# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S218 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 218 CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS Resolved. That the Synod continue to recognize the efforts and work of the Lutheran Deaconess Association in providing an educational program for women who are seeking opportuni- ties to serve in the ministry of the church: and be it further Resolred. That the administrators of the Synod and the presidents of synodical Districts include information about deaconess ministry in their recruitment efforts for church workers and that they recommend the consideration of dea- conesses to serve on boards, commissions, and committees at local, circuit, District, and synodical levels: and be it further Resolved. That a representative from the Synod's Board for Higher Education continue to serve as an advisory member on the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Deaconess Association: and be it further Resolved. That the current ad hoc committee appointed by the President of the Synod continue to serve until the next synodical convention to explore further the questions concern- ing the relationship of deaconesses to the Synod and the expan- sion of women’s ministry in the church: and be it further Resolved. That congregations and institutions blessed with deaconesses on their staffs give greater recognition to women serving in their midst, with special reference to ministry and compensation: and be it finally Resolved. That deaconesses be included in the wording of the synodical Bylaws. par. 1.61, and in other sections wherever appropriate. Arthur Ahlschwede. Convenor Lucille Wassman Wilbert Griesse Herbert Steinbauer R. P. Wiederaenders (It should be noted that this report was not submitted in time for the New Orleans convention but is now being submitted to the Anaheim convention.) 5-05 To Receive Trinity, Bridgeton. Mo., into Membership WHEREAS, Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, Bridgeton, was formed on July 19, 1964, by a group of concerned Lutherans in a determined effort to maintain the doctrinal purity of the “old” Missouri.Synod in our midst: and WHEREAS, This action was taken only after every other ave- nue had been exhausted in an effort to find someone who would take ‘‘official action” against the false doctrine tolerated in the Synod, up to and including a 4-hour interview with the synodical President: and WHEREAS, The synodical President would give no assurance that any “official action’ would be taken by his office or any other office of the Synod to correct the doctrinal errors tolerated in the Synod: and WHEREAS. God's Word demands faithfulness on the part of His people (1 Cor. 4:2), and since God has ordained that His Word only. without the admixture of human doctrine, be taught and believed in the Christian church (1 Peter 4:11: John 8:31-32: 1 Tim. 6:3-4), and since all Christians are required by God to discriminate between orthodox and heterodox bodies (Matt. 7:15) and have fellowship only with orthodox church bodies and to leave church bodies when they become heterodox (Rom. 16:17): and WHEREAS, Church fellowship with a church body that toler- ates error, and does nothing to correct it, is open disobedience to the clear demands of God and causes divisions in the church (Rom. 16:17: 2 John 9, 10) and involves the constant danger of losing God's Word entirely (2 Tim. 2:17-21), therefore in obedience to God's Word a faithful Lutheran congregation was organized in Bridgeton, Mo., July 19, 1964, and an orthodox Lutheran pastor was called to serve as pastor: and WHEREAS, The situation has now changed within The Lu- theran Church — Missouri Synod and doctrinal error is no longer “officially” tolerated but rather openly disciplined, with doc- trinal errors being ‘officially’ repudiated for the first time in many years: therefore be it Resolved. That Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church of Bridgeton apply directly to the Anaheim convention of the Synod for membership in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and submit this memorial to Dr. J. A. O. Preus for presentation to the proper floor committee of the Synod. Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church Bridgeton, Mo. Wm. Bischoff, Pastor To Select Synodical Constitution Committee WHEREAS. The present Constitution of The Lutheran Church —Missouri Synod is 125 years old and has undergone many alterations: and WHEREAS. The mission approach of the church has changed considerably since the Constitution was first drafted and there is a pressing need for a comprehensive review: and WHEREAS. The policy of holding biennial conventions is a concern because of the large amount of energy, time. and money required; and WHEREAS. Large conventions do not provide a setting con- ducive for resolving complex theological issues; and WHEREAS, The problems of the past few years have sug- gested that a restructuring of our synodical administration is advisable: therefore we the Eastern District request — 1. That the Synod authorize a Constitution Committee consisting of three pastors, two teachers, three lay persons, and three District presidents to be appointed by the Council of Presidents to revise or rewrite the Constitution and Bylaws of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod: and 2. That the Board of Directors allocate funds necessary for the work of the committee: and 3. That all committee members hold the same status and be eligible for all committee positions: and 4. That the committee report its recommendations to a regular convention of the Synod within the next 5 years. Eastern District Richard L. J. Hoemann, Secretary yr — 1 To Revise Constitution of Synod WHEREAS, A study of the recent memorials presented to the Synod indicates a serious discrepancy in the minds of many people as to the authority of the Constitution and/or Bylaws of the Synod: and WHEREAS, There continues to be a host of resolutions and memorials presented to the Synod to change either all or portions of the Constitution and/or Bylaws of the Synod: and WHEREAS. The present stresses in the Synod indicate very clearly that men committed to the Scriptures and to the well- being of the church do have honest and wide differences of opinion as to the meaning, application, and interpretation of various sections of the Constitution; and WHEREAS, Our Constitution lacks certain provisions for good order, for example: (1) The Constitution does not state how or when resolutions adopted by the Synod shall become Bylaws. (2) The Constitution does not state in a direct way the authority that the Bylaws should have upon the individual members of the Synod. (3) The Constitution makes no mention of how any doctrinal resolution shall even achieve the standard of a Bylaw. (4) Thus nowhere in the Bylaws is there any mention of doctrine or confessional subscription per se. (5) The authority to interpret the Constitution and the resolutions of the Synod is found only in the Bylaws and not in the Constitution. (6) Authority given the Commission on Constitutional Matters technically makes this committee a judicial branch of our governing policy. Surely such power of a governing body should find its authority in the Constitution: and