The Organization of the Congregation in the Early Lutheran Churches in America | Page 8

Jesuit chapel, which stood on the ground which had belonged to the
Duke of Savoy, which was reconstructed in 1694; a new church was
erected in the same place in 1768. Its first pastor was M. Irenaeus
Crusius, in whose time the constitution was adopted, in 1695. The
preface says: "We, the present Pastor and Deputy Vorsteher, have taken
the Kirchenordnung used by our brethren in Holland, have caused it to
be translated into German, and, except for urgent reasons, have altered
nothing therein, in order that our unity might the more clearly appear."
The translation is made from the edition of 1682, and Benthem's
translation agrees so nearly with it, that the one must have been used by
the other; Benthem's preface is dated 1697, the London is dated 1695,
and seems to be the earlier.
It is divided into two parts, the first containing the Kirchenordnung
covers the ground of the Amsterdam book; the second contains the
Order of Service which is not found in that of Amsterdam, where the
Antwerp Agenda took its place. The part containing the Kirchenordung
is all to which the preface refers when it is said that it was taken almost
exactly from the Amsterdam book. It also is divided into two parts, the
first of which contains the same eight chapters already described in the
Amsterdam book, the ninth in the edition of 1597 having been omitted
in 1682. These chapters agree almost verbally with the Amsterdam
book. The statements of doctrine are exactly the same, and I have
noticed throughout this part no material change, except that the duties
of the Amsterdam comforter of the sick are assigned to the pastor. The
Second Part differs materially from that of the Amsterdam Book, the
chief differences being that there is but one order of congregational

officers, Vorsteher, to whom all the duties of both elders and deacons
are assigned; there is no comforter of the sick, but only a sexton; the
contributing members take part in the election of the pastor as well as
in that of Vorsteher; and there is no Consistory, but simply a meeting of
the Vorsteher, in which not only does the pastor not preside, but his
presence is not mentioned. In so far as these and other minor changes
allow, the very words of the Amsterdam book are used. The contents of
this part are: Chapter I. Of the Calling and office of Preachers and
Deputy Church Vorsteher. Twelve Vorsteher are to be elected by the
contributing members, who in important matters shall confer with the
Preacher, take counsel from him and from the congregation in case of
need, otherwise they shall refrain from molesting each other, except for
good cause. The Vorsteher shall meet once a month, and absent
members are fined; they each preside in turn for one month. In cases of
importance the whole contributing membership are called in, and not
alone those who have held office as at Amsterdam. Apart from these
changes the provisions are the same as for the Consistory at
Amsterdam; questions of doctrine being decided by the pastor alone, as
at Amsterdam. Chapter II. Of the Call, Office, Salary and Dismissal of
Preachers. Except that the nomination and election of the preacher is
made by the whole contributing membership, and that controversies
concerning questions of doctrine are to be determined, when they
threaten the peace or unity of the congregation, by the decision of one
or three German Universities of the Lutheran faith, instead of by the
Synod, as in Holland, this article is taken bodily from the Amsterdam
book. Chapter III. Of the Call and Office of the Deputy Church
Vorsteher. Six Vorsteher are elected annually by the contributing
members, without previous nomination, to serve for two years, and at
the election when the names of those receiving most votes are
announced, an opportunity is given for objection to any of them to be
made, and if any be seriously objected to, a new vote shall be taken in
those cases. The provision for installation is omitted, so that in all
probability there was no imposition of hands. Otherwise, this chapter is
taken bodily from that concerning deputy elders at Amsterdam, with
the mere substitution of the word Vorsteher. Chapter IV. Of Provision
for the Poor. The Vorsteher shall appoint two of their number, every
two months, to take charge of the offerings, collections, legacies, etc.,

for the poor. The offerings for the poor on Sunday were placed in a
separate vessel provided in the church. With some slight variations the
whole work of the deacons at Amsterdam is here renewed, except that
it is assigned to two of the Vorsteher, in turn, for two months. Chapter
V. Of the Sexton. That portion of this chapter which refers to Koster