# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2007_S252 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 252 PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION son(s) from office, including actions such as, but not limited to, conduct not in accord with the objectives and practice of the Synod, action detrimental to the welfare of the Synod, the assumption of rights not expressly conferred upon them by the Synod, or the per- formance of those rights that have been conferred upon them in a manner contrary to the biblical principles of Christian faith and life or contrary to the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod; and WHEREAS, The Bylaws of the Synod do not set forth a proce- dure for the removal of an officer(s) of the Synod from office be- tween conventions of the Synod, apart from, where applicable, re- moval from the roster of Synod; and WHEREAS, For the sake of the life and well-being of the Synod such procedure could serve to protect the Synod from harm and in- jury; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod in convention establish a procedure for removing an officer from an office in the Synod, including in- dividual members of the collective office of the Board of Direc- tors; and be it further Resolved, That this procedure be the same as that established for dispute resolution of the Synod (Bylaw 1.10); and be it further Resolved, That this procedure be incorporated into the dispute resolution process described in Bylaw 1.10 by inserting the fol- lowing as the second sentence in Bylaw 1.10.2: “This procedure is further established to resolve whether an officer of the Synod, in- cluding individual members of the collective office of the Board of Directors, shall be removed from office,” so that Bylaw 1.10.2 reads as follows: PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING Purpose 1.10.2 This procedure is established to resolve, in a God-pleasing manner, disputes that involve as parties, (1) members of the Synod, (2) the Synod itself, (3) a district or an organization owned and controlled by the Synod, (4) persons involved in excommunication, or (5) lay members of congregations of the Synod holding positions with the Synod itself or with districts or other organizations owned and con- trolled by the Synod. This procedure is further established to resolve whether an officer of the Synod, including individual members of the j B f Directors, shall be removed from of- fice. It shall be the exclusive remedy to resolve such disputes that in- volve theological, doctrinal, or ecclesiastical issues except those cov- ered under Bylaw sections 2.14—-2.17 and except as provided in Bylaw 1.10.3. It is applicable whether the dispute involves only a difference of opinion without personal animosity or is one that involves ill will and sin that requires repentance and forgiveness. No person or agency to whom or to which the provisions of this dispute resolution process are applicable because such person or agency is a member of the Synod may render these provisions inapplicable by terminating that member- ship. and be it further Resolved, That this procedure be further incorporated into the dispute resolution process described in Bylaw 1.10 by altering Bylaw 1.10.8.5 (a) to read as follows: PRESENF/PROPOSED WORDING 1.10.8.5 The final decision of the Review Panel shall (a) be binding upon the parties to that dispute and not be subject to further appeal, except in the case of the removal of an officer of the shall be binding until the Synod in convention shall affirm or overturn (b) have no precedential value; (c) be carried out by the appropriate person, group, or member of the Synod; and (d) be publicized as deemed appropriate under the circumstances by the district president or the President of the Synod; and be it further Resolved, That this procedure to request removal of an officer of the Synod may only be initiated by and with the authority of two-thirds consent of at least two of the following collective groups of the Synod: the Praesidium, the Council of Presidents, or the Board of Directors of the Synod, with proceedings to be initiated by the chairs of those two respective groups; and be it further Resolved, That if an officer is removed from his or her position, the vacancy caused by removal from office shall be filled in accor- dance with the procedures outlined in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod, and if the case results in the removal from office of a full-time salaried officer, that person shall receive compensation in accord with the current Human Resources policy of the Synod for compensation of a worker whose position is terminated; and be it finally Resolved, That if a removed officer is reinstated at the subse- quent convention, he or she shall resume service in the office pre- viously held unless term limits prohibit that person from continued service in that position. Trinity Roselle, IL 7-47 To Examine Theological Requirements for Office of President Rationale: The current LCMS Constitution and Bylaws date back to a time when all (or nearly all) pastors on the Synod roster of ordained ministers had been through a residential seminary education. Current routes leading to ordination include a variety of theo- logical requirements, but most of them do not require a full resi- dential seminary education. We desire our chief supervisor of the doctrine that is taught and practiced to have a thorough theological education. The current Bylaws make no such distinction (de iure) where a distinction in reality (de facto) currently exists. Wuereas, There are currently at least eight different routes leading to ordination in the LCMS; and WHEREAS, Not all of them include a thorough theological edu- cation at one of the Synod’s seminaries; and WHEREAS, Any route leading to ordination results in a single roster classification: minister of religion—-ordained; and WHEREAS, The only roster requirement for serving as Synod President or vice-president(s) or district president or vice-presi- dent(s) is to be an ordained minister of the LCMS; and WuEREAS, The chief ecclesiastical responsibility of these offices is to supervise doctrine and practice in the church; and WuereEAsS, The church has always placed a value on theologi- cal preparation for doctrinal and practical supervision; and WHEREAS, The current Constitution and Bylaws have not kept pace with changes in theological training in the Synod; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con- vention appoint a task force to examine the theological require- ments for President of the Synod (Art. X B 1); and be it further Resolved, That the differing levels of theological training in the various routes leading to ordination be considered in this matter; and be it finally Resolved, That this task force report back to the LCMS con- vention in 2010 with suggested actions. Pacific Circuit Forum Northwest District 7-48 To Amend Bylaw 3.3.1.3 re Powers and Duties of President WuereaS, Art. XI B 1 of the Synod’s Constitution gives the President of the Synod the following duties regarding supervision of doctrine and administration: