LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 152

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152

RESOLUTIONS

prohibiting the calling of candidates of LCMS seminaries and
pastors rostered by any other church bodies; and
Whereas, Current Bylaw 2 .5 .3 requires congregations to
“call only commissioned ministers who have been admitted
to their ministries in accordance with the rules and regulations
set forth in these Bylaws and have thereby become members
of the Synod”; and
Whereas, Taken literally, this bylaw requires congregations to call only commissioned ministers rostered by the
Synod, thereby prohibiting the calling of candidates of LCMS
colleges and universities and commissioned ministers rostered
by any other church bodies; and
Whereas, Agreements are in place with certain partner
churches (i.e., the Lutheran Church—Canada [LCC] and
the American Association of Lutheran Churches [AALC])
that permit LCMS congregations to call rostered pastors and
rostered members of these church bodies holding positions
comparable to our commissioned ministers according to established agreements; therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw 2 .5 .2 be amended to accommodate
the calling of pastors rostered by partner churches and candidates of LCMS seminaries by LCMS congregations as follows:
PROPOSED WORDING
2 .5 .2 Congregations that are members of the Synod shall call and be served only by (1) ordained ministers
who have been admitted to their respective ministries in
accordance with the rules and regulations set forth in these
Bylaws and have thereby become members of the Synod; (2)
candidates for the pastoral ministry who have satisfied the qualifications and requirements for assignment of first calls by the
Council of Presidents acting as the Board of Assignments; or
(3) ordained ministers who are members in good standing of
church bodies that have been formally recognized to be in altar
and pulpit fellowship with the Synod when agreements for such
calls are in place;

and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaw 2 .5 .3 be amended to accommodate
the calling of commissioned ministers rostered by partner
churches, and commissioned minister candidates of LCMS
colleges and universities by LCMS congregations as follows:
2 .5 .3 Congregations that are members of the Synod shall
call only (1) commissioned ministers who have been admitted
to their ministries in accordance with the rules and regulations
set forth in these Bylaws and have thereby become members
of the Synod; (2) candidates of LCMS colleges and universities who have satisfied the qualifications and requirements for
assignment of first calls by the Council of Presidents acting as
the Board of Assignments; and (3) commissioned ministers who
are members in good standing of church bodies that have been
formally recognized to be in altar and pulpit fellowship with the
Synod when agreements for such calls are in place .

Action: Adopted (9)
(After discussion, Res . 7-06A was adopted as presented
[Yes: 1,033; No: 65] .)
2010 Convention Proceedings

To Add Wording to Bylaws re Expectations
of Synod Membership
RESOLUTION 7-07A
Overture 7-01 (CW, p. 211)
Rationale
Following the example of the apostolic church (Acts 15:1–
31), the Synod was formed so that under the blessing of God,
the diversities of gifts might be used for the common profit
(1 Cor . 12:4–31) . Membership in the Synod brings with it great
blessings which include:
• Confessional unity in the true faith
• Worldwide outreach opportunities
• Resources for mission and ministry
• Opportunities to show human care
• Theological training
• Certified church workers
• Mutual support
• Evangelical counsel and care
• Protection and aid
In thankfulness to God for these blessings and to enable the
Synod to give bold witness by word and deed to the love and
work of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to extend
our Gospel witness into all the world, members freely pledge to
• Uphold the confessional position of the Synod
(Constitution, Art . II)
• Support the objectives of the Synod (Constitution, Art .
III)
• Promote the purposes of the Synod by word and deed
(Bylaw 1 .3 .4)
• Act in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of
the Synod (Bylaw 1 .3 .4)
• Support the work of the Synod by means of their prayers,
service, and financial support
• Assist in planning the work of the Synod by providing
accurate statistical information
Therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw 1 .3 .4 be amended to read:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
1 .3 .4 Congregations together establish the requirements of
membership in the Synod (Constitution, Art . VI) . In joining the
Synod, congregations and other members obligate themselves to
fulfill such requirements and to diligently and earnestly promote
the purposes of the Synod by word and deed . Members of the
Synod, compelled by love for each other, accept the responsibility to financially support the work of the Synod and provide annual statistical information to enable the Synod to plan current
and future ministry efforts based upon an accurate picture of the
results of current ministries “within our churches, communities,
and world .”
1 .3 .4 .1 Members agree to uphold the confessional position
of the Synod (Art . II) and to assist in carrying out the objectives