LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 145

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7. Ecclesial Matters
To Encourage Task Force on Synodical Harmony
RESOLUTION 7-01
Report 4-04-01 (CW, pp. 74–76)
Whereas, The 2007 LCMS convention, by adoption of
Res . 4-01A, directed action to initiate a specific plan to restore
harmony in our Synod for the sake of the whole church; and
Whereas, In response to Res . 4-01A, the Council of
Presidents and Board of Directors chartered a group of twelve
leaders in the Synod with the task of recommending “a strategy for harmony”; and
Whereas, The “Progress Report of the Task Force on
Synodical Harmony” has been published as a report to this
convention (2010 CW, pp . 74–76); therefore be it
Resolved, That the aforesaid report be made available to
members of the Synod by publication on its Website; and be
it further
Resolved, That the task force be encouraged in its continuing work of developing specific strategies to move us toward
greater harmony in the LCMS; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod at large be encouraged to continue its efforts to be in harmony with one another .
Action: Adopted (7)
(After the resolution was introduced, a proposed amendment to
strike the second resolve was first ruled a substitute motion by the
chair and then ruled out of order, the work of the task force being
a work in progress as a result of a 2007 convention action . After
debate, Res . 7-01 was adopted as presented [Yes: 799; No: 254] .)

To Affirm Ecclesiastical Supervision
RESOLUTION 7-02
Overtures 7-12–16 (CW, pp. 214–17)

Report to the Convention—Floor Committee 7
(as required by Bylaw 3.9.2.2 [c])
The following documents will be referenced in the following report, which satisfies the requirement of Bylaw 3 .9 .2 .2
(c) regarding overtures considered by the floor committee that “seek to overrule” opinions of the Commission on
Constitutional Matters (CCM):
CCM Opinions 02-2296; 02-2309; 02-2320; 03-2338;
03-2338A; 03-2338C
Board of Directors Response to CCM Opinions
2004 Res . 7-02A
2007 Res . 8-10
CCM Opinion 09-2570
Commission on Theology and Church Relations Response
to 2007 Res . 8-10
2010 Report of the President, Part II
Introduction
Overtures 7-12 through 7-16 request that the convention
overrule CCM Opinion 02-2309 and other related opinions

Committee 7 Chairman Lane Seitz

dealing with ecclesiastical supervision and expulsion of a
member who, when performing his or her official duties, follows the advice and counsel of the ecclesiastical supervisor
designated by the Synod . Pursuant to Bylaw 3 .9 .2 .2 (c), the
floor committee has considered these overtures and provides
this report with recommendations for appropriate action .
History
In January 20–21, 2003, the CCM adopted Opinions
02-2296, 02-2309, and 02-2320 (CW, pp . 249–251) . Thereafter
the CCM also addressed the issue of ecclesiastical supervision in Opinion 03-2338 03-2338A, 03-2338C and Opinion
03-2338B (CW, pp . 251–252) . At its November 20–22, 2003,
meeting, the Synod’s Board of Directors (BOD) challenged
opinions 02-2296, 02-2309, and 02-2320, adopting a resolution1 declaring them to be of no effect . This action resulted in
multiple overtures and resolutions to the 2004 convention,
including the same above request to overrule the opinions .
After extensive discussion and debate, the 2004 convention adopted Res . 7-02A,2 which overruled the BOD action and
declared the board’s resolution to be of no effect . Therefore,
the CCM opinions remained binding and in effect .
In 2007 there were again multiple challenges to the same
opinions (2007 Ov 8-47–57) . After carefully reviewing these
overtures, Floor Committee 8 submitted Res . 8-10,3 which was
adopted by the convention by a vote of 603 to 191 . The resolution referred the CCM opinions in question to the Commission
on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) for consideration
and a report back to the 2010 convention .
On November 5, 2009, the President of the Synod requested
that the CCM “prepare a succinct yet comprehensive review
and summary of the topics addressed by CCM Opinion
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2010 Convention Proceedings