# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S274 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 274 STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION the parish are contrary to Holy Scripture (1 Tim. 1:18-20; 2 Tim. 3:10—lla, 14—4:5); and be it further Resolved, That District Presidents also place on restricted status those pastors who in the conduct of either their pastoral or personal lives have been found to be unrepentant in leading a manifestly sin- ful life (1 Tim. 3:3b—7; 2 Tim. 2:22; Titus 1:7), including those found to have endangered the health and welfare of those entrusted to their care, e.g., by engaging in sexual sins, especially in situa- tions punishable by civil or criminal law (Rom. 13:1-5); and be it further Resolved, That District Presidents encourage such pastors— even though they may be or become repentant—to resign their call, as each man who holds the office of the Holy Ministry “must be blameless ... [and] must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil” (1 Tim. 3:2a, 7); and be it finally Resolved, That pastors and District Presidents alike be encour- aged to avail themselves of pastoral care in the form of private con- fession and holy absolution in order that opportunities for repen- tance and faith (2 Tim. 2:25—26, 3:16-4:2; James 5:13-16, 19-20) may not be neglected, that their own faith and life not be jeopar- dized. University Minneapolis, MN 7-100 To Amend Bylaw 4.71 re Responsibility of District Presidents Wuereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is made up of congregations and ordained and commissioned workers; and WHEREAS, District Presidents are elected by those congregations and workers in a given District, constituting Synod in that place; and WHEREAS, Art. VII of Synod’s Constitution declares that “the Synod at the national level is not an ecclesiastical government ex- ercising legislative or coercive powers” and is “but an advisory body”; and WHEREAS, To Carry out Christ’s mission to diverse populations crucial decisions need to be made as close to the local scene as pos- sible; and WHEREAS, The current reading and application of Bylaw 4.71b can lead to an unwanted centralization of power and the danger of coercive control; therefore be it Resolved, That District President’s primary responsibility be to the congregations and workers of the District that elected him; and be it further Resolved, That this convention memorialize the 2001 conven- tion of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to revise Synod Bylaw 4.71 as follows: PRESENF/PROPOSED WORDING Each District President shall represent the Synod in his re- spective territory. F He-sheli therefore-eause the reselitions-of the sions District and-the Synod: He shall therefore represent his District in the Council of Presidents and represent the concerns of the entire Synod to his District. He shall therefore make reg- ular reports to his District and to the President of the Synod. He shall therefore serve the congregations of the District as liaison between the congregations, District, and the Synod. Northwest District 2001 Convention Workbook 7-101 To Ask President to Take Action against District President WHEREAS, The President and Vice-President of the LCMS have found that Dr. Robert Nordlie, who is on the 2000 clergy roster of the LCMS, does not affirm the scriptural doctrine of justification; and Wuereas, Dr. Lane Seitz, Dr. Nordlie’s District President. who was asked to take action, has been defending Dr. Nordlie; there- fore be it Resolved, That we ask Dr. Barry to remove Dr. Seitz as District President or any District President who defends Dr. Nordlie. Redeemer, St. Clair Shores, MI; Trinity, New Haven, MO, Faith, Corning, NY; Concordia, Fair Haven, MN; Redeemer, John Day, OR 7-102 To Require Parish Experience for District and National Officer Positions WHEREAS, There have been many cases of ordained District and synodical officials (including professors) who were elected or ap- pointed to their positions with little or no parish experience; and WHEREAS, Congregations rely on many of these ordained clergy for guidance and help; therefore be it Resolved, That no ordained minister may hold a synodical or District office until he has ten consecutive years of parish experi- ence; and be it further Resolved, That in rare cases where an ordained minister’s ex- perience and/or skill may make him suitable for the job without ten years of parish experience, that a resolution of the Council of Pres- idents may waive the requirement; and be it finally Resolved, That those ordained clergy holding synodical or Dis- trict positions be required to have an additional minimum of five years of parish experience after serving for twelve years, or they may satisfy this requirement if they serve as at least an assistant part-time pastor for a parish near where they hold office during the time they serve as a synodical or District official. To qualify as “part-time” they must be paid, preach at the congregation on a reg- ular basis, and participate in parish ministry. The paying of bencfits would be shared correspondingly between the congregation and the synodical or District office where the pastor also serves. Faith Hugoton, KS 7-103 To Create Term Limits for Synod Officers WHEREAS, All members of synodical boards and commissions are limited in the number of terms that may be served; and WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has functioned just fine under such a system; and WHEREAS, Only four positions do not follow the standard prac- tice in limiting the number of terms; and WHEREAS; There are several thousand members in the Synod who are eligible to fill these positions; and Wuereas, New members of these positions would help ensure that the LCMS will continuc to “make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities, and the world” (LCMS mission statement); therefore be it Resolved, That Bylaw 3.6] read as follows: a. All officers, members of all synodical boards and com- missions shall be ineligible for reelection or reappointment to the same office, board, or commission after serving a total of two successive six-year elected terms or three successive ap- pointed or elected three-year terms, unless otherwise provided in