LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1986, Page 162

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5. LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION

To Study Planning and Decision Making
in the Church

RESOLUTION 5-01A
Report 5-09 P (CW, pp. 212-13)

Wuereas, There is a continued need for review and pos-
sible revision of procedures to improve the process for plan-
ning and decision making within the Synod; therefore be
it

Resolved, That the Commission on Structure be directed
to initiate churchwide discussions on the matter of plan-
ning and decision making in the church on all levels, and
on the basis of these discussions prepare recommendations
for the expansion and improvement of our process of
shared planning and decision making, offering models for
testing at the 1988 district conventions; and be it further

Resolved, That based upon the response of district con-
ventions, the Commission on Structure be directed to sub-
mit to the 1989 convention proposals for improved
planning and decision making, recommending necessary
structural changes.

Action: Adopted (14).
To Amend Bylaws of Synod
RESOLUTION 5-02A

Overtures 5-57, 5-62A-5-64, 5-121, 5-151, 5-163, 5-168,
6-89, 6-113 (CW, pp. 224-25, 236, 247-83)

Wuereas, The Commission on Structure is to “conduct
a continuing review of the organizational structure of the
Synod, including its districts and its circuits, and make
proposals to succeeding conventions for improvements”
(Bylaw 2.583 a); and

Wuereas, The Board of Directors, the Commission on
Structure, the President’s Commission on Synodical
Higher Education, the Council of Presidents, and others
have reviewed all or portions of the Handbook and have
proposed such revisions for improvement; therefore be it

Resolved, That the following Bylaw changes be adopted:

* * *

A. To Define Relationships in and Through the
Synod

L RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN AND THROUGH
THE SYNOD

1.01 Reasons for Organizing a Synod

Committed to a common confession and mission, con-
gregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
join with one another in the Synod to support one an-
other and work together in carrying out their commonly
adopted objectives. The Synod functions in support of
its member congregations by providing assistance as
congregations conduct their ministries locally, as well
as their ministries at large. The Synod on behalf of its
member congregations administers those ministries
which can be accomplished more effectively in associ-
ation with other member congregations through the
Synod. In this way member congregations utilize the
Synod to assist them in carrying out their functions of
worship, witness, teaching and nurture, service and

support as they seek to serve (1) our Lord Jesus Christ,
(2) the members of His body, and (3) the world which
stands in need of the Word and the impact of His re-
deeming love.

1.03 Confessional Position

The confessional position of the Synod is set forth in
Article II of its Constitution, to which all who wish to
be and remain members of the Synod shall subscribe.

1.05 Relationships: Congregation, Synod,
District, Circuit

a. Individual Christians are joined together in a wor-
shiping and serving community, the congregation. Con-
gregations, the basic unit of the Synod, have joined
together to form the Synod and relate to one another
through the Synod.

b. The Synod divides itself into districts and au-
thorizes its districts to create circuits. The criteria for
the creation of districts and circuits are determined by
the Synod in convention. Districts and circuits are in-
cluded among the component parts of the Synod.

c. The Synod, including its component parts, is re-
garded as an extension of the congregations to the ex-
tent and for the purposes determined by the
congregations acting through conventions. The Synod
and its component parts are designed to assist the con-
gregations and their members in conserving and pro-
moting the unity of the faith and in carrying out their
mission and ministry. The Synod, including its com-
ponent parts, also serves as the structure through which
congregations carry out certain functions which can be
performed more effectively and efficiently together with
other member congregations.

d. Congregations together establish the require-
ments of membership in the Synod (Art. VD. In joining
the Synod, congregations and other members obligate
themselves to fulfill such requirements. Members agree
to uphold the confessional position of the Synod (Art.
II) and to assist in carrying out the objectives of the
Synod (Art. III), which are objectives of the members
themselves. Thus while congregations of the Synod are
self-governing (Art. VID, they, and also individual mem-
bers, commit themselves as members of the Synod to
act in accordance with the synodical Constitution and
Bylaws under which they have agreed to live and work
together and which the congregations alone have the
authority to adopt or amend through conventions.

e. Membership is held in the Synod itself. However,
in accordance with the objectives of the Synod, each
member enjoys certain privileges and accepts certain
responsibilities also in and through the respective dis-
trict and circuit.

£. Districts and circuits as component parts of the
Synod are obligated to carry out resolutions of the
Synod. Districts and circuits to the extent they are ex-
tensions of the congregations are structures for congre-
gations to review synodical decisions, to motivate one
another to action, and to shape and suggest new direc-
tions.

1.07 Relationships: Conventions, Officers,
Boards, Commissions, Staff

a. The delegate convention of the Synod is the leg-
islative assembly which ultimately establishes policies
and provides program direction to carry on the Synod’s
work on behalf of and in service to the member congre-
gations, reserving to itself the right to give directions
to all officers, boards, and commissions of the Synod
(including the districts, seminaries and colleges, and
other component parts of the Synod.) The delegate con-
vention of each district of the Synod receives reports
and counsel from the national Synod, makes recom-
mendations thereto, assists in implementing synodical