LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 228

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228

Synod Structure and Governance

no changes in the Synod’s structure that are not in conformity with
Walther’s Church and Ministry; and be it further
Resolved, That the South Wisconsin District assembled in convention in 2009 memorialize the 2010 LCMS convention to ensure that
the Synod’s Bylaws are in conformity with the contents of Walther’s
Church and Ministry.
South Wisconsin District
8-18

To Affirm Integrity and Dignity of All
Congregations
Whereas, The church is “the assembly of saints in which the gospel is taught purely and the sacraments are administered rightly”
(AC VII); and
Whereas, The Lord gathers His people as church around His
means of grace in particular places, even if they are only few in
number (see Matthew 18:17–20); and
Whereas, Each local congregation therefore has all the dignity,
gifts, and authority of the church of Christ; and
Whereas, No congregation has more or less of Christ and His forgiveness than any other; and
Whereas, C. F. W. Walther summarized the matter thus in The
Form of a Christian Congregation: “All congregations and pastors
as such have equal authority, and therefore no congregation or minister as such is either superior or inferior to the others. This fact is
attested by Luther when he writes, ‘We know that in Christendom it
is so arranged that all congregations are equal. …Wherever there is a
church, no matter where it may be in the whole world, it has no other
Gospel or Holy Scripture, no other Baptism or Sacrament, no other
faith and Spirit, no other Christ and God, no other Lord’s Prayer and
intercession, no other hope and eternal life, than we have here in our
congregations at Wittenberg’” (CPH, 1961; reprint 2005, p. 192); and
Whereas, It is fitting that congregations’ equal dignity before the
Lord be manifested in the ways they walk with one another; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Missouri District encourage all of its congregations to continue to recognize and practice these biblical and
evangelical truths; and be it further
Resolved, That the Missouri District memorialize the Synod to
continue upholding the equal dignity, gifts, and authority of its member congregations in its theology and reflecting these truths as its
theology is applied in polity and in day-to-day relations.
Missouri District; Carrollton Circuit Forum, Missouri District;
Zion, Moberly, MO; St. John, Brunswick, MO
8-19

To Respect All Congregations Equally
Whereas, Pastor Jon Braunersreuther, Assistant to Pastor Gerald
Kieschnick, President of the LCMS, in speaking on behalf of the
President of Synod and on behalf of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on
Synod Structure and Governance (BRTFSSG) has stated clearly and
repetitively, “It’s about the congregations. Congregations are the key”
(see “Introductory Remarks: The Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod
Structure and Governance Report”); and
Whereas, Professor Leopold A. Sanchez of Concordia Seminary,
St. Louis, speaking as a professor of systematic theology and as
Director of the Center for Hispanic Studies at Concordia Seminary

and writing with a heart for missions and a concern for those congregations in danger of being marginalized “on the borderlands,” has
given the good counsel that “the principle of mission on the borderlands will not promote a proposal for greater representation based on
number of members per congregation, but rather continue the current
practice of providing each congregation of Synod the same voice at
the table” (Concordia Journal, Winter 2009, 35:1, p. 32); and
Whereas, The Synod has always been understood as a synod
of congregations serving one another and not as a mass of people
demanding purely democratic representation for the division of organizational control; and
Whereas, As a Synod, we want to show the highest respect to all
congregations, regardless of demographics or size; and
Whereas, Voting in the Church should be understood not as a way
to exercise political power, nor to establish organizational control (as
are the ways of the world; cf. Mark 10:42–43), but rather as the opposite, the way for congregations to give their joyful assent and bear
witness of their unity and their service to one another, especially to
the smaller congregations and those doing mission work on the margins (on “the borderlands,” to use Professor Sanchez’s phrase); and
Whereas, Examples of larger congregations exercising electoral
power over smaller congregations is found wanting in both Scripture
and in Church history (as also in Missouri Synod history); therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS, continuing in its historic doctrine and
practice of respecting all congregations equally, will give favored
voting status to none of them but will listen to all of their voices with
equal honor and respect and will show this equal honor and respect
also in the allotment of voting rights in our Synod.
North and South Sandia Circuit Forum
Rocky Mountain District
8-20

To Give Congregation Overtures Equal
Consideration
Whereas, The BRTFSSG acknowledges that “the Synod considers the local congregation to be the basic unit of Synod polity”; and
Whereas, The Synod exists to serve our congregations; and
Whereas, We need grassroots support for our Synod’s policies
and actions; and
Whereas, The most grassroots entities in the Synod are the local
congregations; therefore be it
Resolved, That floor committees give all resolutions from congregations, circuit forums, and Synod boards or commissions equal
consideration.
Mount Hood Circuit
Northwest District
8-21

To Reject All Proposals That Limit or Hinder
Participation of Congregations
Whereas, “The Synod considers the local congregation to be the
basic unit of Synod polity” and “the [BRTFSSG] recommendations
seek to broaden the voice and participation of the congregations in
the Synod” (BRTFSSG Final Report, p. 15); and,
Whereas, The report from Bredholt & Co. and Epley Research
& Consulting concludes, “For the LCMS, a four-part approach is

2010 Convention Workbook

2010 Convention.indb 228

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