LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 227

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synod structure and governance
In the proposed changes, this primary objective is broken up and
moved toward the end of Article III as a secondary objective.
This dismissal of the necessity and centrality of purity in doctrine
is seen even more clearly in the proposed “Article VI Requirements
of Membership.” First, the Constitution of the Synod is raised to the
same level as the Confessions of the Lutheran Church (Art. VI A 1
and VI B 1), something that has never been done before in a Lutheran
church and must be vehemently rejected. Second, the clear description
of unionism and syncretism given in the current Constitution (Art. VI
2) has been replaced by broad and ill-defined language of “practicing
church fellowship” and “supporting organizations and causes” (Art.
VI B 3 [a] and [b]). Third, the current Constitution uses the demarcating language of “orthodox” and “nothing contrary to the Scriptures
or the Confessions” as opposed to “of mixed confession” or “heterodox.” The proposed new Constitution speaks only of “holding a
different confession” and organizations that “promote a position contrary to the confessional position of Synod.” Fourth, and very telling,
is the change to the old Condition of Membership 4: “Exclusive use
of doctrinally pure agenda, hymnbooks, and catechisms in church
and school,” to “Use of worship and catechetical resources that are
in harmony with the confessional basis of the Synod.” The exclusivity of pure doctrine in worship and catechesis would no longer
be emphasized.
We note, furthermore, that as the proposed changes to the
Constitution marginalize the purity of doctrine and practice in the
teaching and practice of the church and her fellowship, the fellowship
of the church becomes increasingly man-centered and man-worked.
In the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, the Church and her
fellowship is simultaneously created and manifested by God alone
in the pure preaching of the Gospel and right administration of the
Sacraments (AC VII). Congregations, synods, and the church can do
no more than recognize this unity by that purely preached Gospel and
Sacraments. In the proposed changes to the Constitution, however,
church fellowship must not only be conserved and promoted but nurtured, manifested, and worked toward by human effort.
These proposed changes would be the end of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod as a confessional Lutheran church. All
declarations about the Lutheran Confessions, the Word and the
Sacraments, or purity of doctrine and practice, would be relegated to
a marginal or secondary level in our Synod’s self-understanding and
mission. Under the proposed new Constitution, the old and historic
language and doctrine could be tolerated, resolutions passed, and doctrinal statements made, but the new Constitution itself would remove
all these corrective measures and doctrinal statements to a secondary
level, forcing them to yield always to the primary matters of missions
and personal saving faith.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That the congregations of the Wyoming District in
convention declare that they would be unable to accept these proposed changes to the Constitution of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod with a clear conscience; and be it further
Resolved, That the congregations of the Wyoming District urge
the Synod and the BRTFSSG to reject all proposed changes to the
Synod’s Constitution, as well as the change in doctrine that is embedded in these proposed changes; and be it further
Resolved, That this resolution be forwarded immediately to the
BRTFSSG for incorporation into its ongoing work; and be it finally
Resolved, That this resolution be sent as an overture to the 2010
LCMS convention.
Wyoming District

227

8-16

To Retain Current Constitution
Articles II–IV, VI–VII
Whereas, Articles II–IV and VI–VII of the current Constitution
are not articles based on church structure and human governance,
regarding which Holy Scriptures are silent; and
Whereas, Articles II–IV and VI–VII are about the very foundation
of the reason and purpose of Synod and are not subject to changing
social standards, economics, or administrative styles; and
Whereas, Current lack of enforcement of provisions is not a legitimate reason for change; therefore be it
Resolved, That Articles II–IV and VI–VII of the current
Constitution not be changed through reduction or addition in any new
edition of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod; and be it further
Resolved, That Articles II–VII hold precedent over other articles
of the Constitution, and that no changes can be made in these articles
without the dissolution of the Synod.
Deshler Circuit Forum
Nebraska District
8-17

To Align Synod Structure with Walther’s
Church and Ministry
Whereas, The Synod in 1851 declared C. F. W. Walther’s Theses
on Church and Ministry to be the position of the Synod; and
Whereas, The Synod in its 1852 convention also declared C. F. W.
Walther’s book The Voice of Our Church on the Question of Church
and Ministry (1852) to be the pure doctrine (reine Lehre) of church
and ministry; and
Whereas, The 2001 convention of the LCMS adopted Res. 7-17A
“To Affirm Synod’s Official Position on Church and Ministry”; and
Whereas, The first resolve of 2001 Res. 7-17A states, “The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod meeting in convention in the
year of our Lord 2001 affirm[s] the above referenced writings of C.
F. W. Walther as the definitive statement under Holy Scripture and
the Lutheran Confessions of the Synod’s understanding on the subject of church and ministry”; and
Whereas, The second resolve of 2001 Res. 7-17A states, “That
the LCMS in convention reaffirm[s] the decision of the 1852 convention in recognizing C. F. W. Walther’s book The Voice of Our
Church on the Question of Church and Ministry as the official position of the LCMS”; and
Whereas, Thesis X of Part Two, “Concerning the Holy Ministry
or the Pastoral Office,” in Walther’s Church and Ministry affirms the
following: “To the ministry of the Word, according to divine right,
belongs also the duty [Amt] to judge doctrine, but laymen also possess this right. Therefore, in the ecclesiastical courts (consistories)
and councils they are accorded both a seat and vote together with
the clergy”; and
Whereas, The Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure
and Governance publication Congregation–Synod–Church: Basic
Theological Principles Underlying LCMS Structure and Governance
does not make one single reference to Walther’s Church and Ministry;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the South Wisconsin District assembled in convention in 2009 memorialize the 2010 LCMS convention to make
2010 Convention Workbook

2010 Convention.indb 227

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