# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2016_S228
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

ber of the Synod publicly to teach or practice contrary
to the established doctrinal position of the Synod.
Any such public teaching shall place in jeopardy
membership in the Synod.

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
1.10.18.1 (h) If any part of the dispute involves a specific question of doctrine or doctrinal application, …

Action: Adopted (8)
(After explanation by the committee and discussion by the
assembly, a motion to end debate was introduced and carried, and
Res. 12-07A was adopted as presented [Yes: 684; No: 244].)

To Provide Assistance to Lay Reconcilers
Serving on Dispute Resolution, Hearing,
and Final Hearing Panels
RESOLUTION 12-08
Overtures 12-29–30 (CW, pp. 426–427)
Rationale
2013 Res. 7-18 “To Study Doctrinal Training for Reconcilers”
responded to a request in Part 2 of the Synod President’s Report
“to consider doctrinal training for reconcilers” to assist them when
they are asked to serve on panels that are called upon to decide matters of doctrine or doctrinal application. The resolution’s single
resolve paragraph referred this request to the Council of Presidents
(COP), the CCM, and the Secretary of the Synod “for appropriate
study and recommendations giving particular attention to Bylaw
2.14.7, especially 2.14.7.8 (k).”
After discussions during the current triennium that included the
COP and CCM as well as the Commission on Handbook (COH)
and the reconcilers themselves during late-2014 regional training
meetings, it was generally agreed that providing such comprehensive doctrinal training for lay reconcilers as would be necessary
to cover all potential doctrinal issues would not be a reasonable
solution.
The bylaws governing dispute resolution and suspension/expulsion processes already contain resource assistance to the parties
to a dispute to help them understand and apply our Synod’s confessional Lutheran doctrines and practices (Bylaws 1.10.18.1 [h];
2.14.7.8 [l]). The same resource opportunity is available to a Dispute
Resolution, Hearing, or Final Hearing Panel as a whole (Bylaws
1.10.18.1 [h]; 2.14.7.8 [1]). In the interest of providing lay reconciler panel members with a resource for personal assistance (i.e.,
to talk through a doctrinal matter with a knowledgeable person),
the addition of a subparagraph (3) to Bylaw 1.10.18.1 [h] and a subparagraph (5) to paragraph (l) of Bylaw 2.14.7.8, as follows, will
provide such opportunity.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That the following bylaw changes be adopted by the
2016 convention of the Synod to offer ready access to resources
that may assist lay panel members in understanding confessional
Lutheran doctrines and doctrinal applications.

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U P O N T H I S R O C K • Resolutions

2.14.7.8

…
(3) An individual member of the panel may also
request resource materials through the hearing
facilitator and personal assistance from the executive director of the CTCR or from a theologian
recommended by the executive director, this to
provide opportunity to read about, discuss with
a knowledgeable person, and better comprehend
doctrinal matters associated with the dispute.
The dispute resolution case itself shall not be discussed.
(l) If any part of the dispute involves a specific question of doctrine or doctrinal application, …

…
(5) The lay reconciler member of the panel may
also request resource materials through the hearing facilitator and personal assistance from the
executive director of the CTCR or from a theologian recommended by the executive director, this
to provide opportunity to read about, discuss with
a knowledgeable person, and better comprehend
doctrinal matters associated with the suspension.
The suspension case itself shall not be discussed.
Action: Adopted (5)
(After discussion, including the addition by friendly amendment of the words “through the hearing facilitator” after “request”
in both new bylaw paragraphs, the chair asked whether the assembly was willing to close debate. Hearing no objection, Res. 12-08
was adopted by voice vote.)

To Update and Amend Dispute
Resolution Process
RESOLUTION 12-09
Overture 12-42 (CW, pp. 432–435)
A. To Add “Appeal Panel” to Bylaw Section 2.14 Definitions
Rationale
When Res. 7-12A was adopted by the 2013 convention incorporating an appeal panel process into the Synod’s expulsion processes,
the inclusion of a definition of “Appeal Panel” in Bylaw 2.14.2 was
overlooked. The Commission on Handbook proposes the following
addition to this bylaw, identical to the definition of “Appeal Panel”
in Bylaw 1.10.4 for the dispute resolution process, which addition to
Bylaw 2.14.2 will also pertain to the expulsion processes provided
in Bylaw sections 2.15 and 2.17.

“12. Ecclesiastical Supervision and Dispute Resolution”