# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_FEBRUARY 28 1961_S8
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

—l

— eo!

Exhibit "B"

“WHEREAS, Article Il of the Constitution of the Lutheran
Church - Missouri Synod sets forth the confessional stan-
dard of Synod as follows:

‘Synod and every member of Synod accepts without reser-

vation:

1.

2.

The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as the
written Word of God and the only rule and norm of

faith and practice; ,

All the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church as a true and unadulterated statement and ex-
position of the Word of God, to wit, the three Ecu-
menical Creeds (The Apostles! Creed, the Nicene Creed,
the Athanasian Creed), the Unaltered Augsburg Confes-
sion, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smal-
cald Articles, the Large Catechism of Luther, the Small
Catechism of Luther, and the Formula of Concord;' and

WHEREAS, Resolution 9, Cotnmittee 3, of the 1959 Synodical

Convention would in effect give confessional status to
articles never accorded such confessional weight in Syn-
od's constitution, by binding Synod's pastors, teachers,

and professors to teach in Esrmon with articles passed
by simple majority vote at synodical conventions; and

WHEREAS, Resolution 9 would thus in effect amend Article II of

_ Synod's constitution without following proper procedures

as outlined in Article XIV, Changes In and Amendments
To, the Constitution, and By-laws to the Constitution
2.113b, ‘which states

NAIL overtures for Synod asking changes of/or amendments
to the Constitution of Synod or which in any manner affect
‘the Constitution and By-Laws shall be submitted to the
Comunittee on Constitutional Matters in order that they
may examine their contents and language as to their
agreements with the Constitution and By-Laws of Synod" ';
therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED

A. That the English District reaffirm its adherence to the
confessional standard as set forth in Article Il of
Synod's Constitution; and

B. That the English District memorialize the 1962 Con-
vention of Synod to declare Resolution 9, Committee
3, of the 1959 Convention unconstitutional. (Action:
Adopted).

“Jt was then resolved (on motion by Pastor J. Gockel with
second by Pastor J. P. Kretzmann) to direct a request to
Synod's Committee on Constitutional Matters for an imme-
diate ruling on the constitutionality of Resolution #9 of
Committee #3 of the 1959 San Francisco Convention, which
resolution carried."