The Organization of the Congregation in the Early Lutheran Churches in America — John Shaqi
The Organization of the Congregation in the Early Lutheran Churches in AmericaSchmucker, B. M. (Beale Melanchthon)
History
The Organization of the Congregation in the Early Lutheran Churches in America
Schmucker, B. M. (Beale Melanchthon)
Lutheran Church -- United States -- History
"If the church councilmen observe all these regulations, continue
steadfast in the pure doctrine of the faith and lead holy lives as
children of God; if they rule well their own houses and families and
serve as examples to the flock: to the best of their ability, by the
grace of God, do their part that the holy gospel be perpetuated to our
latest posterity, Satan and the world may indeed make sport of them,
but God will be their shield and their great reward here on earth and
hereafter forever. All that they have done to His honor, though they
have only given a cup of water in His name, the Lord will acknowledge at
the last day, before the multitude of many thousand angels and elect
ones, and will say that it was done to Him. But should they use this
office unfaithfully, and prove an occasion of offense to the
congregation, which may God in mercy prevent, they will bring double
condemnation on themselves. To the above duties, in general and in
particular, we obligate and pledge ourselves by our signature with our
own hand. Done at Providence, July 8, 1750." (Signed by all the
councilmen before witnesses.)
There is no mention made of Vorsteher, except incidentally in Section 7,
which is the more astonishing, as the annual settlement of accounts, in
the same book, in the handwriting of Muehlenberg, both before and after
the adoption of this constitution, mention the settlement as made by the
pastor, elders and Vorsteher. There are also entries in 1760 and 1761,
of the election, _per plurima vota,_ of Vorsteher and of elders,
probably to fill vacancies made by death. These Vorsteher were elected
annually and this constitution makes the elders serve for life. The
above document is followed by a carefully prepared constitution and
rules for the parochial school. We see that Muehlenberg avoided the
chief mistake of Brunnholtz in that he did not make the elders
appointees of the pastor, but gave their election to the whole
congregation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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