# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S303 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) ECCLESIASTICAL SUPERVISION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION 303 WHEREAS, The 2001 opinion also went on to state, “There have been four synodical conventions since that opinion was issued, and no action has been taken to overrule it”; and WHEREAS, The structure of the Synod is not of a hierarchical nature, but rather of a congregational one; and WHEREAS, The Preamble to Chapter VIII of the Bylaws states, “Conflicts which occur in the body should be resolved promptly (Matt. 5:23-24; Eph. 4:26-27)”; and WuereaS, Having only the Synod in convention as the sole av- enue for dealing with ecclesiastical supervision of a Synod President does not allow for prompt or thorough dealing of ecclesiastical mat- ters nor appropriate means for a process of appeal; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod in convention set aside all opinions of the Commission on Constitutional Matters in regards to this issue of the ecclesiastical supervision of the President; and be it further Resolved, That the President be placed under the same process for supervision as any other rostered worker or congregation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and be it further Resolved, That the Vice-Presidents of the Synod shall, as a whole, determine whether ecclesiastical supervision is warranted in each particular situation with regards to charges filed against the President; and be it further Resolved, That the matter of ecclesiastical supervision of the President rest with the Board of Directors of the Synod only insofar as they are to facilitate the process outlined in Chapter VIII of the Bylaws (2001 Handbook), and be it finally Resolved, That changes in the Handbook reflect this procedure. St. Paul Wilson, TX To Affirm Opinion 01-2240 re Ecclesiastical Supervision of President WHEREAS, The Commission on Constitutional Matters was asked to provide an opinion on CCM Opinion 98-2122 concerning the ecclesiastical supervision of the President of the Synod; and WHEREAS, Two separate opinions of the CCM, one dating from 1992 and the other from 1998, concerning which person or entity has the ultimate ecclesiastical supervision of the President of the Synod, treat this subject; and WHEREAS, In the 1998 opinion (98-2122) the CCM stated that “The President of the Synod is under the ecclesiastical supervision of the President of the Missouri District” and based its opinion on Bylaw 2.41 d; and WHEREAS, The CCM, in issuing its 1998 opinion, overlooked the 1992 opinion, which, after careful study, came to the conclu- sion that the President of the Synod is not under the ecclesiastical supervision of the President of the Missouri District; and WHEREAS, The 1992 opinion was based primarily upon the Synod’s Constitution rather than upon any Bylaws; and WHEREAS, The correctness of the 1992 opinion was not over- ruled by a convention of the Synod; and WHEREAS, Opinion 01-2240 correctly calls attention to the 1992 opinion that only the Synod itself, in convention, can exercise au- thority over the Synod’s President; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, in con- vention, concur with Opinion 01-2240 of the CCM, which places the ultimate supervision of the Synod’s President in the hands of the Synod in convention. Christ Our Savior, Coppell, TX; Board of Directors, Texas District 8-29 To Clarify Expectations of Ecclesiastical Supervision WHEREAS, No human is above the will and Word of God; and WHEREAS, No human-made thought, declaration, proclamation, law, or ordinance is above or superior to the Word of God; and Wuereas, No human is without need of pastoral advice, coun- cil, and guidance; and WHEREAS, No pastor ranks higher than any other (Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1: S~7; S.A. Power, 65, Triglot, p. 523; S.A.-IL IV 9, Triglot, p. 473), or has lesser needs than another; and WHEREAS, No human is without need for the care, comfort, compassion, and knowledge of the true Word of the true triune God; and WuereAsS, No pastor should be without a flock or be assigned duties that cause him to lose his connection with his office of the public ministry; therefore be it Resolved, That all pastors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, immediately, publicly, and unequivocally recommit them- selves to their ordination vows as a servant of the Word of the true triune God, and continue to do so on a regular basis; and be it further Resolved, That all men chosen for positions of responsibility in the Synod immediately, publicly, and unequivocally recommit them- selves to their ordination vows as a servant of the Word of the true triune God, and continue to do on a regular basis; and be it further Resolved, That every officer or official of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod who is an ordained minister shall preach and administer the sacraments in an LCMS member congregation at least once per month; and be it further Resolved, That an ecclesiastical supervisor is entrusted with the duties and responsibilities of the pastoral advice, council, and guid- ance of another pastor—which includes the obligation of the care, comfort, compassion, and strengthening in the true knowledge of the Word of God; and be it further Resolved, That the temporal ecclesiastical supervisor of the pas- tor elected as President of the Synod will be the Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and be it finally Resolved, That for any act or deed done under the auspices of, or with permission from an ecclesiastical supervisor that violates the Confessions of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, or is otherwise at odds with the Word of God, both the actor and super- visor shall be accountable to the Council of Presidents and the Synod in convention. Bethel Lander, WY 8-30 To Affirm CCM Decisions re Ecclesiastical Supervision WHEREAS, Decisions of importance regarding ¢ doctrinal supervision through the office of the Synod President, * honoring and upholding Synod resolutions, and * decisions made by the Praesidium of the LCMS were made by the Synod’s Commission on Constitutional a ters early in 2003; and WHEREAS, These decisions support the polity and governance of the Synod constitutionally authorized in the Handbook of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and WHEREAS, These decisions strengthen ecclesiastical supervision and our “walking together” as a Synod; therefore be it Resolved, That the Atlantic District, assembled in convention, thank and reaffirm the Commission on Constitutional Matters in its decisions of Jan. 20-21, 2003 (02-2294, 02-2296, 02-2320, 02-2309, 02-2310, 02-2311, and 02-2313); and be it further