LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 135

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I. OPINIONS OF COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
could not do very well, such as foreign mission work and the training
of pastors and teachers at colleges and seminaries.

That identification of the two basic functions of the Synod is
closely reflected in paragraphs (a) and (b) of current Bylaw 1.1.1
(2013 Handbook, p. 23):
(a)

(b)

The Synod functions in support of its member congregations by
providing assistance as congregations conduct their ministries locally, as well as their ministries at large.
The Synod on behalf of its member congregations administers
those ministries that can be accomplished more effectively in association with other member congregations through the Synod. In
this way member congregations utilize the Synod to assist them
in carrying out their functions of worship, witness, teaching and
nurture, service, and support.

Constitution Art. VII makes clear, however, that the Synod also
respects its member congregations’ right to self-govern (2013 Handbook, p. 16):
1.

2.

In its relations to its members, the Synod is not an ecclesiastical
government exercising legislative or coercive powers, and with
respect to the individual congregation’s right of self-government
it 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.
Membership of a congregation in the Synod gives the Synod no
equity in the property of the congregation.

At the same time, member congregations by their adoption of
other constitutional articles and by their present-day subscription to
such articles self-limit their right of self-government. By establishing the requirements of membership in the Synod (Constitution Art.
VI), they “obligate themselves to fulfill such requirements and to
diligently and earnestly promote the purposes of the Synod by word
and deed.” They also agree to uphold the Synod’s confessional position (Constitution Art. II) and to carry out the objectives of the
Synod (Constitution Art. III), “which are objectives of the members
themselves” (Bylaw 1.3.4).
This self-limitation carries over to the Bylaws, which according to
Constitution Art. XIV are “binding regulations for the Synod and its
conduct and governance” (2013 Handbook, p. 22), including Bylaw
1.3.4.1 (p. 27):
1.3.4.1 Thus, while congregations of the Synod are self-governing
(Constitution Art. VII), they, and also individual members, commit themselves as members of the Synod to act in accordance with
the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod under which they have
agreed to live and work together and which the congregations
alone have the authority to adopt or amend through conventions.

This self-limitation has been further extended by convention action to the resolutions of the Synod, as articulated in Bylaw section
1.7 “Agreements” (2013 Handbook, p. 36):
1.7.1 The Constitution, Bylaws, and all other rules and regulations of
the Synod apply to all congregational and individual members of
the Synod.
1.7.2 The Synod expects every member congregation of the Synod to
respect its resolutions and to consider them of binding force if
they are in accordance with the Word of God and if they appear
applicable as far as the condition of the congregation is concerned.
The Synod, being an advisory body, recognizes the right of a congregation to be the judge of the applicability of the resolution
to its local condition. However, in exercising such judgment, a
congregation must not act arbitrarily, but in accordance with the
principles of Christian love and charity.
1.7.3 The Synod expects congregations that have not been received into
membership, but are served by the Synod, and whose ministers
of religion, ordained and commissioned, hold membership in the
Synod, to honor its rules and regulations.

135

Accordingly, congregations submit to requirements for membership (Bylaw section 2.1), agree to use the Synod’s dispute resolution
process to resolve most disputes (Bylaw section 1.10), honor the
Synod’s requirements and restrictions for calling ministers of religion
(Bylaw section 2.5), accept their district president’s ecclesiastical
supervision (Bylaw 2.12.1), etc. Member congregations also submit
to the Synod’s expectations with regard to foreign mission work as
delineated in Bylaw 3.8.3.
Such interest in the coordination of mission activity was demonstrated with the adoption of 2010 Res. 1-07A “To Encourage
Inter-District Dialogue in the Establishment of New Church Starts,
Satellite Worship Sites, and Specialized Ministries across Geographic
District Lines” (2010 Proceedings, p. 106). Here, addressing a matter
of national mission, the Synod addressed congregations and districts
regarding local mission efforts, noting that failure to coordinate mission efforts “can cause strained relations and impact work that is
being planned for that area by local congregations or the geographical
district.” With the adoption of the resolution by a 875 to 169 vote,
the Synod
… Resolved, That congregations interested in expanding their Gospel outreach into an area that crosses district lines be encouraged to
discuss their intent first with their own district officials, followed by the
appropriate district officials and the local congregations impacted by
such work; and be it further
Resolved, That any such expansion of Gospel outreach across district lines shall require the concurrence of both the president of the receiving geographical district and the board or committee responsible for
mission in that district. …

Similar issues surface if congregations take upon themselves the
responsibility for calling and/or sending mission workers and/or funding to foreign mission areas. Proper supervision (Bylaw 1.2.1 [i] and
[t], 2013 Handbook, pp. 24, 25) may not be possible. Relationships
with partner and other church bodies, the responsibility of the President of the Synod (Bylaw 3.3.1.1.2, Handbook, p. 117)), are likely
to be impacted by the presence of church workers in foreign mission
areas known to be associated with the Synod.
In summary, while congregational self-governance is an essential
principle for the Synod, the congregations of the Synod have through
their convention actions and membership in the Synod limited some
of their independence and freedoms in the interest of working together, including the limitations articulated in current Bylaw 3.8.3.
D. Auxiliaries and Foreign Missions
Auxiliaries are not agencies of the Synod or part of its constitutional structure. The Synod’s two auxiliaries, the International
Lutheran Laymen’s League and the Lutheran Women’s Missionary
League, relate to the Synod according to the specific set of bylaws
provided in Synod Bylaw section 6.1 (2013 Handbook, pp. 201–203).
While independent of the Synod and its organization and administration, auxiliaries are required to “operate with freedom and
self-determination as a ministry … while complying with the responsibilities” outlined (Bylaw 6.1.2 [c]). Such responsibilities include
“coordinat[ing] plans and programs with those of the Synod through
regular sharing and contact” (Bylaw 6.1.2 [d]). They are to report
annually to the President of the Synod, provide an annual program
report to the Synod, keep the Synod advised of any new program
under consideration, honor and uphold the doctrine and practice of
the Synod, and, while operating with freedom and self-determination
in their mission independent of control by the Synod, respect protocol
documents that exist between the Synod and her partner churches
(Bylaw 6.1.3).
2016 Convention Workbook