# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2016_S199
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

To Amend Constitution to Grant Lay Vote/
Voice to Every Congregation
RESOLUTION 11-07A
Overtures 11-44–45 (CW, pp. 402–403)
Preamble

Representation at District Conventions
Representation at Circuit Forums
Election of circuit delegates to Synod
Convention
Vote on Amendments to Synod
Constitution
Nominate Synod Officers including
Synod President
Voting for Synod President

Independent Voice

Establishing necessary number of
congregations for electoral circuits

X

Shared Voice
X

X
X
X
X

When Jesus directs those attempting to admonish an erring
brother, He states that the final attempt of such admonition is to
take the matter before the church (Matt. 18:17). To that assembly,
Jesus predicates the authority to exercise the Office of the Keys saying, “And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you
as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on
earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 18:17b−18).

Whereas, Synod Constitution Art. V A deals with voting members of the Synod and states: “All organized congregations that have
joined the Synod hold voting membership. At the meetings of the
districts of the Synod every congregation or parish is entitled to
two votes, one of which is to be cast by the pastor and the other by
the lay delegate”; and

This God-given authority is not limited by the size of a congregation; for Jesus goes on to add a clear promise to be with even the
smallest assembly or congregation: “Again I say to you, if two of you
agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by
My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in My
name, there am I among them” (Matt. 18:19–20).

Whereas, “Multiple congregations” are only allowed to send a
single lay delegate to district conventions, which does not respect
the equal dignity, gifts, and authority of all member congregations. Rather, it creates degrees of voting membership in the Synod
because every congregation is allowed a vote/voice in some places
but not in others (see chart in Preamble); and

The Lutheran Church in general and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in particular have always held the autonomy of
the congregation in high esteem. The Confessions of the Lutheran
Church testify to the authority given by Christ to the Church as
recorded in the Scriptures. Particularly, the above-mentioned
verses of Matt. 18 are cited in the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope defending the Church’s right of calling ministers
(Tr. 24, Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions). Later it is made clear
that this authority comes down to each congregation: “Therefore
when the regular bishops become unwilling to administer ordination, the churches retain their own right [to ordain ministers].
Where the Church is, there is the authority to administer the Gospel” (Tr. 66−67).

Whereas, The emphasis of our polity on the representation
of congregations is intrinsically connected to the scriptural and
confessional understanding of a congregation’s bearing all the characteristics of the Church; and

Historically the LCMS has maintained a polity that multiple congregations served by one pastor should only have one lay vote, thus
maintaining a balance between clergy and laity at district conventions.
By disenfranchising certain congregations who hold membership
in the Synod, we have acted inconsistently on a number of levels.
• Though we confess no divinely appointed form of church
polity, denying some congregations the right to the same representation that other congregations have in matters of the
Synod is at best at a disconnect with our theological understanding of a congregation’s embodiment of the catholicity
of the Church.
• In some matters of the Synod that are dealt with on a congregational level, every congregation is allowed to speak for
herself. However, in other matters, multiple congregations
served jointly by one or more pastors are required to come
together and speak with one voice, thereby reducing the value
of each congregation’s voice.

“11. Structure and Administration”

X

Whereas, Every individual congregation is a member of the
Synod; and
Whereas, Few if any district conventions have had an equal
number of lay and clergy delegates present and has never resulted
in a domination of either lay or clergy; and
Whereas, All congregations are created equal: “Where two are
three gathered in my name there am I among them” (Matt. 18:20);
therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS at its 2016 convention
• give all organized congregations that hold membership in
the Synod the opportunity to be represented by a lay delegate
and a pastoral delegate at district conventions (Bylaw 3.1.2.1
[c] allows such representation at circuit forums and regional
caucuses);
• retain a single vote for a pastor who represents more than one
congregation; and
• amend Article V A of the Synod Constitution as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Article V Membership
A. Voting Members
All organized congregations that have joined the Synod hold voting membership. At the meetings of the districts
of the Synod every congregation or parish is entitled to two
votes, one of which is to be cast by the pastor and the other by
the lay delegate. In the case of a single pastor representing two
U P O N T H I S R O C K • Resolutions

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