LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 212

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212

Ecclesial matters

to the Confessions, and as rejoicing in the full doctrinal fellowship
of the Confessions, but as bound by no resolutions of men nor any
coercion created by a convention inventing “the doctrinal position
of the Synod.”
North and South Sandia Circuit Forum
Rocky Mountain District

Resolved, That the Rocky Mountain District memorialize the
Synod to this effect.
Rocky Mountain District
7-05

To Amend Bylaw 2.5.2 re Congregations
Calling Pastors

7-04

To Rightly Understand Advisory Nature
of the Synod
Whereas, The phrase “bind themselves to the doctrinal position
of Synod” as used in the slide presentation of the Blue Ribbon Task
Force on Synod Structure and Governance, “Walking Together,” concerns some as introducing coercive language; and
Whereas, While the Handbook does speak of a “confessional position of the Synod” and “members of the Synod” in Bylaw 1.6.1 and
outlines in subsequent sections how doctrinal statements adopted by
conventions are treated—including a process of dissent, in that the
“doctrinal position of Synod” is spoken of because it is the doctrine
of our Lord; and
Whereas, While members of the Synod are bound by the Word
of God (the Holy Scriptures), and willingly and publicly subscribe
to the Confessions because they are a true exposition of the Word of
God, and willingly walk together as a Synod, confessing their shared
faith and agreeing to receive the doctrinal statements adopted by conventions as advice for mission and ministry, they are not bound by
the words of men, the rules or resolutions of an organization, or the
coercion of any movement; and
Whereas, The Synod does not exist to create, invent, or originate doctrine, or introduce ideas, ideology, or terminology contrary
to the doctrine of our Lord (e.g., “collective will”), but rather to conserve and promote the unity of faith; to strengthen congregations and
their members; to recruit and train pastors and teachers, etc.; to aid
congregations in education (including colleges and seminaries) and
in defending their confessional unity in the true faith; to encourage
congregations to strive for uniformity in church practice; to provide
evangelical supervision, counsel, and care for pastors, teachers, and
other church workers; to provide protection for congregations and
servants of the church in their official duties and in the protection of
their rights; and to aid in providing for the welfare of the servants of
the church (Constitution, Art. III); and
Whereas, For the benefit of the church and for the blessing of the
Lord’s people, the Synod should strive to speak clearly and plainly
of the doctrine of our Lord Jesus as it is bestowed upon the Church
in Holy Scripture and expounded in the Confessions; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod retain the time-tested words in its Constitution: “[T]he Synod is not an ecclesiastical government exercising legislative or coercive powers, . . . [but] is but an advisory body.
Accordingly, no resolution of the Synod imposing anything upon
the individual congregation is of binding force if it is not in accordance with the Word of God or if it appears to be inexpedient as far
as the condition of a congregation is concerned” (Constitution, Art.
VII); and be it further
Resolved, That the member of Synod, with regard to doctrine, is
to be understood as being bound by the Word of God, as subscribing to the Lutheran Confessions, and as rejoicing in the full doctrinal fellowship of the Confessions, but as being bound by no resolutions of conventions or inventions of men contrary to the Word of
God; and be it finally

Whereas, Current Bylaw 2.5.2 requires congregations to “call
and be served only by 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”; and
Whereas, Taken literally, this bylaw requires congregations to
call only pastors rostered by the Synod, thereby prohibiting the calling of pastors 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 of these church bodies 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.

Commission on Structure
7-06

To Create a Means for Placement of Church
Workers on Candidate Status
Whereas, The LCMS continues to have quite a number of congregations that are termed “calling congregations,” that is, congregations
that are in the process of calling a pastor to serve them; and
Whereas, There are quite a number of men on the clergy roster
of the LCMS who do not have calls, who are listed in The Lutheran
Annual as “candidates”; and
Whereas, Such candidates live in a state of limbo, awaiting a call
to serve—calls which are, all too often, not very forthcoming; and
Whereas, It is unfortunate that such candidates who are trained
and qualified to serve as pastors are forced by their state of limbo to
pursue other careers and are lost as full-time servants in the church;
and
Whereas, Such a loss is a great waste of training and of a human
resource that is available to the church; and
Whereas, Such a loss is detrimental to Christ’s mission for His
Church, the mission of making disciples of all nations by baptizing
and teaching; and
Whereas, Such candidates may be willing to be placed into a
congregation in a manner similar to their placement following their
seminary training; and

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