# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2026_S520
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

ECCLESIASTICAL SUPERVISION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

520
Ov. 10-34

To More Directly Oversee Service
of Ordained Ministers to Congregations
to Which They Have No Formal Call
WHEREAS, Congregations in vacancy and other circumstances
are routinely served by emeritus clergy and other clergy without a
call to that same congregation; and
WHEREAS, It may be argued from the condition of acquiring and
holding membership in the Synod that is related to a regular call
(Const. Art. VI 3) that every minister and congregation agree to
observe and respect the individual congregation’s right to call a
pastor and not to interfere with that pastor’s proper authority in
matters pertaining to his call; and
WHEREAS, It may be argued from C.F.W. Walther’s The Voice
of Our Church on the Question of Church and Ministry, which the
Synod has adopted in convention (2001 Res. 7-17A, “To Affirm
Synod’s Official Position on Church and Ministry”) as the official
doctrinal position of the Synod, that according to the good order of
the church, clergy are not to meddle in congregations to which they
have no call or responsibility for ecclesiastical oversight; therefore
be it
Resolved, That called pastors of congregations, circuit visitors,
and district presidents with ecclesiastical supervision more directly
oversee the service of ordained ministers in congregations to which
they have not a call; and be it further
Resolved, That all such service be reported at least to the most
immediate ecclesiastical supervisor; and be it finally
Resolved, That any failure of an ordained minister to report such
service and any interference in the internal affairs of a congregation
to which that minister is not called be fraternally, yet strongly,
rebuked by the appropriate ecclesiastical supervisors, and where
there is not timely repentance and the concomitant change in the
offending behavior, effective disciplinary action be taken for the
sake of the unity of the church in accordance with existing
procedures.
Circuit 14 (Austin)
Minnesota South District
Ov. 10-35

To Encourage Pastors to Honor Their Own Call
WHEREAS, The first objective of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod (LCMS) is to “conserve and promote the unity
of the true faith (Eph. 4:3–6; 1 Cor. 1:10) ...” (Const. Art. III 1);
another is to “provide protection for congregations, pastors,
teachers, and other church workers in the performance of their
official duties and the maintenance of their rights” (Const. Art.
III 9); and
WHEREAS, As a condition of acquiring and holding membership
in the Synod, as stated in Constitution Article VI 3, every
congregation and minister must agree to observe and respect
the individual congregation’s right to call a pastor and not
interfere with that pastor’s proper authority in matters pertaining
to his call; and
WHEREAS, Dr. C. F. W. Walther’s Kirche und Amt, adopted by
the Synod in convention as official doctrine (2001 Res. 7-17A “To
Affirm Synod’s Official Position on Church and Ministry”), further
defends the aforementioned rights and is explicitly clear that
2026 Convention Workbook

pastors are not to meddle in congregations to which they have no
call or responsibility for ecclesiastical oversight according to the
good order of the church; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Northern Illinois District memorialize the
Synod in convention to reaffirm these beliefs; and be it further
Resolved, That ecclesiastical supervisors fraternally, yet
strongly, rebuke any pastors (retired, called elsewhere, etc.)
interfering with the internal affairs of a congregation to which they
are not properly called to preserve the unity of the church’s witness.
Northern Illinois District
Ov. 10-36

To Call for Publication
of Council of Presidents Manual
WHEREAS, The Council of Presidents (COP) of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod is expected to have policies that guide
both the corporate work of the council and the individual work of
its members (Bylaw 3.10.1.2); and
WHEREAS, Those policies have been codified in a manual
distributed to the COP’s members, but not available for public
viewing; and
WHEREAS, That private manual is often cited to defend the
actions and positions taken by district presidents; therefore be it
Resolved, That the COP be required to make public its manual;
and be it further
Resolved, That the COP manual be available on the Synod
website in the “Document Library”; and be it finally
Resolved, That the manual available online be the most recent
iteration, as updated periodically by the council.
Michigan District
Ov. 10-37

To Provide Compensation for Circuit Visitors
WHEREAS, Being a circuit visitor can involve a considerable
amount of time; and
WHEREAS, There is no compensation (except for mileage) for
these men; and
WHEREAS, Serving as a circuit visitor takes time away from his
family, his congregation, and his own personal time; therefore be it
Resolved, That the congregations of the Minnesota North District
give the circuit visitor $50 per diem plus the current IRS mileage
reimbursement for any requested visit; and be it further
Resolved, That the Minnesota North District convention
memorialize the 2026 Synod convention to address the issue of
providing compensation for circuit visitors.
Minnesota North District
Ov. 10-38

To Amend Bylaw 2.11.2.2 (c)
regarding Candidate Reporting
WHEREAS, The 2023 Synod convention adopted Resolution 1006, “To Amend Bylaw 2.11.2.2 regarding Candidate Status,” that
moved the filing deadline for the required candidate annual report
from January 31 to July 31; and