# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S708
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

V. CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS -
[501] ,

Report of Special Committee re Article Vit

In 1941 a memorial (No, 503) was submitted to Synod at
session in Fort Wayne f

or the purpose of “establishing the
meaning of Article VII o :

of the case. Otherwise an organization and affiliation therew?
would serve no real purpose,

Therefore the fact that Synod sta

it is “an advisory body” cannot be interpreted to mean that
individual or a congregation, being a member of Synod and ha ir
voluntarily subscribed to its Constitution and By-Laws, is not ‘i
duty bound to respect these or any rules and regulations or reson?
lutions that Synod in a democratic way, through the elected reprey
sentatives of the congregations, may make or pass in any of .it
lawful sessions or those of its District conventions, It cannot bez
interpreted to mean that such resolutions have no binding force;"2
they have, unless they are not in accordance with the Word D)
God or are “inexpedient as far as the condition of a

is concerned.”

Article VII of Synod’s Constitution Says that Synod is “an

advisory body” “with respect to th

e individual] congregation’s right’
of self-government” concerning its own internal affairs,

It is certainly understood that the synodical Districts, being.

created by Synod to carry out its work in their respective territory

are held to carry out synodica] resolutions affecting them. Ove:

against them Synod is not merely “an advisory body.” -

M.F. Kretzmann THEO. EckHartT A. W. Hug
A. M. Rexwinxer J. H.C. Frrrz

eee

tes in its Constitution’

[502]
Clarification of Constitution, Art. VT

The officers of a certain District submitted to Synod (Proceed-
ings, 1941, p, 243) a resolution affecting Art. VII of the synodica]:
Constitution — the relationship of Synod to the congregation,

[124]