LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 232

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232 STRUCTURE AND CONSTITUTION

opposed to a hierarchical”) church body and has consistently
imbedded this principle in its Constitution, currently Article
VII; and

WHEREAS, In his oft-cited address to the second convention
of the Synod (1848), President C. F. W. Walther stated, ‘‘Accord-
ing to the Constitution under which our synodical union exists,
we have merely advisory power, merely the power of the Word
and of persuasion. ... We have no right to formulate decrees,
issue laws and ordinances, and in any matter impose an
obligation on congregations to render a judicial verdict to
which they must unconditionally submit themselves. Our
Constitution by no means makes usa sort of consistory, by no
means the supreme court of our congregations. On the contrary,
it leaves to them the most perfect liberty in everything, nothing
excepted save only the Word of God, faith, and love’; and

WHEREAS, Another longtime Synod president, John W.
Behnken, wrote in 1937 that “our fathers were extremely
careful in organizing our Synod. They safeguarded the sover-
eignty of the congregation. They considered not merely that
the Synod is a voluntary organization, but also that it could
function only in an advisory capacity....Only the Word of God
can legislate for the congregation,” noting also that the Synod
may “exercise no control over the property of congregations”:
and

WHEREAS, The Synod’s staunch position on congregational
autonomy—founded squarely on the Scriptural doctrine of the
Office of the Keys—has been a major point of contention with
other American Lutherans who believed that hierarchical
control was necessary to safeguard Lutheran practice and
doctrine; and

WHEREAS, The principle of congregational autonomy does
not imply that congregations will normally ignore the advice
of fellow members with whom they have voluntarily associated
themselves in pursuit of common objectives; and

WHEREAS, There are at present at least two impending cases
in the civil courts in which representatives of the Synod have
asserted that the Synod is at least to a degree “hierarchical”;
and

WHEREAS, The civil courts of the U.S. recognize only two
types of church polity, “hierarchical” and “congregational,”
and the Synod’s traditional polity squares with legal under-
standings ofa “congregational” church body (Brady v. Reiner,
1973); and

WHEREAS, The Synod’s 1944 convention specifically repudi-
ated the suggestion that congregational autonomy applied
only to “internal affairs” of member congregations: therefore
be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention reaffirm for the
benefit of all concerned parties that Synod regards itself as a
“congregational” church body.

Epiphany Lutheran Church
Northfield, Ohio

James Simler, President
Cindy Welter, Secretary
Jeffrey Anderson, Pastor

Identical or similar:

5-72B to 5-72Q
Christ the King, Largo, Fla.

Bethlehem. Minnetonka, Minn.
Zion, Westwood, NJ.

Daniel Brockhoff
Arden H. Malotky
Norman Brinkmann

St. James, Grand Rapids, Mich. R.S. Miller
Grace, Warminster, Pa. Paul Aldinger
St. Luke, Chilton, Wis. T. R. Bartell

Kenneth S. Hahn
Waldemar Thiele
John W. Krueger
Thomas Van der Bloemen
David Krampitz

Arthur R. Burkman
Timothy Koenig

Jeff Matson

Chas. N. Goehring

Marie Enfield

Grace, Hazel Crest, II].

Town & Country, Sacramento, Calif.
Christ, Brea, Calif.

First, Helena, Mont.

Grace, Willow Springs, III.
Emmanuel. Indianapolis, Ind.
Trinity, Brownsville, Tex.

Mt. Olive, Pasadena, Calif.
Trinity, Spencerport, N.Y.
Trinity, Northfield, Minn.

5-73
To Deal with Hierarchical Issue

WHEREAS, The legal system of the United States of America
recognizes congregational polity based upon “congregational”
or “hierarchical” authority; and

WHEREAS, Some within the Synod have been stating the
LCMS is “hierarchical,” which is contrary not only to past
tradition and statements but also to the synodical Constitu-
tion; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention reaffirm the al-
ready existent “congregational” polity of ourchurch body; and
be it further

Resolved, That we repudiate any assertion of “hierarchical”
polity, based upon not only the Constitution Article VII but
also Bylaws 8.07 and 8.39, which very specifically state the
“congregation’s right of self-government.”

Trinity Lutheran Church
Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Walter Martin, President
Amelia Meseck, Secretary

5-74A

To Disavow Any Claims
to “Hierarchical” Nature of the Synod

WHEREAS, In this year, when Lutherans celebrate the 500th
anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther's birth, we are reminded how
Dr. Luther resisted the abuses of hierarchical authority in the
church of Jesus Christ; and

WHEREAS, Some officials of the Synod have reportedly
attempted to portray the Synod as being hierarchical in nature:
and

WHEREAS, The use of the term “hierarchical” in its very
meaning asserts an authoritative rather than an advisory role;
and

WHEREAS, The Synod isa creature of the congregations, and
its nature is that of servant rather than an entity having
authority over its creators: therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod clearly reaffirm in this conven-
tion that no synod, no convention, or any other human
ecclesiastical institution be considered to be a hierarchical
authority over any Christian or Christian congregation: and
be it further

Resolved, That we gladly affirm the lordship of Jesus Christ
alone over us, obediently bow before His authority as it is
revealed to us in Scripture. and reject in His name any
decisions, public policies, or actions which compromise the
freedom and responsibility of the individual Christian and the
individual Christian congregation; and be it finally

Resolved, That we affirm our willingness and readiness to
welcome jovfully and receive gladly counsel. advice, and
admonition from one another, and engage happily in the work
of the Kingdom together as fellow congregations within the
Synod, under the lordship of Jesus Christ.

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
Appleton, Wis.

Larry Peterson, President

Marian Baker, Secretary

Stanley G. Bahn, Pastor

Identical or similar:
5-74B and 5-74C
Longs Peak Circuit Forum, Colo. Dist.
Messiah, Longmont, Colo.

5-75

Lambert Gabbert
Alden Elshuf

To Approve the Use of the Term
“Hierarchical” for Legal Purposes

WHEREAS, Article II of the Synod’s Constitution requires
every member of the Synod to accept without reservation: