# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S217 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) STRUCTURE AND CONSTITUTION 217 autonomous, would want to be a partner church with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and WHEREAS, Previous conventions of the Synod have repeat- edly encouraged Lutheran Church—Canada to move towards autonomy and partner church status (e.g., 1962, Cleveland, 6-36; 1965, Detroit, 4-28; 1969, Denver 4-13); and WHEREAS, All three Districts have at their most recent conventions adopted resolutions, by nearly unanimous votes, calling for the establishment of an autonomous Lutheran Church—Canada; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod reaffirm its willingness to grant the congregations of its Canadian Districts permission to form an autonomous partner church; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod now authorize Lutheran Church—Canada to take specific actions, as hereinafter set forth, which, if favourably completed, will result in the estab- lishment of Lutheran Church—Canada as an autonomous partner church Jan. 1, 1987. These actions are: 1983, July—The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in convention requests the Commission on Theology and Church Relations and the Commission on Constitutional Matters to review the constitution and confessional base of the proposed autonomous church. 1983, November—Lutheran Church—Canada convention gives approval in principle to the constitution and bylaws for proposed autonomous Lutheran Church—Canada. 1985—District conventions by simple majority vote in each of the three geographic-District conventions approve the constitution and bylaws; each geographic District, by simple majority vote, requests a release from the Synod. 1985, Fall—Lutheran Church—Canada in convention deals with any remaining questions in preparation for congrega- tional vote. 1986, prior to Jan. 31—Individual congregations are given opportunity to vote whether or not they wish to join the autonomous Lutheran Church—Canada. 1986, July—If preceding actions are favourable, The Lu- theran Church—Missouri Synod in convention gives final approval for the establishment of an autonomous Lutheran Church—Canada, as a partner church with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and authorizes representatives to develop and sign a protocol document. 1986, Fall—Lutheran Church—Canada holds constituting convention with broad, cross-Canada representation. 1987, Jan. 1—Lutheran Church—Canada becomes opera- tive as an autonomous partner church. (The above timetable is to be employed as a guide, with adjustments made as necessary); and be it further Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod express its willingness to release the Canadian Districts, pend- ing completion of the foregoing actions, in order to effect the new autonomous partner church; and be it finally Resolved, That the Synod implore the blessings of Almighty God upon Lutheran Church—Canada so that as this new church comes into being it may be an effective instrument for promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Him we proclaim! Board of Directors Lutheran Church—Canada E. Lehman, Secretary 5-21 To Change Procedure for Acceptance of New Congregations Resolved, that the Bylaws of the Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod be changed so that congregations entering the Synod would become official members as of their acceptance by a District Board of Directors. Board of Directors English District Paul E. Bacon, Secretary 5-22A To Provide a Means Whereby Congregations of the AELC, ALC, and LCA May Join the Missouri Synod Rather than the New Lutheran Denomination WHEREAS, Congregations of the AELC, ALC. and LCA will be deciding in the coming years to join the new Lutheran denomination: and WHEREAS, The doctrine and teachings of this new Lutheran denomination are quite different from that of the LCMS; and WHEREAS, There are congregations whose doctrinal position is in agreement with that of the LCMS;: and WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is open to receive into membership any Lutheran congregation in agreement with the articles of our Constitution: and WHEREAS, The process whereby a congregation may join our Synod is not well known; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod while assembled in convention extend a welcome into our fellowship of those Lutheran congregations who are in agree- ment with us: and be it further Resolved, That the procedure for joining the LCMS be clarified: and be it finally Resolved, That this procedure and this sincere invitation to like-minded Lutheran congregations be publicized through the Synod's Board for Communication Services. St. James Lutheran Church University City. Mo. Ken Pranschke, President Edward W. McGue, Secretary Identical or similar: 5-22B Redeemer, Jackson, Wyo. Bernard E. Staake 5-23A To Include Directors of Christian Education as Members of Synod WHEREAS, Directors of Christian education certified by our synodical schools for the director of Christian education ministry graduate from a synodically approved program; and WHEREAS, Directors of Christian education have accepted congregational calls to serve as parish educators; and WHEREAS, Those directors of Christian education not teach- ing in a parochial school classroom are uncertain of their status with reference to synodical membership and the roster of teachers in the Synod: therefore be it Resolved, That those who successfully complete programs designed to prepare directors of Christian education at the Synod’s colleges be declared eligible for membership in the Synod and for inclusion on the Synod’s roster of teachers; and be it further Resolved, That those who successfully complete synodi- cally authorized DCE programs be included as members of the Synod and placed on the Synod’s roster of teachers by follow- ing the same procedures used by teachers when they join the Synod and their names are placed on the Synod’s roster of teachers; and be it finally Resolved, That the Synod’s roster of teachers indicate, in some appropriate manner, which DCEs are not certified as classroom teachers. Faculty Concordia Teachers College Seward, Nebr. M. J. Stelmachowicz, President William Billow, Secretary