# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_December 4 5 2015_S4
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

The Synod, under Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, shall—
1.

6.

Conserve and promote the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4:3–6; 1 Cor. 1:10), work through its official
structure toward fellowship with other Christian church bodies, and provide a united defense against
schism, sectarianism (Rom. 16:17), and heresy; …
Aid congregations by providing a variety of resources and opportunities for recognizing, promoting,
expressing, conserving, and defending their confessional unity in the true faith; …

Article VI of the Constitution of the Synod establishes the conditions of membership for both
congregations and individual members of the Synod. Items 1, 2, and 4 are pertinent to the questions
addressed to the commission:
Conditions for acquiring and holding membership in the Synod are the following:
1.
2.

4.

Acceptance of the confessional basis of Article II.
Renunciation of unionism and syncretism of every description, such as:
a. Serving congregations of mixed confession, as such, by ministers of the church;
b. Taking part in the services and sacramental rites of heterodox congregations or of congregations of
mixed confession;
c. Participating in heterodox tract and missionary activities….
Exclusive use of doctrinally pure agenda, hymnbooks, and catechisms in church and school.

Bylaw 3.9.2 delineates the authority of the Commission on Constitutional Matters:
The Commission on Constitutional Matters exists to interpret the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the
Synod and ensure that the governing instruments of the Synod and its agencies are in accord with the
Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod.

In summary, the material from the Constitution clearly requires as a condition of membership that all
members of the Synod, both congregations and individuals, avoid all unionism and syncretism as they
relate to other churches and organizations. In addition, the Constitution requires that what is taught by
individual members and in congregations must be doctrinally pure and in accord with Article II of the
Constitution.
Question 1: Is membership by a member of the Synod, individual and congregation, in the Willow Creek
Association in accordance with Article II Confession and Article VI Conditions of
membership?
Opinion: The commission understands this question to be, “Does membership in the Willow Creek
Association by an individual or congregational member of the Synod constitute unionism and/or
syncretism, which would be a violation of Article VI 2 of the Constitution of the Synod?” Since an
answer to this question would require the commission to make a determination and evaluation of the
nature of the Willow Creek Association, and since the authority of the commission is limited to the
interpretation of the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod, this request lies outside of the
purview of the commission.
Question 2: Is the membership in and use of Awana materials by an LCMS congregation in accordance
with membership in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, especially in accordance with
Article II and Article VI?
Opinion: The commission understands this question to be, “Does membership in Awana and use of its
materials by an individual or congregational member of the Synod constitute unionism and/or syncretism,
and do the materials produced by Awana conform to the confessional basis of the Synod?” Since an
answer to this question would require the commission to make a determination and evaluation of the
nature of Awana and pass theological judgment on its materials, and since the authority of the
CCM Minutes – December 4–5, 2015 – Page 107