# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S469 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) te GUIDING PRINCIPLES with the Scriptures and the pattern of doctrine “standing under the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions: and 1949 Resolution 2-06, Proceedines p. 86. “under the norms of Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Con- fessions”) The adoption of such doctrinal statements does not expand the Synod’s confessional basis. Rather. the Synod understands “Article II of its Constitution as permitting, and at times even requiring the formu- lation and adoption of doctrinal statements as definitive of the Synod’s position relative to controverted issues” (1973 Resolution 2-12. Pro- ceedings pp. }13—1141). The Synod recognizes that “the only basis for the acceptance of such statements is that they are in accord with Scripture und the pattern of dextrine set forth in the Symbols” ©1973 Resolution 2-12. Proceedines. p. 118). By the sume token, for the substantiation of any claim that the doctrinal content of such state- ments is incorrect. it must be demonstrated that it is not in accord with Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions The Synod has repeatediy urged its members “to hener and uphold the synodically adopted statements as valid interpretations of Christian doctrine” (1969 Resoluuon 2-27, Proceedings, p 91, cited in Counci! of Presidents Statement and incorporated in 197] Resolution 2-21. Proceedings, p. 119: cf 1965 Resolution 2-08, Proceedings. p 9A, and 1962 Resolution 3-17, Proceedings. p 1061. The Synod has further stated that to “honor and uphold” its doctrinal statements “means not merely to examine and study them. but to support. act. and teach in accordance with them until they have been shown to be contrary to God's Word” (1971 Resolution 2-21, Proceedings. p. 119) . Since A Statement is a formal synodical “statement of belief.” it is according to the Synod’s estubiushed procedures should result in a modification or correcuen of erther the dissenters position or the Synod’s expression of its dewtnnal position, rather than) conunued dissent. Those who disagree with the doctrinal content of a synedicul statement of belief such us 4 Stavementowe ite the Synod to denmion- strate from the Holy Serpturys snd the Lutheran Confessions that the doctrinal statement either does not cerrcetly apply the Seriptures and Confessions to the questions with which tt deais or that the states ment fails to leave yuesuens cpen which ure not setded by the Serip- tures themselves When dissent or disagreement is expressed svith wo synodical stutement of Belief such as A Statement either by those delegates who voted against the adopuen of the statement or by ether members of the Synod at a later time. care should he taken to distinguish between formal and substantive disagreement Concerns deating with such matters as procedure, the chores of phraseology of terminology. the sequence of topless, or the omission of certain valid: emphases are Merely matters of form: and do not ordinarily in themselves constitute vahd grounds for farting te hener and uphold the doctrinal content of synodicuily adopted statements of beet. However itis a matter of substantive disagreement when itis held that a synodical dectrinal stutement does notin fast corrects apply the Holy Seriptures ond the Lutheran Confessions to the matters with which it deals The Synod’s established procedures for registering dissent with tts doce trinal statements include the following a. “That we call upon those who teach publich in the church (pastors. teachers. and professors: to test their findings and opinions with their peer groups hefore presenting them to the ehurch at large and to refrain in hrotherly tove from dissemunuting doctrinal opin- jons in such manner and in such situations as will cause confusion and offense in the church” ©1965 Resoluten 2-08. Proceedings p 96) Tt is expected that pastors and teachers sill discuss their ob- Jechions and concerns in their conferences. that professors wil dis cuss such matters with their teaching and administrative colleagues, and that staff members will discuss their objections with their boards and other stutf persons b. With reference to statements of belief. the Synod has requested “that those who disagree with these formulations in| part or in whole he held to present their objections to them formally to those officials whom the Synod hus given the immediate supenision of their doctrine” ( 197} Resolution S-24, Proceedings, p. LAS). This means that pastors and teachers are to present their objections to their District president: professors at synodical institutions, to the president und board of control of their institution, as well us to the District president of the geographical District in which the institution is located tef Bylaw 1.0% d. adopted in 19732 Resolu- gy 1 assumed thst all members of the Syned do in tact honor and upheld Ibe vcept im these cases where they have expressed disagreement with the doctrinal content of 4 Srurementt on avcordance with the Synod’s established procedures Tor expressing ing with such dissent According! There should be no effort to have 4 Sraremenr