# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S204
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

204 Constitutional Matters

1, Synodical rules-and resolutions which affect the work or «
position of the individual member congregations are subject to the
‘judgment of the, individual congregations.

2. Synod shall have no equity in the local properties of its
member congregations by virtue of the latter’s membership in -
Synod. ,

We further ask Synod to revise its present constitution, by-
laws, rules, and regulations to the effect that:

1. Any officer of Synod who desires officially to visit a member
‘congregation shall first arrange to receive an invitation from the
‘congregation to be visited.

2. Pastors and congregations of pastors who are themselves
-District Presidents or Circuit Visitors shall be visited according
‘ to our rules by the next nearest official synodical Visitor of the

same District. _ Sr. Joun’s Lurmeran Cuurcy, Oxasena, Munn.
Water C. Anrens, Secretary

Concerning these three memorials, Committee 6 submitted the
following report, which was adopted:

Memorial 501
Memorial 501 is the Report of the Special Committee appointed
‘pursuant to the resolutions of the 1941 convention (1941 Proceed-
ings, page 246). . vy ;
Memorial 501 contains an introductory paragraph and then
‘four paragraphs of the report proper, in which the Special Com-
mittee submits an interpretation of Article VII of the Constitution.
Article VII reads: “In its relation to its members, the Synod
is not an ecclesiastical government ‘exercising legislative or coercive
powers, and with respect to the ‘individual congregation’s right of
self-government, it is but an advisory body.

. “Accordingly, no resolution of the Synod imposing anything
upon the individual congregation is of binding force if it is not in
accordance with the Word of God or if it appears to be inexpedient
as far as the condition of a congregation is concerned.”

_ Article IX, Section 2, of the By-laws (S.H., page 34) reads:
“The Constitution, the'By-Laws, and all other rules and regulations
of the Synod apply to all members of the Synod: All congregations
holding membership, pastors, professors, and teachers. ;
« “The Synod expects that also such congregations as have not -
yet been received into membership, but are served by the Synod, -