# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S304 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 304 ECCLESIASTICAL SUPERVISION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION Resolved, That the Atlantic District assembled in convention encourage delegates to the 2004 national convention of the LCMS to affirm the appropriate decisions reached by the CCM. Atlantic District 8-31 To Amend Bylaws to Clarify Role of Ecclesiastical Supervision WHEREAS, There has been confusion of late among the mem- bers of the Synod as to the role ecclesiastical supervision is to play in the life and ministries of its members; and WHEREAS, The Commission on Constitutional Matters has tuled on this matter (Opinions 01-2240, 02-2296, 02-2309, and 02- 2320), and a number of District conventions during 2003 have passed resolutions seeking to have these opinions set aside; and WHEREAS, Among the objectives of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod as set forth in Art. III of its Constitution are as fol- lows: “8. Provide evangelical supervision, counsel, and care for pas- tors, teachers, and other professional church workers of the Synod in the performance of their official duties; 9. Provide protection for congregations, pastors, teachers, and other church workers in the performance of their official duties and the maintenance of their rights”; and WHEREAS, There is a need not only for individuals to be held accountable for their actions, but also for the Synod to provide ec- clesiastical supervision upon which individuals may rely for guid- ance; and WuereEaS, When there are doctrinal disagreements and disputes there are within the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod proce- dures for discussion of these disputes (Bylaws 1.09 and 2.39) other than the bringing of charges and threats of expulsion from the Synod, which are not conducive to calm and careful discussion and tends to bring further discord and division; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod in convention affirm the process of ecclesiastical supervision as contained in the Bylaws of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and as explicated in the opin- ions of the CCM (Opinions 01-2240, 02-2296, 02-2309, and 02- 2320); and be it further Resolved, That the Synod in convention clarify and strengthen the procedures for ecclesiastical supervision by District Presidents by adopting the following amendment to the Bylaws: PROPOSED WORDING 4.76 Ecclesiastical Supervision The President of the Synod is charged with the duty of su- pervising the doctrine taught and practiced in the Synod. In the Districts of the Synod, he is to carry out his ecclesiastical duties h the District’s Presi Bylaw 3.1 1 rd- ingly, the District President is to supervise the doctrine taught and practiced in his District and by those placed under his ec- clesiastical supervision (see Bylaw 2.41), subject to the super- vision of the President of the Synod, who is the District Presi- dent’s ecclesiastical supervisor (Bylaw 3.101 A 1). a. The District President shall ided in his vision of h ine, life, and official ini i f j his ecclesiastical supervision by the confessional standards of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as stated in Art. II of the Constitution and as further explicated and applied by the synodically adopted doctrinal statements and doctrinal resolu- tions. He is to advise, admonish, and Teprove those entrusted to his supervision. He shall i | hi command to promote and maintain unity of doctrine and prac- tice within the District of which he is the President. b. Congregational an: ividual members of the District and all 1S W iasti Tvision of District President (see Bylaw 2.41) are urged to request his counsel and advice in all matters where there is uncertainty or there may be dispute as to the proper course of action. While re- taining the right of brotherly dissent. members are expected to be_ guided by the counsel and advice of their ecclesiastical su- pervisor. Failure to heed his counsel and advice could form the basis for disciplinary action as provided in Art. XIII. c. If the member dissents from the counsel given by the ec- cleslastical supervisor, he may appeal the matter to the appro- riate ission of the fe lin ling to the Commission on Theology and Church Relations if the matter is doctrinal in nature or the Commission on Constitutional Matters if it concerns procedures or polity. The President of the Syno ecclesiastical supervisor of the District President, Bylaw 3.101 A 1) should also be consulted. Until such time as a ruling is is- sued, the member is to heed the counsel and advice of his ec- clesiastical supervisor and both supervisor and member are to heed the ruling of the appropriate commission and the Synod President. Further dissent should be expressed according to the roper procedures asset forth in the Constitution an law (see Bylaws 2.39 c and 109 d). d. If another member of the Synod objects to actions taken after consultation with the ecclesiastical supervisor, he should first discuss his concerns with the ical member le- siastical supervisor. If the matter remains unresolved, he may appeal the matter to the appropriate commission of the Synod and the President of the Synod. While retaining the right of brotherly dissent, members are expected to accept the rulings of the commissions and President of the Synod, Fu: issen' should be expressed according to the proper procedures as set forth in the Constitution and Bylaws. Where members of the Synod have doctrinal disagreements and disputes, mechanisms are provided to allow for dialogue and discussion and the adop- tion of doctrinal positions (see Bylaws 1.09 and 2.39). Such dis- agreements or disputes, however, are not intended to lead to the bringin h: er Bylaw 2.27 or the implementation of ispute resol ‘ocess under Chapter VIII of the Bylaws: and be it finally Resolved, That the Synod in convention clarify and strengthen the procedures for ecclesiastical supervision by the President of the Synod by adopting the following amendment to the Bylaws: 3.101 Powers and Duties A. Ecclesiastical The President shall 1. supervise the doctrine taught and practiced in the Synod, including all Synodwide corporate entities. In the Districts of the Synod, he shall carry out his ecclesiastical duties through the District’s President. The President of the Synod has ecclesi- astical supervision of all officers of the Synod and its agencies, the individual Districts of the Synod, and all District Presidents; PROPOSED WORDING a. The President shall be guided in his supervision of the doctrine, life, and official administration of those subject to his clesiasti 1 Tvision b th nfession ni Luth h—Mi ted i lof Constitution and as further explic, Li - dically ad inal mi rin: luti He is to advi dmonish, and reprove those en! to his su- pervision. He shall conscientiously use all means at his com- m: maintain uni f trine an tice within the Synod. b. Those who are under the ecclesiastical supervision of the President are urged to request his counsel and advice in all mat- ters where there is uncertainty or there may be dispute as to the proper course of action. In the case of District Presidents, the President is also to be consulted when in the course of their ec- clesiastical supervision their counsel is disputed. While retaining the right of brotherly dissent. they are expected to be guided by counsel an vice of their eccl ical Falun heed hi: | advi 1 i rm _the basi isf ipli- ni jon TOV in Art. XIL ¢. If the member dissents from the counsel given by the President, he m: al the matter to the appropriate commis- ion of th for a rulin lin he Commission on | ‘Church elations if the matter is inal in na- re or th mmission on Constitutional M sifi mm: