# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S164
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

164

RESOLUTIONS

WHEREAS, Bylaw 3.905 a states that the Commission on
Constitutional Matters shall “examine all reports and overtures to the Synod asking for amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod or which in any matter affect
the Constitution and Bylaws, to determine their agreement
in content and language with the Constitution and Bylaws
of the Synod”; and
WHEREAS, Bylaw 15.01 d states that amendments to the
Bylaws are to be “examined by the Commission on Constitutional Matters prior to presentation to the convention to
determine that they are not in conflict with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod”; and
WHEREAS, The Commission on Constitutional Matters
has only partially reviewed the report of the Commission
on Structure and has noted some concerns; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Commission on Structure’s report on
the LCMS Handbook reorganization be referred back to the
existing pro tem Commission on Structure and they continue to deal on a pro tem basis with this matter only; and
be it further
Resolved, That the Commission on Constitutional Matters expeditiously complete its review and forward concerns
to this pro tem Commission on Structure; and be it further
Resolved, That concerns of the Commission on Constitutional Matters be taken into consideration by this pro tem
Commission on Structure before presenting a report to the
2004 convention; and be it further
Resolved, That, since the delegates to the 2001 convention serve for a period of three years, the delegates are instructed to report on this matter and to review the proposed
Handbook distributed to the delegates prior to the 2001
convention in the Circuits they represent and forward comments to the pro tem Commission on Structure; and be it
finally
Resolved, That the final report of the pro tem Commission on Structure and Commission on Constitutional Matters be given to the members of the Synod one year prior to
the 2004 convention.
Action: Adopted (4)
(The resolution was first discussed in session 2, when an
amendment to delete the words pro tem wherever they occur and
to strike the word only in the first resolve failed. When discussion
resumed in session 4, an amendment to remove the fourth resolve
also failed. The resolution was adopted without amendment [yes:
914; no: 203].)

To Observe Constitution and Bylaws
of Synod
RESOLUTION 7-03C
Report 4-02 (CW, pp. 52–56); Overtures 7-115–16
(CW, p. 279)
Whereas, The apostle Paul says to us in 1 Cor. 4:1–2, “So
then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as
those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove
faithful”; and
WHEREAS, Concerns have been raised about agencies of
the Synod (Bylaw 3.51 a), including synodwide corporate
entities (Bylaw 3.51 m), assuming powers not granted to
them, not adhering to the Constitution and Bylaws of the
200l Convention Proceedings

Synod, and not adhering to the articles of incorporation and
bylaws of the entity; and
WHEREAS, Article XI of the Constitution of the Synod
states, “The officers of the Synod must assume only such
rights as have been expressly conferred upon them by the
Synod, and in everything pertaining to their rights and the
performance of their duties they are responsible to the
Synod”; and
WHEREAS, All officers and agencies of the Synod shall be
accountable to the Synod (Bylaw 1.07); therefore be it
Resolved, That officers of synodwide corporate entities
may assume only such rights and powers as have been expressly granted to them by the Constitution and Bylaws of
the Synod and their own articles of incorporation and bylaws (Bylaw 3.195 a); and be it further
Resolved, That we reaffirm the expectation that all officers, staff members, and agencies of the Synod adhere to
the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod and, where applicable, the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the entity and assume only those powers granted to them; and be
it further
Resolved, That the President and Board of Directors of
the Synod shall see to it that the Constitution and Bylaws
of the Synod are observed; and be it further
Resolved, That when a failure to comply with the Constitution and Bylaws is discovered, the President or Board
of Directors, whichever is charged with supervision or oversight, shall act to correct such failure to comply as quickly
as possible; and be it finally
Resolved, That all action taken in this resolution shall be
used to help carry out “The Great Commission” and shall
not in any way detract or distract from the primary mission
of God’s kingdom here on earth. We will remember 1-02!
Action: Adopted (12)
(An earlier version of this resolution, Res. 7-03B, was adopted
by the convention in session 10 [yes: 942; no: 142]. The resolution
was then referred by common consent back to the committee to
consider potential legal concerns. Res. 7-03C, a revision intended
to address Bylaw concerns, was presented by the committee in
session 12. An amendment to change the third resolve by adding
the words by a regular review of the minutes of the agencies of the
Synod after the words see to it failed. The revised resolution was
adopted without amendment [yes: 702; no: 181]. The final resolve
is added as required by Res. 1-02, adopted by the convention in an
earlier session.)

To Promote Truth and Integrity
in Convention Overtures
RESOLUTION 7-04A
Overture 7-126 (CW, pp. 282–83 )
WHEREAS, St. Paul says in Eph 4:17–5:2, “So I tell you
this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer
live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They
are darkened in their understanding and separated from
the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due
to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity,
they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for
more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.
Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accor-