# LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters Minutes_St. Louis Missouri_December 16 1999_S4
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Members of the congregation shall conform their entire lives to the rule of God's Word, and to that
end make diligent use of the means of grace, exercise faithful stewardship of God's many gifts and
talents, impart and accept fraternal admonition as the need of such admonition becomes apparent, and
be readily available for service in the kingdom of Christ within and beyond the congregation.
4.4 Termination
4.4.1 Membership shall be terminated by transfer to a sister congregation, by death, by joining a
congregation outside the fellowship of this congregation, by excommunication, or by self-exclusion.
In cases of excommunication or self-exclusion, each case shall be presented individually to the voters
assembly for a decision.
4.4.2 Communicant members who conduct themselves in an un-Christian manner shall be admonished
according to Matthew 18:15-20; if they remain impenitent after proper admonition, they shall be
excommunicated. Each ease shall be presented individually to the voters assembly for a decision. if
such members deliberately absent themselves from the meeting(s) at which their ease is to be discussed,
they shall be regarded as having excluded themselves from the membership of the congregation. In all
disciplinary cases, the congregation will follow its stated and adopted guidelines.
Footnote: The matter of termination of membership is of great importance since it involves the larger subject of Church Discipline. It is
therefore advisable that congregations prepare and adopt separate guidelines to address this topic, especially keeping in mind the
following:
1. Be consistent in applying discipline.
2. Carefully follow disciplinary guidelines.
3. Do not allow unsubstantiated charges to he circulated by the church.
4. Base decisions on clearly stated biblical grounds
5. Guidelines should state the desired outcome of church discipline, to call a fellow Christian to repentance.

5.0 PASTORS AND TEACHERS CALLED CHURCH WORKERS
Since the congregation is applying for membership in the Synod or already is a member of the Synod, it is
obliged to call only pastors and teachers ordained and commissioned workers who have been endorsed by
the Synod and are members of the Synod. This article states who extends calls and should indicate who
may be called, removal from office, and what to do in case of a vacancy.
Example:
5.1 This congregation shall establish the pastoral office, The congregation has the exclusive right to
call ordained and commissioned ministers. The pastoral office which shall be conferred only on such
a pastor or candidate who professes and adheres to the confessional standard set forth in section three
of this constitution, who is qualified for his work, who has been endorsed by the Synod, and who is a
member of the Synod. [The same shall apply to called teachers in the parochial school all
commissioned ministers.]
5.2 Any pastor, called teacher, or officer ordained or commissioned minister may be removed from
office by the voters assembly by a two-thirds majority ballot vote, in Christian and lawful order, for
one of the following reasons: persistent adherence to false doctrine, scandalous life, willful neglect, or
inability to perform the duties of the office.
5.3 In case of a vacancy in the office of an ordained or commissioned minister, the congregation shall
notify the president of the District so that he may assist in temporarily filling the vacancy and also
give assistance in regard to the calling of a new pastor or teacher.
Footnote: The terminology "ordained and commissioned ministers" is used to include all church
workers rostered by the Synod. In addition to Pastors and Teachers, Directors of Christian Education,
Directors of Christian Outreach, Deaconesses, Parish Assistants and Certified Lay Ministers are also
included.

6.0 AUTHORITY OF THE CONGREGATION

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