LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 169

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SYNOD STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE

Whereas, The LCMS is made up of congregations from a
great diversity of cultural contexts, calling for an appropriate
measure of flexibility in communicating the saving message
of the Gospel; therefore be it
Resolved, That the President of the Synod in consultation
with the Council of Presidents, the Commission on Theology
and Church Relations, and the Commission on Constitutional
Matters make provisions for the preparation of materials (a
study) that explain the biblical, confessional, and historical
basis for Article VI of the Synod’s Constitution and the current
and historic bylaws that elucidate the article; and be it further
Resolved, That the study involve the Council of Presidents,
the districts, circuits, and seminaries; and be it further
Resolved, That the congregations of the Synod be encouraged to engage in the study to promote unity, harmony, and
understanding; and be it further
Resolved, That following the study, the Commission on
Handbook, in consultation and concurrence with the Synod
President, the Commission on Constitutional Matters and the
Council of Presidents, submit a proposal to clarify and affirm
or amend Article VI to the next convention of Synod; and be
it finally
Resolved, That we give thanks to the almighty God for
the privilege and opportunity He gives us to work and walk
together in this Synod as His ambassadors in and to the worlds
in which we live .
Action: Adopted (11)
(An earlier version of this resolution, Res . 8-30A, “To Amend
Article VI,” was introduced by the committee in Session 5 . After a
number of committee changes, proposed amendments, and a substitute resolution attempt, the matter was “laid on the table” without
objection from the assembly . Res . 8-30B was introduced in place
of Res . 8-30A during Session 11 . During discussion, a proposal to
amend the fourth resolve by replacing “clarifying and affirming
amendment of” with “to clarify and affirm or amend” was accepted
by the committee as a friendly amendment . An amendment to delete that entire fourth resolve failed [Yes: 273; No: 828] . When
debate was ended, Res . 8-30B was adopted as changed [Yes: 850;
No: 286] .)

Congregations Walking Together in Mission
with Covenants of Love
To Study Article VII of Synod’s Constitution
RESOLUTION 8-32B
TF Report (CW TFR, p. 21); Overtures 7-03, 8-01, 8-17–
20, 8-24–26 (CW, pp. 211, 221, 227–228, 231)
Whereas, The Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure
and Governance has proposed an amendment to Constitution
Article VII (Relation of the Synod and Its Members) for the
purpose of clarification and affirmation; and
Whereas, Many conventions throughout the history of the
Synod, including recent conventions, have addressed concerns
about the proper understanding and application of Article VII
with respect to the relationship between and among the Synod
and its members; and

169

Whereas, Resolution 7-21 of the 2001 convention of the
Synod called for the preparation of “materials that explain the
biblical, confessional, and historical basis for Article VII of
the Synod Constitution and Bylaw 2 .39, b and c” and asked
the President of Synod “to make these materials as widely
available and studied as possible” (2001 Proceeding, pp . 173–
174); and
Whereas, In response to the 2001 convention action,
a study document CONGREGATIONS AND SYNOD,
Background Material on the Advisory Nature of the LCMS,
was written and made available to the Synod in 2004; and
Whereas, There has been no systematic, broad, and intentional synodwide study of this document; and
Whereas, The Commission on Constitutional Matters
has recently rendered Opinion 09-2573 (2010 Convention
Workbook, pp . 280–284) with respect to Article VII; and
Whereas, Article VII of Synod’s Constitution also states
that “with respect to the individual congregation’s right of selfgovernment, it is but an advisory body”; and
Whereas, The proposed amendment to Article VII of
Synod’s Constitution reflects the historically recognized
responsibility of the members of Synod to the Synod as stated
in Bylaws 1 .3 .4, 1 .3 .5, 1 .6 .1, 1 .6 .2, 1 .7 .1 .8 (cf . 1971 Synod
convention Res . 2-21 and 5-24); and
Whereas, The relationship between and among the Synod
and its members has been created to provide mutual encouragement and edification as they work and walk together
responding to God’s call and direction; therefore be it
Resolved, That the President of the Synod implement a synodwide study of the document, CONGREGATIONS OF THE
SYNOD, Background Materials on the Advisory Nature of the
LCMS, together with the CCM opinion and any other helpful
historical materials (historical bylaws, convention resolutions
etc .) between now and the next convention of the Synod; and
be it further
Resolved, That the study involve the Council of Presidents,
the districts, circuits, colleges, universities, and seminaries;
and be it further
Resolved, That the congregations of the Synod and their
pastors be encouraged to be engaged in the study to promote
unity, harmony, and understanding; and be it further
Resolved, That following the study, the Commission on
Handbook, in consultation and concurrence with the Synod
President, the Commission on Constitutional Matters, and the
Council of Presidents, submit a proposal to clarify and affirm
or amend Article VII to the next convention of Synod; and
be it finally
Resolved, That we give thanks to the almighty God for
the privilege and opportunity He gives us to work and walk
together in this Synod as His ambassadors in and to the world
in which we live .
Action: Adopted (11)
(After an immediate motion to end debate on the resolution
failed [Yes: 574; No: 522], the committee agreed to the replacement of “clarifying and affirming amendment of” in the fourth
2010 Convention Proceedings