# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2007_S261 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) SYNOD STRUCTURE AND GOVERANCE 261 cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between be- lievers? But instead, one brother goes to law against another— and this in front of unbelievers! The very fact that you have law- suits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers (1 Cor. 6:1-8); and Wrereas, A lawsuit has been initiated against our church body and our elected leaders by members of our Synod suggesting that not only our President and First Vice-President but also many members of the Council of Presidents and district boards of direc- tors (including by inference the president and board of directors of the Eastern District) have conspired together to defraud the elec- tion and voting process of our Synod; and WHEREAS, The procedures for granting exceptions for circuit representation followed by President Kieschnick were the same as those followed by previous Synod presidents and are in accordance with the LCMS Bylaws; and WHEREAS, The filing of this lawsuit is not only an unscriptural action, but also has required the use of Synod funds that could have been better allocated for Gospel outreach and missions, and has compelled our church body into an unhealthy and unnecessary in- ward focus; therefore be it Resolved, That the 2006 convention of the Eastern District decry the lawsuit against our church and its elected officials; and be it further Resolved, That those pastors and congregations who are plain- tiffs be encouraged to remove themselves from the lawsuit and begin to “build the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:12) as brothers in Christ Jesus; and be it further Resolved, That these fellow Christians be encouraged to work within our dispute resolution process to resolve any disagreements they have with the decisions the majority of our delegates made in the 2004 convention; and be it finally Resolved, That the 2006 convention of the Eastern District peti- tion the 2007 LCMS convention meeting in Houston to do the same. Eastern District 8-11 To Affirm 2004 Res. 8-01A re Ecclesiastical Supervision Wuereas, An expressed reason for stagnation in evangelistic outreach and congregational membership growth in the LCMS as cited by the Synod President’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Funding the Mission is “bickering and infighting”; and Whereas, An ecclesiastical supervision methodology was passed by a large margin at the 2004 convention of the LCMS (Res. 8-01A); and WHEREAS, This new supervisory structure has resulted in fewer cases of cross-country doctrinal complaints; and WHuerEAS, Complainants in doctrinal matters are advised in the new structure to hold face-to-face meetings as per our Lord’s in- structions in Matt. 18; and WHEREAS, This process is proving both God-pleasing and pro- ductive of greater harmony in the Synod; therefore be it Resolved, That the Atlantic District in convention affirm eccle- siastical supervision as codified in convention Res. 8-01A (2004) and its subsequent bylaw applications; and be it further Resolved, That the Atlantic District forward this resolution of affirmation to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as an over- ture for the 2007 Synod convention. Atlantic District 8-12 To Affirm LCMS Process for Dispute Resolution and Expulsion from Synod Wuereas, Bylaw 1.10 (previously chapter 8), in existence since 1992, and Bylaw 2.13 (previously 2.27) have included the require- ment of following “Matthew 18:15 as procedure when addressing expulsion from membership in the Synod and dispute resolution” (2004 Convention Proceedings, p. 42); and WHEREAS, The provisions for dispute resolution and expulsion adopted by the 2004 Synod convention in no way prohibit dealing with public sin and admonition in other circumstances according to the explanation of the Eighth Commandment in the Large Cate- chism (2004 Convention Proceedings, p. 42); and WHEREAS, The provisions in Res. 8-01A adopted by the 2004 LCMS convention describe a process for the removal from office of the Synod President other than by the Synod meeting in con- vention; and WHEREAS, The practice of “face-to-face” meetings (Matt. 18:15-17) in these procedures reflect a faithfulness to Scripture and desire for fraternal and evangelical relations among members of Synod (2004 Convention Proceedings, p. 42); therefore be it Resolved, That the 2006 Eastern District convention affirm the dispute resolution and expulsion from membership processes agreed to by the 2004 convention; and be it further Resolved, That we thank God for the institution of a more bibli- cal process for dispute resolution; and be it finally Resolved, That the 2006 Eastern District convention petition the 2007 LCMS convention to affirm our current process for dispute resolution and expulsion from membership. Eastern District 8-13 To Affirm Process for Dispute Resolution and Expulsion Whereas, The Synod has included in its objectives, under Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, to “[p]rovide evangelical supervision, counsel, and care for pastors, teachers, and other pro- fessional church workers in the performance of their official du- ties” and to “[p]rovide protection for congregations, pastors, teach- ers, and other church workers in the performance of their official duties and the maintenance of their rights” (Art. III 8, 9); and WHEREAS, The Synod in convention has identified those re- sponsible for ecclesiastical supervision of its members, including such matters as advice, counsel, and protection, as well as suspen- sion of membership and forfeiture of it for failure to continue to meet membership requirements; and WHEREAS, The Synod has established a process whereby those responsible for ecclesiastical supervision are elected by both the laity and clergy of the church, giving voice to the priesthood of all believers in this ecclesiastical process; and WuereaS, Those who are responsible for ecclesiastical super- vision are accountable to those who have granted them this charge to faithfully carry out their assigned duties, which duties should not be assumed by those who have not been granted this responsibility; and WHEREAS, For the protection of the rights of its members, the Synod has established provisions for challenging those decisions by ecclesiastical supervisors that result in suspension or loss of membership and for restoration of membership when necessary conditions are met; and Wuereas, The Synod in convention adopted 2004 Res. 8-01A, establishing procedures for ecclesiastical supervision and dispute resolution consistent with the objectives of the Synod regarding the evangelical supervision and protection of its workers; and Whereas, A “face-to-face” meeting, as adopted in the proce- dures in 2004 Res. 8-01A, does not preclude one from exercising