# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2016_S399
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION
Whereas, Resolutions and statements that are adopted by majority vote at Synod conventions merely indicate the theological opinion
of the majority at a Synod convention at a given time; and
Whereas, Unanimity and agreement in doctrine would not be
achieved or maintained by the imposition of resolutions and statements on the members of the Synod but only through submission to
the clear teaching of Scripture and the clear witness to that teaching
by the Confessions; and
Whereas, The Synod has historically understood opposition to
resolutions and statements by its members, especially when such resolutions and statements have been adopted by rather narrow majorities
in the somewhat politicized setting of a Synod convention, to be an
indication that the doctrinal issues in question were not yet clarified
or settled (i.e., a significant minority of members had not been evangelically persuaded); and
Whereas, Synod resolutions and statements that are regarded as
explanations of the Scriptures and the Confessions become in effect
additional confessions when such documents are given binding character; and
Whereas, CCM Opinion 13-2694 in effect amends Art. II by
requiring the Synod’s members to abide by, act, and teach in accord
with majority-approved doctrinal resolutions and statements that are
not mentioned in Art. II; and
Whereas, The Synod, being an advisory body, has no right to
impose on its members confessional standards other than those specifically mentioned in Art. II; and
Whereas, The Synod, being an advisory body, has no right to
impose on its members potentially transitory doctrinal resolutions
and statements; and
Whereas, CCM Opinion 13-2694 in effect denies the possibility
for dissent within the Synod since the CCM has ruled that any persistent public disagreement with a convention resolution or statement is
a violation of the confessional basis of the Synod (thus making majority votes on doctrinal resolutions and statements at Synod conventions
equal in authority to the Scriptures and Confessions themselves);
therefore be it
Resolved, That we, Circuit 9, request the Pacific Southwest District
to memorialize the 2016 Synod convention to declare CCM Opinion
13-2694 unconstitutional in that it amends Art. II and contravenes
Art. VI, VII, and VIII of the Synod’s Constitution; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod declare CCM Opinion 13-2694 to be
null and void; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its adherence to Art. II as its
sole confessional standard; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod encourage districts to organize conferences of laity (women, men, and youth) and ministers of religion to
address and openly discuss the Scriptures and the Confessions and
inquire into their teaching with regard to those theological matters
and problems that are currently contributing to theological disunity
within the Synod (e.g., admittance to the Lord’s Supper, the ordination of women, the doctrine of creation); and be it further
Resolved, That these regional conferences will draw upon the
expertise and insights of laity (women, men, and youth) and ministers of religion; and be it finally
Resolved, That these regional conferences would be encouraged to
share publicly with the Synod particular points of theological agreement and disagreement that emerge from their study of the Scriptures
and the Confessions and that surface as a result of evangelical discussion and persuasion.
Pacific Southwest District

399

11-33

To Affirm Article II as the Only Required
Confession
Whereas, Article II of the LCMS Constitution requires only subscription to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions found
in the Book of Concord as conditions of membership; and
Whereas, Certain recent actions of the Synod, especially the
expulsion of The Rev. Matthew Becker, have introduced other confessional standards of membership; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention reject as unconstitutional
attempts to require acceptance of resolutions, rulings, opinions, or
other interpretations issued by the Synod, in addition to our historic
confessional basis for membership.
Redeemer, Mercer Island, WA; Zion, Portland, OR
11-34

To Affirm the Advisory Nature of Synod
Whereas, Article VII of the LCMS Constitution states clearly that
“in relation to its members [congregations and professional church
workers] the Synod is not an ecclesiastical government exercising
legislative or coercive powers, and with respect to the individual congregation’s right of self-government it is but an advisory body”; and
Whereas, Article VII additionally states, “Accordingly, no resolution of the Synod imposing anything upon the individual congregation
is of binding force if it is not in accordance with the Word of God or
if it appears to be inexpedient as far as the condition of a congregation is concerned”; therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2016 LCMS convention affirm the advisory
nature of the Synod; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS clearly affirm that it is member congregations of the Synod and professional church workers of the
Synod who determine whether any resolution of the Synod, including opinions, rulings, policies, and other superficially authoritative
declarations, be in accordance with the Word of God and/or are expedient so far as the condition of a congregation is concerned.
Redeemer
Mercer Island, WA
11-35

To Affirm Advisory Nature of Synod
Whereas, The founders of the LCMS were adamant that the
larger church body be advisory in nature relative to its members, and
not an ecclesiastical authority to govern congregations; and
Whereas, Article VII of the LCMS Constitution clearly states
this principle: “[I]n its relation to its members [professional church
workers and congregations] the Synod is not an ecclesiastical government exercising legislative or coercive powers, and with respect
to the individual congregation’s right of self-government it is but an
advisory body”; and
Whereas, Article VII further states: “Accordingly, no resolution
of the Synod imposing anything upon the individual congregation is
of binding force if it is not in accordance with the Word of God or if
it appears to be inexpedient as far as the condition of a congregation
is concerned”; therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2016 LCMS convention affirm the advisory
nature of the Synod; and be it further
2016 Convention Workbook