# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S280
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

280 STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION

synodical convention unless and until it has been approved by a
synodical convention.”

Circuit 6

Northern Illinois District

7-89

To Publish All CCM Opinions

WHEREAS, Bylaw 3.905 d provides that “an opinion rendered by
the commission (on Constitutional Matters) shall be binding on the
question unless and until it is overturned by a synodical conven-
tion”; and

WHEREAS, The CCM is not currently directed to present all of .

its opinions to the members of the Synod, which makes it possible
for opinions of the CCM to become binding on members of the
Synod without their knowledge; therefore be it

Resolved, That the CCM be required to publish all of its opin-
ions in an official publication within a reasonable period of time,
make them available on the synodical Web site, and include them
in the following synodical convention workbook under CCM head-
ings and with proper sequential numbers.

Florida-Georgia District

7-90

To Affirm Role of Commission
on Constitutional Matters

WHEREAS, Recent actions of the Board of Directors (i.e., de-
claring opinions of the Commission on Constitutional Matters to
be of no effect) would seem to indicate that several members of the
Board of Directors are not willing to abide by the commonly un-
derstood meaning of the Synod’s Bylaws; and

WHEREAS, It would benefit the Synod if its directors could work
in agreement with the traditional understanding of the role of the
CCM that its opinions are to be honored and upheld unless over-
ruled by the Synod in convention; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod, in convention, clearly declare that
opinions of the CCM are to be honored and upheld unless over-
ruled by a subsequent convention; and be it further

Resolved, That all boards and commissions of the Synod are to
work with this understanding of the role of the CCM opinions.

Trinity
Walnut Creek, CA

7-91

To Refer to Opinions of CCM
as “Opinions,” Not “Rulings”
WHEREAS, It has been our practice to ask for opinions from wise

and scholarly people in Synod when questions regarding Synod’s
Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions have been raised; and

Wuereas, The CCM has been charged with the task of giving
“opinions” in such matters (Bylaw 3.905 d); and

WHEREAS, Such opinions have been called “rulings” in recent
years; and

WHEREAS, The term “ruling” is not used in the Bylaws; and
WHEREAS, The term “ruling” connotes a legalistic and binding
sense; therefore be it
Resolved, That the opinions of the CCM be presented as “opin-
ions” and not “rulings.”
Trinity
Roselle, IL

7-92

To Exhort All Members and Employees of Synod
to Reaffirm and Recommit Themselves
to Rules of Confidentiality and Due Process

WHEREAS, The holy Christian church has long honored the pro-
priety and necessity of confidentiality in the work of the church;
and

WHEREAS, When officers and members of the Synod set aside
the propriety and necessity of such confidentiality, their actions
may escalate tensions and further polarize issues within our Synod;
and

WHEREAS, Such impropriety may deny a member of the Synod
any real measure of due process before the whole Synod; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the Southern IHinois District memorialize the
2004 Synod convention to exhort all officers, officials, and em-
ployees of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to reaffirm and
renew their commitment to the rules of confidentiality and due
process that have served the holy Christian church so well and so
long.

Southern Ilinois District

7-93

To Change Adoption Requirement
for Doctrinal Resolutions

Rationale

Bylaw 1.09 a establishes the right of the Synod to adopt doctri-
nal resolutions and statements. Paragraphs b and c of Bylaw 1.09
establish the purpose for doctrinal resolutions and statements. Doc-
trinal resolutions “may be adopted for the information, counsel, and
guidance of the membership.” Doctrinal statements “set forth in
greater detail the position of the Synod especially in controverted
matters.”

At present, different requirements for adoption exist for doctri-
nal resolutions and statements. Doctrinal resolutions “come into
being in the same manner as any other resolutions of a synodical
convention” (Bylaw 1.09 b), while doctrinal statements result from
a lengthy process that involves consideration by the Commission
on Theology and Church Relations, a two-thirds affirmative vote
of a convention of the Synod, and ratification by a two-thirds ma-
jority vote of the congregations of the Synod.

Both doctrinal resolutions and doctrinal statements are to be in
harmony with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions and are to
be honored and upheld until such time as the Synod amends or re-
peals them. The following resolution is intended to clarify the pur-
poses of doctrinal resolutions and doctrinal statements, adding a
change in the requirement for adoption of doctrinal resolutions that
will serve to help determine when a resolution is addressing a con-
troverted matter that should be addressed by a doctrinal statement.

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Resolved, That Bylaw 1.09 be amended as follows:

a. The Synod, in seeking to clarify its witness or to settle
doctrinal controversy, so that all who seek to participate in the
relationships that exist within and through the Synod may bene-
fit and may act to benefit others, shall have the right to adopt
doctrinal statements and doctrinal resolutions end-stetements
which are in harmony with Scripture and the Lutheran Confes-

sions. They shall conform to the confessional position of the
Syn t_ forth i i i ituti <

inarily ci i tl ipturt
Lutheran Confessions, and any previously adopted official doc-
trinal statements and doctrinal resolutions of the Synod.

b. Doctrinal resolutions may be adopted for the information,
counsel, and guidance of the membership. Fhey-shel-eenform