# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_November 11 13 2011_S22
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.” We are congregations, pastors, and teachers who have decided to join
hands and to walk together.
The Preamble of the Constitution has the sub-heading: “Reason for the Forming of a Synodical Union.”
Union was the major concern in effecting the organization of the Synod. The concepts of fellowship,
togetherness, brotherhood, and “walking together” express the basic purpose of the Synod's existence.
The reasons given in the Preamble for forming the union are “1. The example of the apostolic church, Acts:
15:1–31,” and “2. Our Lord's will that the diversities of gifts should be for the common profit, 1 Cor. 12:4–
31.” Once again the emphasis falls upon the idea of unity [emphases added].

United with Jesus Christ, the members of the Synod have bound themselves to oneness of doctrine and
confession, and oneness of life, mission, purpose and support. The members have bound themselves
together in common to the Word of God, which alone determines and establishes the doctrine and mission
of the church. The members have bound themselves together in common to adopt doctrinal resolutions
and doctrinal statements in order to determine and to declare its collective understanding of what the
scriptures teach. The members have bound themselves together in common to convince and persuade one
another by the power of God’s Word.
And as such, in joining together with one another, the members of the Synod have bound themselves
together in common to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod and also its resolutions if they are in
accordance with the Word of God and if they appear applicable as far as the condition of the congregation
is concerned. The members have bound themselves together in common to honor and uphold the
collective will of Synod as expressed in its convention resolutions and to carry out any brotherly dissent
or dispute resolution according to the provisions set forth by the fellowship of the Synod.
Question 3: Convinced that we really are in a declared state of fellowship with one another by virtue of
our synodical membership, therefore, must we either accept our brethren as they are (and
commune them and commune with them) and show that those brethren are in error, or depart
from them, lest we break the unity of the synod?
Opinion: By virtue of having voluntarily “joined together to form the Synod and relate to one another
through it” (Bylaw 1.3.1) and, therefore, by virtue of its fellowship being compelled by love for each
other, members of the Synod accept the “brethren” (“brotherhood”) “as they are” (cf. above answers to
questions 1 and 2, which reflect the implication of “members/membership” or “brethren”). Together with
accepting the “brethren,” members of the Synod also accept the responsibility for carrying out the
established provisions within the fellowship of the Synod to resolve brotherly dissent (Bylaw 1.8) and
disputes (Bylaw 1.10) and to carry out any expulsion as set forth in the Bylaws (cf. Constitution, Art. XIII
and Bylaw sections 2.14–2.17).
These provisions or avenues have been established by the members of the Synod to preserve and promote
the unity of the Synod so that such unity may not wither, waste away, or progressively decline (cf. Article
III, 1 and 6). In the same above-referenced 1969 CCM opinion (under question 2), it is stated:
Christians as well as non-Christians expect differences of opinion and judgment to arise when people walk
together. The Synod has provided for forums in which such differences can be discussed and evaluated
beyond the confines of the local congregation…When the majority will has been determined, it must be
respected. Otherwise life together (synod) becomes all but impossible. Discussion may indeed continue; but
it needs to be carried on with full respect for the majority will and within the forums established by the
Synod for the preservation of the synodical unity. If additional channels for discussion are needed, the
Synod can provide for the same in its Bylaws through appropriate convention action [emphasis added].

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