# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S229 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) a _ 228 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS bers, five of whom will be laymen, three parochial school teachers, with the remainder clergy; and be it finally Resolved, That this committee report its recommendations to the next convention of the Synod for action. Our Savior LUTHERAN CHURCH Raleigh, N.C. Leroy Saylor, President Walter D. Volz, Pastor 5-60B To Define Power of President WHEREAS, The Synod’s Commission on Constitutional Matters has issued an opinion during the last biennium indicating that the Synod alone has the authority to define the power of the President of the Synod; and WHEREAS, It is in the best interest of the Synod to remove ambiguity and confusion by stating in its Constitution and Bylaws as clearly and as comprehensively as possible what the role of the Synod is concerning the important issue of presidential power; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod make the following declara- tion concerning all officials who serve the Synod: 1. They are to conduct their office and to exercise their power as servants under Jesus Christ, Lord of the church, 2. They are to seek the spiritual and temporal welfare of the Synod as a whole. 3. They are to use their office and their power to carry out the objectives of the Synod, 4. They are to regard the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod as a fraternal convenant which outlines the convic- 5. They are to accept no mandate for their office or for their power which violates the letter or the spirit of the Synod’s Christian fellowship and covenant; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its conviction that the President “has the supervision regarding the doctrine and the administration” (XI, B, 1) of the officials of the Synod, noting that the Synod directs the President to supervise those who share responsibility for duties assigned specifically to them and also directs the President “to report such cases to the Synod” which fail to heed his admonition (XT, B, 3); and be it further Resolved, That the Synod direct the President to super- vise the doctrine and life of the Synod through the District 8) and to supervise the doctrine and life of the Synod's edu- cational institutions in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws (VI, B, C, and D); and be it finally Resolved, That the Synod direct the President to super- vise the administration of the Synod’s business affairs through the Board of Directors and the various operating and service divisions established by the Bylaws of the Synod (II, B, 2.27), holding them responsible for carrying out the duties assigned to them by the Synod. REDEEMER LUTHERAN CHURCH Denver, Colo. Mr. Clarence Rieb, Chairman Mr. Wayne Ball, Secretary 5-61 To Clarify Representative Government in Synod Wuereas, It is a maxim that power in the hands of a few people tends to corrupt; and WHEREAS, According to our synodical Constitution “Synod is not an ecclesiastical government exercising legislative or coercive powers” (Article VII); and Wuereas, The administrative officers of the Synod are bound to carry out only such rights as have been delegated or expressly conferred upon them by the Synod (Art. XI A 1); and Whereas, The supervision (oversight, observation) re- garding doctrine and the administration of Synod by the President of Synod are circumscribed and prescribed by the Synod to counseling, advising, correcting, and encouraging rather than to personally firing, harassing, pontificating, ac- cusing, and judging (Art. XI B 2 and 3, Bylaws 2.29 a); and Wuereas, If the President of Synod has difficulty in bring- ing such admonition to a satisfactory conclusion “he is to report such cases to the Synod” (Art. XI B 2); and Wuereas, “Any member of the Synod shall have the right to appeal to the convention of the Synod from his action (Bylaws 2.29 c); and Wuereas, Synod charges the respective local Board of Control at our colleges and seminaries, rather than any one and WHEREAS, The Synod itself, assembled in convention, is the Proper forum for dealing with matters affecting super- leges and seminaries; therefore be it Resolved, That we petition the Synod meeting in conven- tion at New Orleans July 6—13, 1973, to point out clearly protect and safeguard due process regulations for al] per- sons in the Synod; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its own right to act as nal arbitrator in deciding all matters of dispute and not abdicate that right to any one individual or faction; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod appoint a non-partisan com- mittee to study the wording of the appropriate sections of our Handbook to determine whether the present wording of these Sections, especially the seeming lack of clear admin- istrative “line relationship” between the President of Synod and the Board of Control and the president of a college or seminary, is adequate and to report its findings and recom- mendations to the whole church for study and discussion be- fore the next convention of the Synod; and be it finally Resolved, That we thank God that, in spite of our sins of disunity, He has been faithful in renewing His mercies to us each and every day. Hoty Trinity LUTHERAN CuurcR Albion, Pa. George Hazer, President George W. Hill, Secretary Carl H. Kruelle Jr., Pastor 5-62 To Study Office of District President Wuereas, The risen and ascended Lord has promised to shower His church on earth with leaders in each and every generation (Eph. 4:7-16); and Wuereas, LCMS has been the recipient of many of these leaders: and WHEREAS, In our time men with exceptional abilities have been singled out by their peers, both lay and clerical, to serve in the office of District President: and Wuereas, These District presidents represent the “grass roots” of our Synod by virtue of their election by the con- gregations and pastors within their District: and WHEREAS, Twenty-seven of the 36 North American Dis- tricts of our Synod now have full-time presidents; and Wuereas, The synodical Handbook defines the office of District President in similar terms used to define the office of Synod President: and Wuereas, It would be an extravagant waste of God’s gifts to our church in these men not to seek their counsel and advice; therefore be it Resolved, That the English District petition The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod at its 1973 convention to initiate a study of the office of District President, so that this high