# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S137 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES 137 WHEREAS, In the “hire and fire” mentality of secular society, faithful pastors in congregations are being removed for nonbibli- cal reasons; and WHEREAS, This has become a problem so serious in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod that the following letter was written by Rev. David Bode (Minnesota North District Prestdent) and which letter was commended to the church by Rev. A. L. Barry (President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod): A Letter from the President, Vice-Presidents and Circuit Coun- selors of the Minnesota North District to the Pastors and Con- gregations of the District Concerning the Improper Removal of Pastors from Their Calls October 29, 1999 Dear Pastors and Congregations of the Minnesota North District of the LCMS: There is a problem in our Synod which is a great concern to me, as district president, and to the vice-presidents and circuit counselors. It is the problem of the improper removal of pastors from their Calls by their congregations. Something needs to change. All too often across Synod pastors are being dismissed with- out charges and without good cause. This action is taken with little or no effort to resolve the difficulty. This does great dam- age to the congregation, the pastor, and our Synod. Congregations and pastors are to use Matthew I8 as a guide in dealing with each other’s sin. If someone sins, the first step is to go and talk to the person and hopefully straighten things out. The goal is for us to do as Jesus does for us—forgive. The second step of Matthew 18 is to take one or two wit- nesses along. We, your district president, vice-presidents and circuit counselors stand ready to help when pastor and people cannot resolve the differences that may divide them. Please think of us as potential witnesses, available to help God’s people to be reconciled to one another. In regard to the dismissal of a pastor, we hold, on the basis of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, that a pastor may rightly be removed from office for one of very few reasons: a) the persistent adherence to false doctrine; b) leading of a scan- dalous life (a life of manifest sin which must disqualify a pastor from office—see | Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6—-9); c) the willful and persistent dereliction of duty (the duty to preach, teach, ad- minister the Sacraments, pray for the people of God, and visit the sick and the shut-in); or d) prolonged incapacity (due to se- nility or debilitating injury or illness). Unless a pastor may be honestly charged with one of these causes for removal and those charges reasonably backed up by evidence, a man may not be deprived of the office of ministry. Even when a pastor has been guilty of teaching false doctrine or failure to perform his duties, he, like every Christian, should have the opportunity to recant his false teaching and repent of his sins and make amends. It is the policy of the Minnesota North District that any con- gregation who attempts to remove a pastor without cause, charges, and proof will be advised by the district president that any such resolution is null and void. A pastor removed without cause, charges, and proof will still be considered the pastor of that congregation. While it is true that congregations are autonomous within the Synod, each congregation—and each pastor—surrenders a degree of autonomy by joining the Synod. One thing that we agree on by taking membership in the Synod, is that we will deal with one another according to agreed-upon principles. The prin- ciple that no pastor abuse his congregation is one such princi- ple, and Synod and District exist to come to the aid of an abused congregation and protect it from an unfaithful pastor. Another principle we have long agreed upon is that no congregation may abuse her pastor, or remove him from office without just cause: We have all surrendered our autonomy in those regards by tak- ing membership in the Missouri Synod. Even removing a “bad” pastor without due process and proper charges and evidence pre- sented does violence to everyone involved, and simply cannot be permitted. ; There are good and proper ways of dealing with disputes be- tween pastors and congregations. God has given us a number of tools which we can use to help. Many in the district have re- ceived Scriptural training on how to help congregations and pas- tors reconcile. There is also a mentoring program available which pairs one pastor with another. An experienced pastor may be able to help a pastor and congregation which are having dif- ficulties. Reconciliation is the goal, and with God’s help we will be able to achieve that goal. We must remember that the “old evil foe” is always at work among us, seeking to destroy and divide us. Paul tells us in Eph- esians, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” We must be prepared to fight with the Word of God and prayer, with hu- mility and repentance, with patience and forgiveness. We must learn to fight for one another, not with or against each other. If problems arise, and they will from time to time, we can find a solution together. We can serve Christ and His Church and our beloved Synod by doing all things “decently and in order” and to the glory of God. If we are faithful, God will bless us abundantly. It is better to lose a battle fighting faithfully than to win it by fighting with Satan’s tools—or to lose it by not fighting at all. We will not win every battle, but we will strive to accomplish the will of God. May God be with us all. May God help us to be the church God wants us to be. In His name, The Reverend David A. Bode on behalf of the Vice Presidents and Circuit Counselors WHEREAS, It would be unifying and beneficial for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to affirm the doctrinal basis for what is acceptable and what is not acceptable for removing pastors; and WHEREAS, It would be good churchmanship and pastorally lov- ing to put this doctrine into practice in The Lutheran Church—Mis- souri Synod; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con- vention affirm the doctrine and put into practice the policy con- tained in Rev. David A. Bode’s letter concerning this matter; and be it further ~ Resolved, That congregations, pastors, District Presidents, and synodical officials be encouraged to read, study, and abide by the doctrine and practice that the letter declares. Our Redeemer Emmett, ID 2-13 To Authorize Task Force for Study of Synod Staffing WHEREAS, Commencing with the earliest days of the LCMS, Dr. C. F. W. Walther vigorously supported the education of men to be ordained as pastors to preach the Word of God and to admin- ister the Sacraments; and WHEREAS, The Synod presently has approximately 6,000 con- gregations, with approximately 900 pulpit vacancies; and WHEREAS, The seminaries currently graduate approximately 200 new pastors annually, while approximately 400 pastors vacate their pulpits, resulting in a growing increase in vacancies, which trend shows no sign of abating and dictates a very genuine concern for the future well-being of the LCMS; and WHEREAS, There is an obvious need to increase the number of properly trained pastors from the seminaries to keep pace with the deaths, retirements, and resignations of pastors; and WHEREAS, Since 1980 over 200 pastors who have vacated parish pulpits have been added to the staffs of synodical and Dis- trict offices; and WHEREAS, This increase in synodical and District staffing has occurred at the same time that there has been a decline in the num- ber of pastors in the Synod; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod in convention authorize the President of the Synod to appoint a Task Force of five laymen who are mem- bers of congregations of the LCMS, five parish pastors who are members of the Synod but not serving at a District or Synod office, 2001 Convention Workbook