The Organization of the Congregation in the Early Lutheran Churches in America | Page 7

salary for nine months
after his death.

Chapter 3.
Of the Call and Office of the Deputy Elders. The congregation is
exhorted on the Sunday before election to pray God that pious and
devout men may be chosen. The Preachers, Elders and Deacons select
twice the number of persons to be elected, whose names are publicly
presented to the congregation, and any who have well-founded
objection to make against any one proposed, is exhorted to present it.
At the election the Preachers, Elders, former Elders, Deacons, former
Deacons, and the contributing members of the congregation, in this
order, present their votes, and those who receive most votes are chosen.
The elders elected must present themselves before the congregation,
answer publicly the questions as to their confession of faith, promise
faithfully to fulfill the duties of their office, and be installed, with the
laying on of hands and prayer. Their duties are described at length, and
in summary are these: 1. To watch that the Word be purely preached by
pious Preachers, the sacraments administered as Christ commanded,
and the constitution observed. 2. To see that the Preachers and other
ministrants duly and promptly receive their salaries. 3. Watch over the
congregation that all sin, shame and offence be avoided. 4. Keep
accurate account of all expenditures. 5. After their term of office
expires attend all meetings of the Consistory when called. 6. Carry out,
when they enter upon their office, all measures taken by their
predecessors for the peace and prosperity of the congregation. 7. On all
festive and Sunday services stand at the church doors with plates to
receive the offerings for the use of the church.
Chapter 4.
Of the Call, Office and Duties of the Deacons. The Deacons are elected
at the same time, place, and in all respects in the same manner as the
Elders, and they also are installed exactly as the Elders. Their duties are
these: Like the Elders to collect the offerings at the church doors made
for the poor, and to keep an account of the receipts in a separate book;
annually to visit the families of the congregation and receive their
offerings for the poor, and to use and apply these gifts for the benefit of
the poor; when distinguished and wealthy Lutherans visit the place to

call upon them and ask an offering for the poor; to receive all legacies
intended for the poor, and to keep an account of all these receipts. Then
follow full directions for the care and relief of the poor, the needy, the
stranger, with a thoroughly organized system for the whole work. The
Deacons have nothing to do with the general affairs of the congregation,
but are charged with the care of the poor and needy, and with this
alone.
Chapter 5.
Of the Office and Duties of the Comforter of the Sick, and Sexton. The
congregation shall have a Ziekentrooster, who shall also be the Sexton
(Koster en Knaap). The duties of this office are: Diligently to visit the
sick, especially such as are in need, and to bring to them the comfort
and directions of the Word of God. To give notice to the Pastor of those
who desire the sacrament. To report to the Deacons any cases needing
relief. To serve also as Sexton to the church. They shall receive a
proper salary from the Consistory.
Chapter 6.
Of the Obligations of the Congregation to its Preachers, Elders and
Deacons. Chapter 7. Rules for those who receive alms from the
congregation.
In the articles on which the Preachers of the Augsburg Confession in
Amsterdam are called, and by which they are to be governed in their
whole office and ministrations, adopted in 1607, not only are all the
statements of doctrine given in the constitution repeated, but there is
this additional provision: "They shall, with good judgment and
reasonable prudence, exclude from the use of the Sacraments and of the
Ministrations of our Church, Papists, Anabaptists, Schwenkfelder,
Calvinists, New Manicheans or Flacianer, and all others, who not only
do not hold our doctrine, but also are an occasion of offence, and lead
away the simple and weak."
This Amsterdam constitution is one of the most carefully prepared,

well digested instruments of the kind ever produced, very full in all
needed provisions for the adminstration [tr. note: sic] of the affairs of
the congregation, and pervaded by a devout spirit; sound in the faith
and watchful of the life of Pastors, Officers and members. It well
deserves the prominent place it holds among the sources of Lutheran
organization in the New World.
The London Constitution.--St. Mary's Church in the Savoy, was
organized in 1692 by the members of the older Hamburg church who
lived west of Temple Bar, and received from King William an old