases he has no suffrage, except when an election is made by ballot, and then he has not the casting vote.
When he ap- points Com- mittees.
SEC. 6. The President has the appointment of all committees which are not otherwise provided for.
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HISTORY OF THE WITTENBERG SYNOD
SEC. 7. He shall appoint supplies for all vacant congregations during the recess of Synod.
SEC. 8. It is an important part of his duty to give counsel to every member of Synod, when he deems it expedient, and particularly to admonish and advise every erring brother. If accusation has been lodged against any member of this body, according to Chap. III, Sec. 5, of the Formula ; or if he has sufficient reason to believe that any minister or licen- tiate is living in any material violation of the rules of the Formula, it shall be his duty to demand the individual to make satisfactory explanation before the Synod.
SEC. 9. If in the recess of the Synod the Secretary or Treasurer should remove into the bounds of another Synod, or should de- part this life, the President shall require the archives, the seal, the moneys, and all other property of the Synod to be delivered to him, and shall retain the charge of them until the next meeting of Synod, when he shall ap- point a Secretary pro tem.
SEC. 10. Should the President remove from the bounds of the Synod, or depart this life, then the Secretary shall succeed him, and discharge the duties of the President until next Synod.
SEC. 11. The Secretary shall keep a faith- ful and accurate account of all the proceed- ings of the Synod; write in the Record containing the Constitution and By-Laws any amendments or additions made to the same; carefully preserve all the papers, the seal, etc., of the Synod, subject to its directions; and shall do all the official writing of the Synod, not otherwise provided for.
To appoint supplies.
To give advice.
How to act in case of accu- sation.
Removal or death of Sec- retary or Treasurer.
Removal or death-who succeeds.
Secretary.
Duties.
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HISTORY OF THE WITTENBERG SYNOD
To give notice of time and place of meeting.
SEC. 12. He shall give notice in the Church papers of the time and place of the Synodical meeting, at least six weeks previous to the time appointed.
How to keep the roll.
SEC. 13. He shall keep a register of the names of all the ministers and licentiates con- nected with Synod, and also of the con- gregations.
Disposal of archives.
Who has ac- cess to them.
SEC. 14. Unless the archives are otherwise disposed of by the Synod, they shall be in the charge and custody of the Secretary. Any minister or delegate of a congregation con- nected with this Synod shall have free access to them, but no part of them shall be allowed to be taken away or destroyed.
Treasurer.
Duties.
SEC. 15. The Treasurer shall take charge of all the moneys belonging to the Synod, and shall keep them subject to its order. He shall keep, and present at each annual meet- ing a detailed and faithful account of the state of the Treasury. An order from the President, attested by the Secretary, shall be a sufficient voucher for money paid by him out of the Treasury.
Statistical Secretary. Duties.
SEC. 16. It shall be the duty of the Sta- tistical Secretary to distribute parochial and other blanks, receive and prepare for minutes the parochial reports, and to gather any other statistics required.
ARTICLE IV.
PERTAINING TO MEMBERS.
Members to obey Con- stitution.
SECTION 1. It is the duty of every ordained minister, licentiate, and lay delegate of this Synod, not only to observe the provisions of this Constitution himself, but also, so far as in his power to see that it is obeyed, by all connected with it.
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HISTORY OF THE WITTENBERG SYNOD
SEC. 2. No minister or licentiate shall preach or perform any ministerial duties in the charge of another minister, except by his charge. request or consent.
SEC. 3. Any minister or licentiate in good standing who removes from the bounds of this Synod into those of another, shall, on application to the President, receive a cer- tificate, under his signature, of his honorable dismission; and such a certificate shall be required by this Synod of every member of any other Synod who applies for admission.
When they can preach in another
Certificates of dismission.
When given and required.
SEC. 4. Every ordained minister has the Right of leav. right to leave his charge and remove to an- ing a charge. other whenever he believes it his duty to do . so; yet he must give the President timely notice of his intended removal.
SEC. 5. A licensed candidate shall have liberty to visit vacant congregations, either upon receiving an invitation from them, or upon the advice of the Synod or President.
SEC. 6. After a licentiate has a stated charge, he shall be restricted to it, and shall not resign it without the consent of the Synod, or, in its recess, of the President.
SEC. 7. A licentiate has power to perform all the ministerial functions during the time specified in his license.
SEC. 8. It is the duty of licentiates to seek counsel from the President, and to apply to him for advice in cases of difficulty.
SEC. 9. Every licentiate must keep a gen- Journal. eral journal of his ministerial acts, which, with a few sermons of his own composition, Sermons. he must deliver or send annually to the Ex- amination Committee for their inspection.
Licentiates visiting vacant con- gregations.
When a licen- tiate can leave a charge.
Power of licentiates.
Duties of licentiates.
5
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HISTORY OF THE WITTENBERG SYNOD
ARTICLE V.
CONFERENCES.
Division into Conference Districts.
SECTION 1. This Synod shall be divided into two or more districts for the purpose of holding Conferences.
Number of meetings.
Their object.
