# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S536 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) Constitution of the Lutheran World Federation * I. Name The name and title of the body organized under this Constitution shall be The Lutheran World Federation. II. Doctrinal Basis The Lutheran World Federation acknowledges the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the only source and the infallible norm of all church doctrine and practice, and sees in the three Ecumenical Creeds and in the Confessions of The Lutheran Church, espe- cially in the Unaltered Augsburg Confession and Lu- ther’s Small Catechism, a pure exposition of the Word of God. III. Nature, Functions and Scope 1. Nature The Lutheran World Federation shall be a free as- sociation of Lutheran Churches. It shall act as their agent in such matters as they assign to it. It shall not exercise churchly functions on its own authority, nor shall it have power to legislate for the Churches belong- ing to it or to limit the autonomy of any Member Church. 2. Functions In accord with the preceding paragraphs, The Lu- theran World Federation shall: (a) Further a united witness before the world to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the power of God for salvation. (b) Cultivate unity of faith and confession among the Lutheran Churches of the world. (c) Develop fellowship and cooperation in study among Lutherans. (d) Foster Lutheran interest in, concern for, and par- ticipation in ecumenical movements. (e) Support Lutheran Churches and groups as they en- deavor to meet the spiritual needs of other Lu- therans and to extend the Gospel. (f) Provide a channel for Lutheran Churches and groups to help meet physical needs. 3. Scope of Authority In accordance with its nature, function and structure, The Lutheran World Federation may take action on be- half of one or more Member Churches in such matters as they may commit to it. IV. Membership The Lutheran World Federation consists of Churches which accept the doctrinal basis set forth in Article II of this Constitution. Each Church which applies for membership in the Federation shall declare its accep- tance of this Constitution. Its reception into membership shall be decided by The Lutheran World Federation in Assembly, or in the interim, if not more than one-third * Italics indicate words, phrases, and sentences which were added as amendments to the former constitution at the 1963 Assembly in Helsinki. 525 of the Member Churches raise an objection within one year, by the Executive Committee. Membership in the Federation may be terminated by vote of the Assembly or by withdrawal. V. Organization The Lutheran World Federation shall exercise its functions through the following: 1) The Assembly: 2) The Executive Committee; 3) National Committees: 4) Commissions. In all the functions of the Federation, both clerical and lay persons shall be eligible to par- ticipate. VI. The Assembly 1. An Assembly of the Federation shall normally be held every six years at the call of the President. The time and place and program of each Assembly shall be de- termined by the Executive Committee. Special Meet- ings of the Assembly may be called by the Executive Committee. . The Assembly shall consist of chosen representatives of the Member Churches of the Federation. The number of the representatives shall be determined by the Executive Committee. The allocation of the representatives in the As- sembly shall be made to the Member Churches by the Executive Committee with the advice of the National Committees, and due regard shall be given to such factors as numerical size of churches, geographical distribution by continents and countries, adequate representation of the Younger Churches and the Mi- nority Churches, and the right of each completely in- dependent Member Church to have at least one rep- resentative in the Assembly. Suggestions for read- justments in the allocation of representatives in the Assembly may be made to the Executive Committee by Member Churches or groups of Member Churches. national or regional, and these readjustments shall be- come effective if approved by the Executive Com- mittee and by the Member Churches concerned. The representatives in the Assembly shall be cho- sen by the Member Churches themselves. Whenever Lutheran congregations in union church bodies combine to ask for representation in the As- sembly, the Executive Committee may invite them to send representatives to the Assembly in a consul- tative capacity. Lutheran associations and organiza- tions designated by the Executive Committee may be invited to send representatives to the Assembly in a consultative capacity in such numbers as the Ex- ecutive Committee may determine. . The Assembly shall be the principal authority in the Federation. It shall elect the President of the Federa- tion and the other members of the Executive Com- mittee, shall receive reports from National Commit- tees, shall appoint Commissions, and shall determine the fundamental lines of the Federation’s work.