# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1971_S125 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) RESOLUTIONS 125 prior to the completion of the appointed term if the reviewer is unable or unwilling to carry out the reviewing tasks assigned. In the event of such termination, the President of the Synod shall ap- point another reviewer to complete the unexpired term. 11.127 Duties of Doctrinal Reviewers a. The reviewer shall make a careful evaluation of the doctrinal content of all items submitted to him. b. The reviewer’s primary concern is that items submitted to him be in agreement in their doc- trinal content with the Scriptures and the Lu- theran Confessions. c. The reviewer shall also be concerned that the items submitted to him do not contain statements that are inadequate, misleading, ambiguous, or lacking in doctrinal clarity. d. The reviewer shall further be concerned that resolutions of the Synod be honored and upheld and that positions deviating from the doctrinal res- olutions of the Synod be clearly identified as such. 11.129 Procedure for Doctrinal Review a. Each board, agency, or group shall establish procedures that insure that its material as specified in 11.123 be sent for doctrinal review to one of the reviewers referred to in 11.125. b. Since time requirements vary according to the type of material being reviewed, the procedure in each case shall be worked out to the mutual satisfaction of the producing group and the pub- lisher. c. The identity of authors and reviewers shall ordinarily not be disclosed to each other. Consul- tation may at times be advisable, however, where clarification is necessary. d. When the author is also a reviewer, his ma- terial shall be assigned to another reviewer. e. The reviewer may request that specific mate- rial assigned to him also be reviewed by another reviewer. f. Where changes appear to be necessary, the reviewer(s) shall submit a documented critique which shall be made available to the author, the sponsoring group, and the publisher. g. The author shall consider the critique and make necessary revisions until there is agreement between the author and reviewer. h. Should any problem arise between an author, a reviewer, the publisher, or any other party in- volved, with respect to the material submitted for review, the sponsoring group shall endeavor to resolve it to the satisfaction of the reviewer. If it cannot do so, the problem shall be submitted to the Board of Doctrinal Review under the appeals procedure stated in 11.133. 11.131 Board of Doctrinal Review a. A Board of Doctrinal Review consisting of seven members shall be appointed by the President of the Synod from the total number of doctrinal reviewers. b. The Board of Doctrinal Review shall meet as often as necessary, effect its own organization, and elect its officers. ce. Its duties shall be — 1. to provide guidelines for the work of the doc- trinal reviewers; 2. to concern itself with problem areas in the procedures of doctrinal review. 11.133 Appeals Procedure a. An appeal may be initiated by an author, the sponsoring group, or an executive staff member of that group. b. When an appeal is initiated, the material in question is to be submitted to the chairman of the Board of Doctrinal Review. c. After receipt of an appeal, the chairman of the Board of Doctrinal Review shall inform all concerned and shall appoint three members of the board to serve as a review panel and shall desig- nate one as its chairman. A panel member shall disqualify himself on the basis of any kind of per- sonal involvement in the issue. d. To aid objectivity, the identity of author and review panel shall ordinarily not be disclosed. However, consultation may at times be necessary for clarification. e. In making its recommendation the panel shall decide whether the item in question — 1. is suitable for publication or 2. may be published after alteration or 3. may be published as a study document or 4. shall be denied publication. f. The decision of the panel shall be determined by a majority vote and shall be final so far as the Board of Doctrinal Review is concerned. A report together with the panel’s minutes shall be sub- mitted to the chairman of the Board of Doctrinal Review. g. The chairman of the Board of Doctrinal Re- view shall report the decision to the author, the original reviewers, the sponsoring group, and the President of the Synod. Action: Adopted (16). To Adopt Guidelines for a Doctrinal Reviewer RESOLUTION 2-37 Report 2-03 (CW, p. 47) Wuereas, The Board of Doctrinal Review, in its report to the Synod, has included the following Guide- lines for the doctrinal reviewer: A doctrinal reviewer — 1. shall require that the doctrinal content of the material does not deviate from the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions and shall also be concerned that it does not contain statements which are inadequate, misleading, ambiguous, or lacking in doctrinal clarity. 2. shall be concerned that the resolutions of the Synod be honored and upheld and that positions deviat- ing from the doctrinal resolutions of the Synod be clearly identified as such. 3. may express his judgment in matters that relate to sound principles of interpretation, historical judg- ment, education, homiletics, worship, liturgics, pastoral care, and other similar areas. In such cases he cannot require a change on the part of the writer. 4. may request that specific material assigned to him also be reviewed by another reviewer. 5. shall be concerned with defamatory allegations which are contrary to Christian love or which may subject the President of the Synod or the Synod to civil actions for libel or slander. 6. shall offer a documented critique with specific constructive suggestions when changes in material are necessary.