Our Savior’s Lutheran Church

Minneapolis, Minnesota

June 18-25, 1884

To the esteemed Synod!

Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence comes my help,” Psalm 121:1.

Let us meet today with this prayer, in this hope! This is a troublesome time for our church body, a time full of conflict and tribulation, in which we come together.²³ Who of us should not be permeated by a sense of the gravity of the moment? Our Synod has surely had to go through several doctrinal conflicts since its founding. They were, however, for the most part, with opponents from the outside. The violent doctrinal controversy which had recently broken out when we were assembled at the general synodical convention three years ago, was started in our midst. It was brethren who stood here against brethren. It was to be foreseen that to a large extent it had to be disruptive and damaging for our entire synod if it could not be resolved in time. Efforts have not been lacking, in part to limit its extent so that it should not disturb and ravage our congregations unnecessarily, in part for settling it so that we could achieve unity on the ground of truth. Discussions have been held toward this latter goal without interruption by large and small conferences, synodical meetings and special committees. Even if we dare to hope that these efforts have not been completely fruitless so that on the one hand this controversy is essentially kept away from a large portion of our congregations and on the other hand many of those concerned have gained a more correct understanding, at least to the extent that the primary reason for the controversy and what it all means with reference to the position and the opinion of the various parties, the controversy itself has, however, continued without interruption in the triennium and has still not come to a satisfactory resolution. From whose eyes have the destructive consequences which this controversy has already produced really been able to be hidden? Harsh accusations of false doctrine and attacks on the moral character of persons are made against the large majority of the synod’s pastors. The evil seed of suspicion is sown in many of their members’ hearts and confidence in their pastors undermined.

Many people are confused in their simple Christian faith and ask in doubt: “Yes, what is the truth?” Base elements, which must be found in congregations, step forward who quickly gain support and attempt to make themselves influential. Respect for the ordinances of the church and for Christian morality is dulled. Doctrinal discipline and the little church discipline which is to be found, are relaxed. Agitation and church politics are promoted. Majorities decide matters instead of the Word of God. Thus we stand in danger of a general demoralization. Suspicion, disunity and conflict arise between members of the same congregation, yes, of the same family. Factions are formed which lie in wait for each other and try to get the best of everyone. Splits in congregations and deposing of pastors have even occurred because of the controversy .²⁴

How much the ministers’ and pastors’ work for the building up of the congregations will be hindered by all this, how much precious time and energies which could be applied to the development of the congregations are now being taken up by the controversy, is not easy to say.

Granted that these sad consequences of controversy, God be praised, have not become apparent everywhere or in like degree. Granted that it has served as a profitable testing of many people, to a deeper knowledge of the divine truth, to the strengthening of their faith, this much, however, needs to be acknowledged by everyone, that the controversy has grown to such an extent and has proven itself so ruinous in its consequences that it must be stopped if it is not going to divide our church body and bring about a larger or smaller division of the church.

And in order to accomplish this great task we, dear brethren, have come together. With all this controversy and misery before us we are to take hold of the work and restore unity, order and peace, so that the congregations can be built up in peace on the ground of truth. The congregations which have sent us expect no less of us. It is truly a task so great that we all must cry out as one: “Who is sufficient for this?” In humble acknowledgement of this, certainly also every sincere Christian among us, when he prepared himself for this meeting, has thrown himself down at the feet of the Lord who has promised to hear his children’s cry and to deliver them from the distress of the day. And when we now are to proceed to the work and take hold of the resolution of this great task, to whom should we turn for help, where should we go for light and wisdom, comfort and courage, power and grace, except to him who has redeemed us out of boundless love and gathered us into a Christian people, our church’s Lord and King, who reigns at the right hand of majesty and who protects his church and has promised to be with his own until the end of days? Yes, he must do it if it is going to be done. He who has begun the good work among us must complete it!

Let us therefore humble ourselves before him and confess that we have well deserved this severe chastisement because of our many and great sins. In his abundant mercy he let us find our way back to the old paths at the beginning of our Lutheran Zion in this country. He let his holy Law be proclaimed and his blessed Gospel ring out pure and unadulterated among us in an ever wider circle. Under the shelter of civil freedom we found grace to organize our church and the affairs of our congregations according to evangelical principles without limitation of the Christian freedom which Christ has earned for us at so great a price, so that the various gifts with which the Lord equips the members of his church could be applied to the building up of the entire body without breach of the proper order. He let orthodox institutions of learning be established among us from which hosts of messengers have gone out over the years with the Good News and who have spread out over the land to the farthest regions in order to gather souls for Christ and to train up a people of God among us who are zealous of good works.

But now if we ask ourselves how these gifts of grace have been received, how they have been used, this rich opportunity to build up the kingdom of God in our hearts, our homes, in our congregations, to proclaim the glory of his name to them who walk in darkness, to shine as a city on a hill, if we ask ourselves which fruits of the Spirit - blessed fruit of righteousness to the remembrance of his name - to the praise of his glory, then I really have no doubt that also here his promise: “My word shall not return void,” has been fulfilled. However, we must hang our heads in shame. At any rate, I must confess with the publican: “God be gracious to me, the sinner!” - and confess: We have truly deserved this chastisement. Yes, if the Lord would enter into judgment with us and punish us as we deserve for our drowsiness, indifference and thanklessness, because of our many sins with which we have dishonored his name, yes, then we would be completely destroyed and there would be nothing left of the beautiful vineyard he planted here, no remembrance of his name. But God’s mercy be praised! He has not dealt with us like that. He has not forsaken us completely. He has let grace reign. We have been chastised but not slain!

O that we therefore, brethren, now that we come together here, might together with our congregations make a sincere, righteous repentance from the heart and in our deepest distress cry to him: “Return, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; and the vineyard which your right hand planted, and the Son, whom you made strong for yourself - so will we not go back from you; let us live, and we will call upon your name. LORD God of hosts! turn us, let your face shine, so we are saved,” Psalm 80:12-20.

So will we cling fast to the Lord more zealously and call upon his help since we know that the evil foe will do everything possible in order to demolish our church and to deprive us of the Word of truth. But if we thus lift up our eyes unto the hills from whence help shall come to us, then our meeting here shall not be in vain. Then the Lord himself shall be with us and bless our decisions, let our work prosper, and preserve us in unity of the Spirit on the ground of truth because he has promised that the way of the righteous shall prosper. Let it be so, O God, for your mercy’s sake in Christ Jesus! Amen.

23 The election controversy which in 1881 President Preus had said may be imminent, was raging when he addressed the synod in 1884.

24 President Preus was himself deposed by one of his congregations on Good Friday 1883.