formally and in- davntually subsembed By the members of the Synod Althou sent to the Synod’s doctrinal statements is assumed in all cases Ky members of the Synod te the Holy Serptures and ne dissent has been expressed i te subse n Confessions oo POTM ay Oy Stan inte office. pastors, ors of the Syned shall to the Ho's Semptures and the Lu- bOAD thor ordinauien, inst Teachers. professors, and ot vorntinve to be pledged onhy theren Confessions ion, or in s church e Those who supervise the doctrine of the members of the Synod seg. the synodicul president und vice-presidents, District: presi- dents. various bourds. imsttuuenal presidents) should remind the members of the church's minntry whe thes supervise of their obiyction te honer and uphold the Synod’s doctrinal statements, f they cannot in good comserence dev so, to register their dis- agreement with such state Procedures ° do Congregations or agencies of the Synod who are calling pastors. teachers, of professors to serve them are enutied to know and free to inguite whether persons under consideration for a call or ap- pointment do in fact honer and uphold 4 Staremenr, or if not, what is the nature and extent of their disagreement. In the latter case. such congregations or agencies will want to consider carefully whether such dissent hus been expressed according to established synodical procedures. and whether such disagreement or dissent deals with purely forma! considerations (such as procedure, termi- nology, phraseology. and sequence of topics) or with substantive doctrinal issues Registering dissent with the doctrinal content of a synodical statement of belief such as A Sraremien: should be regarded as an effort to lead the Syned to correct or modify its position as expressed in the doc- trinal statement under question The Synod’s procedures for dealing with such dissent rest on the assumption that all members of the Synod should honor and uphold the Synod’s doctrinal position, since “the vers concept of a Synod «walking tevether’) precludes indi- vidualism which allows every man to interpret Synod's confessiona! position according to his own subjective preference” (1973 Resolution 2-12. Proceedings, p. 114. cf. also 1971 Resolution 2-21, Proceedings p. t18). Accordingly, divergent doctrinal positions cannot coexist within the Synod indefinitely and without serious effort to achieve confessional unanimity Therefore the process for dealing with dissent ton 3-62, Processames polls, ercerimissions and any appre c. The Synod has turther provided that dissent s to he brought to the thogoef the Commission en Pheologs and Church Re'atons ww D09%e, 162 Resin 3217 Proceedines po Tue, TYAS wv poMA, Council of Presidents States Rescluten 2-22, Proceedings potty nd ¢ Retahons should nike ier in questien in ample the part of the dissenter te supervisory stall members ton 2-H. Proceeds tamsurporated in E47 The Commission on Cheon every effort to cxpress i opinion en the time to perout turthe: ippeal v peal on 1 shay The comnussion’s biennial report te the Synod) show Indicate the Opinions Sus rendered on al such expressions of dis sent. and should in@uds any recommendanon deemed advisable to shanty or correet postive cqussies in the document under question von do Members of the Synod may subnut overtures to the synodie vention inan eort to Rave the Synod of ITS Poston or recor: nize the viability of the drscmting opimen Bylass 10% asks that dissent “be expressed first caithin the telowship of peers. then note the attention of the Commussien on Thee. vind Church Relations befe to thy consenuon calling for revisien or resmien” adepted in 1Y7 3 Rese luuen 3-02, Proceedings polls t brow finding expresstor en Overture From the fact that the Synod has establisned forementioned pre cedures for capressing and ling with dissent. fois clear chat the Syned does not imend to impede the traternal discussion of doctanat issues. and that the Synod recognizes ¢ Ho discussion ma lead to the revision or correcuien of is otheti dowtrimal statements But it is equally clear that the Synod. in the interest of doimg things decently und in order. hus estubhshed the aforementioned procedures for expressing and dealing with dissent so that the church as not dis- turhed hy its members engaging in loveless public eriticnm of dts Paragement of its otflciel position hal su In evaluating and dealing with dissent or disagreement which has been expressed in vecordaunce with the aforementioned procedures. all super- visory officials and boards, as well as the Commussion on Theology and Church Relations and anv peer groups that mas be involved. should always endeavor to distinguish carefully between formal and substan- tive dissent. and to deal with the latter in terms of the Symod’s con- fessional base, namely. Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions (ef. Constituvon. Article [> A Statement. as a formal synodical statement of belief which applies Holy Senpture and the Lutheran Confessions to current issues. re- mains, in all its parts, the offers! position ef the Synod unul such ume as the Synod itself has been persuaded from the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions that the doctrinal content of 4 Sturemtenr 469