# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S280 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) ————————— 280 STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION 7-136 To Amend Synodical Bylaw 5.13 i Wuereas, Synod’s Constitution states in Art. VIL: “No resolu- tion of the Synod imposing anything upon the individual congre~- gation 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”; and WHEREAS, It is desirable for pastors to have the same right not to be bound by resolutions of the Synod that are “not in accordance with the Word or God” or which appear “to be inexpedient as far as the condition of a congregation is concerned”, and WHEREAS, Many resolutions and programs of the Synod lie in the area of adiaphora; and WHEREAS, Pastors who may be qualified to carry out the func- tions of Circuit Counselor may properly question certain resolu- tions and programs of the Synod in areas of adiaphora, especially as to their applicability to the local Circuit; and WHEREAS, We do not wish to force Circuit Counselors to make an unethical choice between following Bylaw 5.13 i or following their conscience and pastoral judgment based on Scripture, the Lutheran Confessions, and their knowledge of local needs; there- fore be it Resolved, That Bylaw 5.13 i be amended as follows: PRESENF/ PROPOSED WORDING i. He shall be conversant with : synodwide and District resolutions and programs and shall be responsible for com- municating them to the congregations of the Circuit. Quincy Circuit Forum Central Illinois District 7-137 To Encourage Congregations to Study Art. VII of Synodical Constitution and Bylaw 2.39 b WHEREAS, Since its founding The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has been concerned about submitting to the Word of God and the Lutheran confessional writings; and WHEREAS, The Saxon colonists sought to insure such submis- sion by developing a polity which was neither strictly hierarchical nor narrowly congregational; and WHEREAS, The synodical Constitution to this day grants both broad powers of oversight to the Synod and its hierarchy as well as to the congregation; and WHEREAS, The historical and current purpose for this congrega- tional polity was and is to mitigate against a Synod or synodical hierarchy becoming overly autocratic or charismatic; and WHEREAS, The original 1854 Constitution said “should a con- gregation find a synodical resolution not in conformity with the Word of God or unsuited its circumstances, it has the right to dis- regard, that is, reject it”; and WHEREAS, At some point between 1920 and 1932, the same concern came to be expressed as “in its relation to its members 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. 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 condi- tion of the congregation is concerned”; and WHEREAS, The original framers of the synodical Constitution, based on the theology of the priesthood of all believers, asserted that the laity as well as the clergy were bound to interpret the Scrip- tures and to judge doctrine; and WHEREAS, These principles became codified in the synodical Constitution so that congregations were given leave to judge the expedience of synodical doctrine and practice for their contexts in order to guard against charismatic and autocratic rule; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church——Missouri Synod gath- ered in convention in 1998 give gratitude to God for this theologi- cal heritage: that guarantees congregations the right of immediate access to the divine through their interpretation and application of the Word of God in their contexts. Trinity Hudson, W1 7-138 To Study Formation of “Daughter” Church Body WHEREAS, Since the earliest times in the Christian church, many situations have arisen where there has been unity in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, even as there has been diversity in practices that have caused division in the church, including the circumcision of Gentile Christians (Acts 15 and the epistle to the Galatians) and the sepa- ration of Barnabas and Paul over missionary work in Cyprus (Acts 15); and WHEREAS, Similar situations of unity in the Gospel of Jesus Christ with diversity in practice have also caused division in the church among members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and its predecessor entity, including the earliest debates on church polity, later debates on the place of synodical resolutions in the doctrinal life of the Synod, more recent controversies at the St. Louis Seminary, and current division over perceived legalism and uncharacteristic control by synodical leadership; and WHEREAS, The current environment of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod seems again to be on a course of unhealthy divi- sion and rancor over practices related to the role of women in the church, worship styles, and communion practices that belies our identity and definition as a “synod” (walking together) and over- looks our cherished heritage set forth in Art. VII of our Constitution and further defined by Bylaw 2.39 b; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod gath- ered in convention in 1998 acknowledge that among our members there is unity in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the view of Scrip- ture as the inspired, inerrant Word of God while there is diversity in biblical interpretation and in congregational practices, especially with regard to the role of women in the church, worship styles, and Communion practices; and be it further Resolved, That, to avoid the unhealthy rancor and animosity that can so easily entangle the church and keep it from its primary mis- sion of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a hurting, sinful world, the Council of Presidents of The Lutheran Church—Mis- souri Synod give careful study to our historical principles embodied in Art. VII and Bylaw 2.39 b and recognize that we are a denomi- nation that shares the unity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, views Scripture as the inspired, inerrant Word of God and so encourages (1) exegetical debate in biblical interpretation and (2) congrega- tional autonomy in accordance with the constitutional provisions identified above; and be it further Resolved, That this study include consideration of processes whereby members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod who do not desire or elect to act in accordance with these historical un- derstandings of the freedom encouraged within our unity but in- stead value uniformity in practice, be offered the opportunity to join in the birthing of a daughter Lutheran church body that main- tains fellowship with the historic Lutheran Church—Missouri and allows workers to maintain their status with the worker benefit pro- grams of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and be it finally Resolved, That the Council of Presidents submit the results of this study to the church-at-large by Sept. 1, 2000, for study by the members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod prior to the 2001 synodical convention. Trinity Hudson, WI