# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S253
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS 253

Resolved. That District Presidents who have ordained such
Seminex graduates be dealt with pastorally by the President of
the Synod: and be it further

Resolved. That a District President who authorizes and/or
performs or allows the performing of the ordaining, com-
missioning, investituring, etc., of improperly certified graduates
contrary to the spirit or letter of the synodical Constitution sub-
sequent to this convention shall be declared by the Synod’s
Board of Directors, upon notification of the act by a member of
Synod as defined in Article V of the Constitution, as having
vacated his office as President of the District, said office to be
filled by the person next in line to ascendancy immediately upon
written notification to the Secretary of the District of the action
taken by the Board of Directors of the Synod by the Secretary
of the Synod.

Redeemer Lutheran Church
Lebanon, Conn.
Robert G. Small, Secretary

5-125

To Require Accordance with Bylaws
in Calling Procedure

WHEREAS, Congregations of The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod have called, ordained, and installed pastors who are not
properly certified by The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, as
set forth in the Constitution and Bylaws: and

WHEREAS, Educational institutions of The Lutheran Church
— Missouri Synod have called, ordained, and installed pastoral
teachers who are not properly certified by The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod: and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod must
insure that its pastors and pastoral teachers solemnly pledge
that the Scriptures are the inspired and inerrant Word of God
and that the Symbolical Books of the Lutheran Church are a
true exposition of the Scriptures: therefore be it

Resolved, That District Presidents perform their responsi-
bilities in accordance with the Bylaws, Article IV B, to insure
that congregations are advised not to call, ordain, and install
pastors who are not properly certified: and be it further

Resolved, That District Presidents who do not carry out the
above duties and responsibilities be divested of all duties and
responsibilities as District Presidents and as members of the
Council of Presidents: and be it further

Resolved. That congregations who insist on retaining pastors
who are not properly certified by The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod be expelled from The Lutheran Church — Mis-
souri Synod by the authority of this convention as carried out
by the President of the Synod: and be it finally

Resolved. That this convention give the President of the
Synod full authority to remove pastoral teachers who are not
properly certified from the staffs and payrolls of educational
institutions of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod.

Mount Calvary Ev. Lutheran Church
San Antonio, Tex.

Arthur S. Jones, President

Charles T. Davis, Secretary

3-126A

To Censure District Presidents

WHEREAS, The Council of Presidents has no jurisdiction be-
yond the duties outlined in the synodical Handbook: and

WHEREAS, District Presidents have no jurisdiction beyond
their own Districts: and

WHEREAS, The District Presidents historically are arms of the
synodical President and responsible to him (Handbook 3.41): and

WHEREAS, Certain District Presidents have voiced no objec-
tions to the false doctrine that was being promulgated at Con-
cordia Seminary, St. Louis: and

WHEREAS, Some District Presidents have invited professors
who are not fully committed to the historical Scriptural position

of the Synod to address congregations and pastors within the
Synod and have condoned the views of the erring professors:
and

WHEREAS, Since the New Orleans convention certain District
Presidents have gone contrary to the Constitution of the LCMS
and have disobeyed the request of the synodical President espe-
cially in the ordination of Seminex graduates, who according to
the LCMS Constitution are not considered LCMS pastors and
have placed them as pastors in LCMS congregations: therefore
be it

Resolved, That those District Presidents who have condoned
false teachings at Concordia Seminary, St.Louis, or within
their Districts be censured for failure to uphold the duties of
their office: and be it further

Resolved. That the Council of Presidents be required to con-
cern themselves with only the matters that have been delegated
to it by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod: and be it
further

Resolved. That any District President who does not perform
the duties of his office, especially pertaining to the supervision
of doctrine, be asked to resign his office and if resignation is not
offered, that he be suspended by the President of the LCMS:
and be it finally

Resolved, That the LCMS not only confirm its already stated
requirement that the synodical President has the power and
obligation to remove such dissenting District Presidents but
demand that such action be taken.

Zion Lutheran Church
Lincoln, Ill.

Marlin W. Root, President
Robert E. Klemm, Secretary

Identical or similar:

35-126B

Good Shepherd, Rock Falls, Il. Curtis Peterson

9-127

To Disenfranchise Certain Presidents

WHEREAS, A number of District Presidents have placed
students of the so-called Seminex into the pastoral ministry,
either directly via ordination and installation or via subterfuge,
i.e., “commissioning,” etc., so that in any effect Seminex
students “officially” or de facto function as pastors in these
Districts: and

WHEREAS, These Seminex students are not certified by the
Synod through its official channels to be called or placed into
the ministry: and

WHEREAS, The District Presidents involved knowingly and
willfully acted contrary to the synodical procedures and rules
they themselves had sworn to uphold and honor: therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention assembled declare
these District Presidents disenfranchised from their office so
that the following conditions are observed:

1) The District President so involved no longer has the power
or authority to vote at any meeting involving District Presidents.

2) He may not represent his District in any capacity whatever.

3) All travel expenses connected with his office be severed
from that District President.

4) All administrative duties and official correspondence in-
volving the errant official be suspended immediately: and be it
further

Resolved. That the President of the Synod be empowered to
appoint an acting District President who will assume the duties
of the office until that District elects a District President who will
publicly declare his intent to uphold and follow synodical
laws and publicly promises to resign before he goes back on
his word.

Mount Hope Lutheran Church
Casper, Wyo.

Richard Means, President
Dennis Burwell, Secretary

J. B. Brown, Pastor