SEC, 2. A Conference shall be held annu- ally in each district, and they shall be con- tinued at least two days. Their object shall be to inquire into the state of religion in the churches of the district, and, by the faithful preaching of the gospel, to labor for the con- version of sinners and the edification of be- lievers.
Where to be held.
SEC. 3. These Conferences ought, as far as possible, to be held by rotation in the congre- gations belonging to their respective districts.
Action in re- ferred business.
SEC. 4. Conferences may examine into any business of congregations which is regu- larly referred to them by the Synod, or Pres- ident of the Synod, and give such advice as they may deem proper to all the parties con- cerned.
Lay Delegates.
SEC. 5. Lay delegates may also be sent to these Conferences, under the same regula- tions as to Synod.
ARTICLE VI.
PROCEEDINGS AGAINST A MINISTER.
To guard the conduct of minister.
SECTION 1. As the honor and success of the gospel depend very much on the character of its ministers, every Synod ought to guard with the utmost care and impartiality the conduct of its members.
How charge is brought against a minister.
SEC. 2. If any member knows a minister to be guilty of a private censurable fault, he should warn him in private. If this proves fruitless, he should apply to the Church Coun-
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HISTORY OF THE WITTENBERG SYNOD
cil, who shall proceed as specified in Chap. III., Sec. 5, of the Formula.
SEC. 3. If accusation be lodged according to Chap. III., Sec. 5, with the President, within four months of the time of the next Synodical meeting, he shall defer the matter to said meeting; but if the charge be one of drunkenness, lewdness, circulating funda- mental error in doctrine, or higher crime, he shall immediately direct the accused to suspend all his ministerial duties until his case is decided. If such accusation is lodged with the President at an earlier date, he shall, if the charge is one of drunkenness, lewd- ness, circulating fundamental error in doc- trine, or higher crime, immediately give no- tice to all the members of the Conference district to which the accused belongs to meet without delay at a suitable place, and institute a formal investigation of the case, according to the principles of the Formula. The chair- man of said Conference district shall imme- diately fix the time and place of the meeting, and give at least fifteen days' notice of the same to each minister in the district, and also to the parties concerned.
SEC. 4. A majority of the Conference, as- sembled according to the previous section, shall have the power to proceed and hold a fair and impartial investigation of the case, and to take all such measures as may be just and necessary to determine the guilt or inno- cence of the accused.
SEC. 5. If the accused confess, and the mat- ter be base and flagitious, such as drunken- ness, lewdness, circulating fundamental error in doctrine or a higher crime, however pen- itent he may be, he must immediately be sus- pended from the exercise of his office.
How the President shall act when a charge is made.
When he gives notice to the Con- ference to act upon a charge.
Who gives notice of meetings.
Power of Conference.
If accused confess, what done.
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HISTORY OF THE WITTENBERG SYNOD
If accused re- fuse to attend, what done.
SEC. 6. If a minister accused of atrocious crimes, being duly notified, refuse to attend the investigation, he shall immediately be sus- pended from his office.
If accused deny, and found guilty.
SEC. 7. If the accused deny the charge, and yet, on examination of the evidence, be found guilty, the Conference shall immediately sus- pend him.
The highest punishment in power of Con- ference or Committee.
Sentence to be reported.
SEC. 8. The highest punishment which can be inflicted by a special Conference is suspen- sion from clerical functions ; and this sentence is to be reported to the next meeting of the Synod, and remain in force until reversed by the Synod.
If accused appeals, what done.
SEC. 9. Any minister intending to appeal from the decision of a Conference shall give notice of it to his accusers within three weeks of the time after the decision has been made, that both parties may be prepared for a new trial.
SEC. 10. If at any time accusation be lodged with the President, according to Chap. III., Sec. 5, of the Formula, for a less crime than those specified in Sec. 3 of this Article, he shall take no other steps in the case than to write letters of advice to the accused and ac- cusers, exhorting them to mutual forbear- ance, and referring them to the next Synod.
SEC. 11. If accusations against a minister be made immediately to Synod, and the Synod believe itself to be in possession of all the evidence necessary to a just decision, the case may be immediately examined and sen- tence passed. But if the necessary evidence be not before it and the crime be such as specified in Sec. 2, it shall appoint a meeting of the Conference to which the accused be- longs, which shall proceed as specified in Sec. 3.
Case of less crime-how proceed.
Charges brought directly to Synod-how act.
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HISTORY OF THE WITTENBERG SYNOD
SEC. 12. If a minister be found guilty of drunkenness, fundamental heresy, lewdness, or higher crime, his sentence of suspension shall not be removed until after some time of penitent, humble, and edifying conduct ..
SEC. 13. If the common report of a min- ister's guilt of any of the charges above speci- fied be such as seriously to injure the cause of religion, and his own churches do not pro- ceed against him, it shall be the duty of any minister or layman, having obtained two other signatures of credible men, to report the case to the President.
SEC. 14. When it appears that a clergyman has left the active ministry and gone into a secular business of choice or preference, and not of necessity, he shall be required by the Synod to return his ordination papers.
ARTICLE VII. VACANT CONGREGATIONS.
SECTION 1. Vacant congregations, which cannot be immediately supplied with a minis- ter, are advised to assemble on the Lord's day, to select some member of the church, of suitable capacity and character, to conduct the exercises, and engage in the worship of God.
