# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S229
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 229

submitted by someone authorized (in the following para-
graph 2) to submit overtures.

2. Overtures to a convention of the Synod may be sub-
mitted only by a member congregation of the Synod, a con-
vention or Board of Directors of a District, an official District
pastoral or teachers conference, the faculty of an educational
institution of the Synod, a board or commission of the Synod
listed in Sections 2.03 and 2.05, or a committee established by

a prior convention. ALFRED QO. FUERBRINGER
Pavut T. KOENIG
Hersert Muetier (Advisory)
Epwin O. SCHIEWE
Frep L. KUHLMANN, Chairman
(5-03)

To Amend Constitution to Provide
for Congregational Referendum
on Establishment of Fellowship

Wuereas, The Constitution and Bylaws of The Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod provide for a referen-
dum of the congregations of the Synod only in the case
of a contemplated change in the Constitution of the
Synod (Constitution, Art. XIV, 4); and

Wuereas, The Bylaws of the Synod provide that
“only a delegate convention of the Synod shall authorize
affiliation or association of the Synod with other church
bodies, synods, or federations, and the discontinuance of
such affiliation or association” (Bylaws 1.21); and

Wuereas, We believe that the question of fellowship
with other Lutheran synods should be submitted to the
congregations of the Synod for a decision; therefore be it

Resolved, That we, the members of the voters assem-
bly of St. Thomas Lutheran Church, Rocky River, Ohio,
in lawful meeting assembled on the 31st day of March,
1969, petition the honorable Synod to make provision
for a referendum of the congregations of the Synod in
establishing fellowship with other Lutheran synods, and
that this be done in the following manner:

1. That Art. XIV, Par. 4, of the Constitution of The
Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod be amended to
read: “Amendments to the Constitution of the Synod
and the establishment of fellowship with other Lutheran
synods shall be submitted to each voting congregation
_..” (ete., retaining present wording of Art. XIV); and

9. That the Bylaws of the LCMS be amended as
follows: in Bylaw 1.21 the words be deleted: “Only a
delegate convention of the Synod shall authorize affilia-
tion or association of the Synod with other church
bodies, synods, or federations, and the discontinuance
of such affiliation or association”; and

3. That the Commission on Constitutional Matters of
the Synod be instructed by this convention to bring
into harmony with these amendments any bylaw that
is in conflict with these amendments.

Saint THOMAS LUTHERAN CHURCH
Rocky River, Ohio

Ratpyw Kunze, President

RussELt Borer, Secretary

PAUL W. STREUFERT, Pastor

Ricuarp C. ALLsING, Assistant Pastor

(5-04)

To Amend Bylaws to Permit Referendum

Wuereas, Districts of our Synod in their regularly
convened conventions expressed the desire for a refer-
endum vote on the present “Fellowship Question” which
is not allowed by our present Bylaws (par. 1.21); and

WuereaS, There appears to be a strong desire for a
referendum by many outside the conventions of our
Districts; and

Wuereas, Other church bodies do permit referen-
dums, such as The American Lutheran Church; and

Wuereas, The decision for or against a fellowship or
association without a referendum vote may well not
fully express the will of the member congregations of
the Synod: therefore be it

Resolved, That our synodical Bylaws be amended to
allow for a referendum vote on the question of affilia-
tion or association of the Synod with other church
bodies, synods, or federations, and the discontinuance of
such affiliation or association; and be it further

Resolved, That such referendum voting be carried
out in such a way as to allow congregations sufficient
time to contemplate such referendums after the official
notification has been printed; and be it finally

Resolved, That at least one-third of the congrega-
tions be required to register a protest to invalidate the
action of the convention.

Goop SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
Lake Villa, Ill.

Witrorp N. PALMER, Secretary
KENNETH F. HasKELt, Pastor

(5-05)
To Incorporate in “Handbook”
Specific Statement Requiring Pastors
of Congregations to be Members of the Synod

Wuereas, The Handbook of the Synod assumes that
pastors who serve Missouri Synod congregations are to
be members of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod;
and

Wuereas, Pastors who are members of the Synod
may renounce their membership in the Synod and still
desire to serve a congregation of the Synod: and

Wuereas, Such a situation will undermine the pur-
pose and program of the Synod: therefore

We memorialize the Synod to amend the Handbook
to include a specific statement requiring congregations
who hold membership in the Synod to be served only
by pastors who hold membership in The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod.

Trinity LUTHERAN CHURCH

Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Norman McE reatH, Chairman
WILLIAM WINKLER, Secretary
Oscar A. GERKEN, Pastor