LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 213

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Ecclesial matters
Whereas, Such a placement would provide a point in time when
their state of limbo would come to an end; and
Whereas, Such placements could match like-minded pastors and
congregations; and
Whereas, Congregations would then have another avenue to pursue to secure pastoral leadership; therefore be it
Resolved, That procedures be put into place by which pastors
without calls may be placed into parishes in a manner similar to the
placement of seminary graduates; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS in convention request that an ad hoc
committee be established to bring recommendations to the 2013
Synod convention for the creation of such a placement board for
pastors listed as candidates in The Lutheran Annual.
St. Peter
Swanville, MN
7-07

To Clarify Bylaw re Specific Ministry Pastor
Limitations
Whereas, According to 2007 Res. 5-01B, Specific Ministry
Pastors (SMPs) are eligible to receive and accept calls and serve
as SMPs in different geographic venues (Step 5, par. 2 [2007
Proceedings, p. 135]); and
Whereas, The intent of Bylaw 2.13.1 is to describe the limitations
of SMPs as a result of their status as SMPs; and
Whereas, The word “location” is commonly understood to designate a specific geographic venue; and
Whereas, The use of the word in current Bylaw 2.13.1 (a) may
be misunderstood to imply that SMPs are not eligible to receive and
accept calls; and
Whereas, The word “context” is used throughout Bylaw 2.13 pertaining to the status of SMPs; therefore be it
Resolved, that Bylaw 2.13.1 (a ) be clarified as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Specific Ministry Pastor Status and Limitations
2.13.1 A “specific ministry pastor” is a minister of religion—ordained who has completed the requirements for service as a specific
ministry pastor and has been examined by one of the Synod’s seminaries, has received a regular call, and has been placed by the Council of
Presidents into a specific Word and Sacrament ministry context. He is
eligible to serve only in that specific ministry context for which he has
been trained and may not be offered or accept a call for ministry for
which he has not been certified as determined by his district president.
He shall serve under the supervision of his district president and another
pastor who is not a specific ministry pastor.
(a) Because he is under supervision of another pastor and
because a specific ministry pastor’s theological education
has been formed in part by and for a specific ministry
context, he may not be placed or called into ecclesiastical
roles that exercise pastoral oversight outside the location
context of his call.

Board for Pastor Education
7-08

To Revise Selection of CCM Members
Whereas, The Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM)
“exists to interpret the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the
Synod and ensure that the governing instruments of the Synod and

213

its agencies are in accord with the Constitution and Bylaws of the
Synod” (Bylaw 3.9.2); and
Whereas, All five voting members of the CCM currently are
appointed by the President of the Synod from the list of candidates
presented by the Council of Presidents (Bylaw 3.9.2.1.1); and
Whereas, “An opinion rendered by the commission shall be
binding on the question decided unless and until it is overruled by a
convention of the Synod” (Bylaw 3.9.2.2 [c]); and
Whereas, The President of the Synod also appoints the convention floor committees (Bylaw 3.1.7) and is “responsible for the overall
organization and operations of the conventions of the Synod” (Bylaw
3.1.9); and
Whereas, The same man who currently appoints all CCM members also organizes and chairs the floor committees—the mechanism
provided through which resolutions must be channeled within the
LCMS for overruling CCM decisions; and
Whereas, This structure creates a potential conflict of interest which might cause an unbiased observer to wonder if unbiased
opinions can be obtained through the CCM and/or if the review of a
questioned opinion can be reasonably obtained through our present
highest court structure, thereby creating doubt about our Synod’s system of adjudication; therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS return to electing the members of the
CCM at district and national Synod conventions, with nominations
made at the district conventions and the five voting members elected
at the national Synod convention.
Circuit 3 Forum
North Wisconsin District
7-09

To Clarify Which CCM Opinions Are Binding
Whereas, Bylaw 3.9.2.2 (c) states that “[a]n opinion rendered
by the commission [on Constitutional Matters] shall be binding on
the question unless and until it is overruled by a convention of the
Synod”; and
Whereas, This in effect produces a body of law that is binding on
members of the Synod; and
Whereas, This body of law, having accumulated since 1962,
amounts to roughly 1,500 pages of material; and
Whereas, The opinions rendered by the CCM are not publicized;
and
Whereas, Such opinions therefore are not regularly subject to
review or revision; therefore be it
Resolved, That all existing CCM opinions be publicized; and be
it further
Resolved, That the CCM publish its opinions when they are
reached; and be it further
Resolved, That the Montana District in convention memorialize
the 2010 LCMS convention to begin the process of either ratifying or
declaring void each opinion of the CCM by the Synod in convention,
this process to be completed as of the completion of the next-following regular convention of the LCMS (2013); and be it finally
Resolved, That the Montana District in convention memorialize
the LCMS in convention in 2010 to change Synod Bylaw 3.9.2.2 (c)
so that CCM opinions are binding on the members of the Synod until
the next regular convention of the Synod where such opinions must
be ratified to remain in effect.
Montana District

2010 Convention Workbook

2010 Convention.indb 213

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