# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S274
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

274 STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION

7-114

To Request Rescission of Board of Directors’
Policy Change

WHEREAS, The Reporter (September 1996) has reported that “at
the request of President A. L. Barry’’ the synodical Board of Di-
rectors has revised the board’s policy so as to “require the Synod
President’s approval for the employment of senior staff by the
Synod’s program boards and commissions and for any staff posi-
tions requiring a [rostered] church worker’’; and

WHEREAS, Previously the policy has “required such approval
only for the principal staff member for each board or commission’’;
and

WHEREAS, The revised policy suggests a lack of confidence in
the judgment and competence of the senior staff of the Synod’s
boards and commissions, who, in accordance with Bylaw 3.69 e
had received prior approval for appointment from the President of
the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The policy change adopted by the Board of Direc-
tors grants an authority to the President that has no basis in the syn-
odical Bylaws (cf. Bylaw 3.69 e which grants the synodical Presi-
dent the prior right of approval for the executive officer of Board
entities as defined in Bylaw 3.55); and

WHEREAS, The concentration of such power in one individual
could at some time lead to an abuse of that power; and

WHEREAS, The Synod has need of varying viewpoints on the
staff of boards and commissions which might be excluded if this
power were to be abused; and

WHEREAS, The Synod has not been informed of any need for a
change in appointment procedures beyond those explicated in the
Bylaws; and

WuereAS, In the spirit of our “walking together’ it is impor-
tant to ascertain the will of the Synod in a matter of such signifi-
cance; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Florida-Georgia District request the synodi-
cal Board of Directors to reconsider this change and return to the
policy set forth in Bylaw 3.69 e; and be it further

Resolved, That if the Board of Directors fails to rescind their
unauthorized policy change, the Florida-Georgia District present
an overture to the 1998 convention of the Synod requesting a re-
turn to the synodical Handbook stipulations.

Florida-Georgia District

7-115

To Limit Synodical Power

WHEREAS, “The Synod, and every member of the Synod, ac-
cepts without reservation:

1. “The Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament as the
written Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and of
practice” (Constitution, Art. II).

2. “All the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church as a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the
Word of God, to wit: the three Ecumenical Creeds (the Apostles’
Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed), the Unaltered
Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession,
the Smalcald Articles, the Large Catechism of Luther, the Small
Catechism of Luther, and the Formula of Concord” (Constitution,
Art. IT); and

WHEREAS, The Bylaws of the Synod must be subordinate to the
Word of God; and

WHEREAS, Convention resolutions passed by majority vote are
subordinate to the Word of God; and

WHEREAS, Pronouncements by the synodical Praesidium are
subordinate to the Word of God; and

Wuereas, Blue Ribbon Committee reports are subordinate to
the Word of God; therefore be it

Resolved, “In its relation to its members the Synod is not an ec-
clesiastical government exercising legislative or coercive powers,
and with respect to the individual congregation’s right of self-gov-
ernment it is but an advisory body. 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 congre-
gation is concerned” (Constitution, Art. VII); and be it further

Resolved, That the leadership of the Synod recognize that or-
thodox congregations are able to discern the subordinate nature of
Synod’s Bylaws, convention resolutions, as well as fallible pro-
nouncements by the Praesidium, and the Synod’s Blue Ribbon
Committee; and be it further

Resolved, That we let the clear, unencumbered Word of God
and Lutheran Confessions be the guiding light when issues and
practices regarding total uniformity are not clear when carrying out
the mandate of Christ to make disciples of all nations.

Woodbury
Woodbury, MN

7-116

To Allow Pastors to Submit Overtures
to Synodical Convention

WHEREAS, The majority of overtures considered by Synod in
convention assembled deal with matters of doctrine and practice;
and

WHEREAS, The pastors of the Synod are formally trained and
experienced in applying biblical, confessional] doctrine to various
practical matters; and

WHEREAS, Pastors do not now have a direct means of presenting
such matters to the Synod in convention assembled; therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 3.19 a 2 be amended to allow pastors of
the Synod who are serving as called Word and Sacrament ministers
of member congregations of the Synod to submit overtures to syn-
odical conventions.

Bethany
Fort Wayne, IN

7-117

To Allow Submission of Convention Overtures
by Pastors and Circuit Pastors’ Conferences

WHEREAS, The majority of overtures considered by the Synod in
convention assembled deal with matters of doctrine and practice;
and

WHEREAS, The pastors of Synod are formally trained and expe-
rienced in applying biblical, confessional doctrine to various prac-
tical matters; and

WHEREAS, Pastors do not now have a direct means of presenting
such matters to the Synod in convention assembled; therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 3.19 a 2 be amended to allow pastors of
the Synod who are serving as called Word and Sacrament ministers
of member congregations of the Synod to submit overtures to syn-
odical conventions; and be it further

Resolved, That Bylaw 3.19 a 2 be amended further to allow
overtures to be submitted by Circuit pastors’ conferences, also
known as winkels. .

Faith
Woodville, TX