Sentence of suspension removed.
When churches do not accuse a minister, who shall.
Cause for re- turning ordi- nation papers.
Vacant con- gregations advised to assemble together.
ARTICLE VIII. MINISTERIAL EDUCATION.
SECTION 1. It shall be the duty of every member of this Synod to instruct the people on the importance of Ministerial Education, to seek out proper candidates for the sacred office, and collect funds for their aid in a course of study.
SEC. 2. A committee, consisting of three ministers and two laymen, shall be appointed annually to receive and appropriate all funds
Duty of members.
Ministerial Education Committee- its duty.
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HISTORY OF THE WITTENBERG SYNOD
Must report.
for Ministerial Education; to receive ap- plicants, and to direct their education, accord- ing to their own discretion, when not other- wise directed by Synod. This committee shall make a detailed report, and propose plans for future operations annually to Synod.
ARTICLE IX.
ELECTION OF DELEGATES AND DIRECTORS.
SECTION 1. The delegates to the General Synod and directors of Wittenberg College shall be elected by ballot. The directors shall serve four years, and may be re-elected, one- half retiring every two years.
Directors serve four years.
Who eligible.
SEC. 2. The clerical delegates and directors shall be confined to ordained ministers, and the lay shall be chosen from the congrega- tions connected with the Synod.
Case of death or removal of Director.
SEC. 3. In case of the death or removal of a director from bounds of the Synod, another person shall be elected to fill the unexpired term.
ARTICLE X.
EXAMINATION AND LICENSURE OF CANDIDATES.
Examination, how and by whom con- ducted.
SECTION 1. The examination shall be con- ducted by an examining committee of five or- dained ministers, appointed for the purpose at the meeting of the previous year, or by a committee appointed at the time.
SEC. 2. After the examination by the com- mittee, when made before Synod, every mem- ber of the Synod, has a right to ask the ap- plicant any additional questions.
Subjects for examination.
SEC. 3. The examination shall embrace at least the following subjects, viz .: Personal piety, and the motives of the applicant for seeking the holy office; the Greek and He- brew Scriptures; the Evidences of Christi-
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HISTORY OF THE WITTENBERG SYNOD
anity ; Natural and Revealed Theology : Church History; Pastoral Theology; the Rules of Sermonizing, and Church Govern- ment.
SEC. 4. The Synod shall not in any case whatever license an individual whom they do not believe to be hopefully pious. Nor shall any applicant (extraordinary cases excepted) be licensed whom the Synod do not find pos- sessed of a competent acquaintance with the subjects named in Sec. 3, the Hebrew lan- guage alone excepted.
SEC. 5. The ceremony of licensure shall be performed according to the Liturgy of the Church.
ARTICLE XI. ORDINATION.
SECTION 1. Whenever the Synod has de- cided that an individual shall be ordained, the ceremony may be performed, either at the time by the assembled Synod, or in the church by which he has been called by the special Conference, or by a committee appointed for the purpose by the President, agreeably to a special resolution adopted by the Synod.
SEC. 2. The ceremony of ordination shall be performed according to the Liturgy of the Church.
SEC. 3. If the ordination is performed in a church to which he is called, the presiding minister shall proceed without any interrup- tion with the ceremonies of installation.
ARTICLE XII.
INSTALLATION.
SECTION 1. No minister, having received and accepted a call to a pastorate, shall enter upon the duties of the same prior to his installation.
Who are to be licensed.
How licensure is to be performed.
Ordination, when, where, and by whom performed.
How ordina- tion is to be performed.
When and by whom per- formed.
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HISTORY OF THE WITTENBERG SYNOD
The installation service is the official act of the President of Synod, and shall in all cases be performed by him, or such ordained min- ister of the Synod as shall be appointed by him as his deputy. It shall be the duty of the President of Synod to notify the pastor-elect of this requirement.
ARTICLE XIII.
BY-LAWS AND ALTERATIONS OF THE CONSTI- TUTION.
Adoption of By-Laws.
SECTION 1. This Synod may, at any regu- lar meeting, adopt such By-Laws as circum- stances require; provided that they are not inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Constitution.
Alterations, etc., of Con- stitution; how and when made.
SEC. 2. Any alteration of any portion of this Constitution, or any addition of a new chapter or section, may be made, or any por- tion may be omitted; provided that such al- teration, addition, or omission be set forth in writing at the annual meeting of Synod, in the precise words which are to be altered, added, or omitted, and be incorporated in the minutes; and provided that at the next an- nual meeting of the Synod two-thirds of all the members agree to the proposed change.
Two-thirds required.
BY-LAWS. ORDER OF OPENING SYNOD.
I. Open with Order of Public Worship, Morning Service.
II. Calling of the roll.
TII. Reception of applicants for membership, clerical and lay delegates, and advisory members.
IV. President's report.
V. Treasurer's report.
VI. Secretary's report, on unfinished business.
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HISTORY OF THE WITTENBERG SYNOD
VII. Election of officers.
VIII. Reception of documents and papers.
IX. Appointment of Committees.
1. Committee on President's Report.
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