LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 230

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230

Synod Structure and Governance

Resolved, That the congregations of the Wyoming District in
convention urge the Synod and the BRTFSSG to abandon this new
orientation as represented in the proposals listed above; 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
8-23

To Remove Task Force Proposal re Constitutional
Subscription
Whereas, In 2005, President Gerald Kieschnick appointed the
Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance; and
Whereas, Experience teaches that maximum attention must be
given to details and wording in making adjustments and/or changes
impinging on structure; and
Whereas, The Synod would do well to proceed with prayerful and
appropriate care in considering any changes; and
Whereas, Recommendation 1: Affirm and Clarify Governing
Documents in the task force’s final report of October 15, 2009, has
far-reaching and significant import; and
Whereas, This recommendation appears to contradict proposed
Article VII A 1, which states that the Synod “is but an advisory body”;
and
Whereas, Subscription to the Synod’s Constitution renders Synod
more than “advisory” power; therefore be it
Resolved, That Our Savior Lutheran Church, Muscatine, IA,
memorialize the Synod to remove the phrase “and to its Constitution”
from proposed Article VI A l and proposed Article VI B l.
Our Savior, Muscatine, IA; Zion, Wilton, IA
8-24

To Delete Reference to Constitution from Proposed
Article VII
Whereas, In 2005, President Gerald Kieschnick appointed the
Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance; and
Whereas, Experience teaches that maximum attention must be
given to details and wording in making adjustments and/or changes
impinging on structure; and
Whereas, The Synod would do well to proceed with prayerful and
appropriate care in considering any changes; and
Whereas, Recommendation 1: Affirm and Clarify Governing
Documents in the task force’s final report of October 15, 2009, has
far-reaching and significant import; and
Whereas, Several statements in Article VII appear contradictory
to Article VII A 1, which states that the Synod “is but an advisory
body”; therefore be it
Resolved, That Our Savior Lutheran Church, Muscatine, IA,
memorialize the Synod to delete “and the Constitution” from proposed Article VII B and delete proposed Article VII B 2 in its en­tire­ty.
Our Savior
Muscatine, IA

8-25

To Reject Coercive Language in Handbook
Whereas, The unity of the Church is founded upon words of theology, not ideology; and
Whereas, The proposed wording for the constitution as created
and recommended by the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure
and Governance (BRTFSSG) states that members of Synod will have
to agree (by accepting the new polity prescribed by the new constitution) to “abide by, honor, and uphold the collective will of the
Synod as expressed in its Constitution, Bylaws, and convention resolutions”; and
Whereas, “Collective will” is a term not of theology but of ideology (Marxist ideology and socialism, etc.); and
Whereas, The ideological idea of the collective will (and other
terms of collectivism, centralization, and statism) is an idea that
marginalizes or excludes those who do not assent (or give their agreement) to the collective will as that collective will may be imposed at
any particular time; and
Whereas, The ideological words and concepts of collectivism are
by their very nature intended to establish control and coercion; and
Whereas, The congregations of the LCMS are not under the control or coercion of the Synod structure or bureaucracy but, rather,
are congregations having freely joined themselves in the Synod in
order to better serve one another and with one another; therefore be it
Resolved, That all requirements imposed by the Constitution comport in both spirit and letter to the statement that “the Synod is not
an ecclesiastical government exercising legislative or coercive powers, and…is but an advisory body” (LCMS Constitution, Art. VII);
and be it further
Resolved, That at every point applicable in the documents
(Constitution, Bylaws, proposals, etc.), the language employed clearly
speaks not coercively but of the fellowship we have in the doctrine
of Holy Scripture as expounded in the Lutheran Confessions, freely
subscribed by all our congregations and pastors; and be it finally
Resolved, That the term “collective will,” as also any other terms
of ideology or collectivism, be removed from any proposals for additions or changes to the Constitution or Bylaws or other resolutions or
documents of the LCMS.
North and South Sandia Circuit Forum
Rocky Mountain District
8-26

To Use “between” to Describe Relationship
of Synod and Its Members
Whereas, In 2005, President Gerald Kieschnick appointed the
Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance; and
Whereas, Experience teaches that maximum attention must be
given to details and wording in making adjustments and/or changes
impinging on structure; and
Whereas, The Synod would do well to proceed with prayerful and
appropriate care in considering any changes; and
Whereas, Recommendation 1: Affirm and Clarify Governing
Documents in the task force’s final report of October 15, 2009, has
far-reaching and significant import and speaks of the relation “of”
the Synod and its members; and
Whereas, This relationship is BETWEEN the Synod and its members; therefore be it

2010 Convention Workbook

2010 Convention.indb 230

4/15/10 2:39 PM