# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S293 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) NATIONAL/DISTRICT SYNOD RELATIONS 293 8-15 To Consider Task Force Report Section by Section WHEREAS, The report from the Task Force on National/District Synod Relations is long and complex; and WHEREAS, All the parts of the report vary in degrees of impor- tance and implications; and WHEREAS, Some of the sections of the report call for a more thorough discussion by the convention than other sections; there- fore be it Resolved, That the report be divided into sections by the floor committee; and be it further Resolved, That the convention discuss the report in seriatim (section by section); and be it finally Resolved, That each section, in turn, be accepted or rejected by the convention. Board of Directors Michigan District 8-16 To Clarify Relationship between Synod and Districts Please refer to the Report of the Task Force on National/Dis- trict Synod Relations for the text of this overture, p. 103. 8-17 To Affirm that Synod Serves Its Members Rationale Some confusion has arisen as a result of the Preliminary Report of the Task Force on National/District Relations, and at times there appears to be confusion in the task force report itself. The confu- sion is as follows: Some apparently believe and advocate an atti- tude and structure that have the members serving the Synod rather than the Synod serving its members. If control is the central issue for our life together, then it follows that the Synod is in charge and its members exist to serve the Synod. But Lutheran theology and practice from the time of the Reformation have emphasized that the Gospel and service rather than control are at the center of the life of the church and that the institutional church, which in our case is the Synod, must serve the ministry of Gospel and the people of God. We must avoid any return to institutional polity for exer- cising control rather than supporting and expanding the mission and ministry of the church. Luther, the Reformers, Walther, Pieper, and many others have left us a precious and clear heritage that is based on our Lord’s concept of ministry of loving service rather than sceking power and control in order to be served (see Matt. 20:24—28; Mark 10:41-45). We need to help one another so that the Synod consistently serves its members rather than providing an upside-down polity where the Synod is at the top controlling, leg- islating, and directing its members in coercive ways. Resolved, That the Synod gathered in convention clearly affirm that it exists to serve its members; and be it further Resolved, That all members of the Synod gratefully support the work of the Synod as it carries out all its objectives delineated in such service-oriented language in Art. III of its Constitution; and be it finally Resolved, That all officers, boards, and committees of the Synod and Districts be commended in their helpful work to estab- lish more clearly that the Synod is directed by an attitude and prac- tice that emphasize service rather than power and control. Resurrection Coronado, CA 8-18 To Provide Manual for Visitation of Congregations Please refer to the Report of the Task Force on National/Dis- trict Synod Relations for the text of this overture. p. 104. 8-19 To Clearly Delineate Ministry of Visitation in Bylaws Please refer to the Report of the Task Force on National/Dis- trict Synod Relations for the text of this overture, p. 105. 8-20 To Provide Visitation Training for Circuit Counselors WHEREAS, A primary duty of the Circuit Counselor is the visi- tation of his Circuit's churches as the representative of the District and synodical President; and WHEREAS, The Circuit Counselor is concerned for the goals of the Synod, including the use of synodically approved worship ma- terials; and WHEREAS, The visitation of the Circuit Counselor is the official observation of the theology and practice of the congregation on be- half of the Synod’s elected Presidents of District and the Synod; and Wuereas, C. F. W. Walther, the first President of our Synod, wrote: “It is therefore not enough that a synod, so to speak, have only the official Lutheran statement, ‘A synod true to the Confes- sions, adhering without reservation to all the Symbols (confessional statements).’ It is not enough that it receive only such pastors and teachers as prove themselves faithful to the Confessions. It must also see to it that they remain that way: for only ‘he that is faithful to the end shall be saved’ (Matt. 10:22). But it is impossible for a sizeable church body to remain in the true faith if there isn’t a con- stant check to see that everything still is as it was in the beginning, when the pastor came to the congregation. Without visitation it is probably impossible for a church to remain in unity of faith and confession” (Essays for the Church, vol. If, CPH, 1992, p. 19); and WHEREAS, These visitations need to include both encourage- ment and admonition also in the areas of preaching and worship, for the sake of Christ’s people and the centrality of God’s Word made flesh in Christ and given to His people in Word and Sacra- ment; therefore be it Resolved, That Circuit Counselors be given training by the Praesidium during the upcoming year of the triennium on biblical and confessional principles that inform our worship practice. in- cluding tools for evaluating the content of hymns and any locally produced liturgies for doctrinal and Christological content, as well as identifying themes and presentations that do not promote repen- tance and glorify Christ. the Savior, but promote self-glory; and be it further Resolved, That these guidelines be applied to the subsequent re- quired visitation of the Circuit congregations and that encourage- ment and admonition be given and received in a brotherly manner, and be it further Resolved, That the Praesidium be responsible not only for the training but also for the assurance that these visitations take place in each congregation; and be it finally Resolved, That the Praesidium be informed by the Circuit Coun- selors of the visitations and their results, with the follow-up being done by District Presidents and finally by the synodical President when resolution of problematic practice is not possible during Cir- cuit visitations. Emmanuel Dearborn, MI 2001 Convention Workbook