LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 316

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316

INTERNATIONAL WITNESS

of His body, and the world which stands in need of the Word and the
impact of His redeeming love.
(a) 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.
(b) 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.

and
Whereas, There has been conflict between congregations’ individual mission work and the work of the Synod as a joint body; and
Whereas, 2010 Res. 8-32B encourages the Synod to study Article
VII of the Constitution, including a study of “Congregations and
Synod, Background Material on the Advisory Nature of the LCMS”
along with opinions of the CCM related to this topic; and
Whereas, CCM Opinion 09-2573 states in part that “there is
a common understanding that a congregation exercises its selfgovernment … in carrying out … its own ministry programs and
financial affairs”; and
Whereas, Bylaw 3.8.3 says in part, “Upon the recommendation
of the Office of International Mission, the board shall serve as the
only sending agency through which workers and funds are sent to the
foreign mission areas of the Synod, including the calling, appointing,
assigning, withdrawing, and releasing of missionaries (ministers of
religion—ordained and ministers of religion—commissioned) and
other workers for the ministries in foreign areas”; and
Whereas, CCM Opinion 14-2724 states in part, “Congregations
may not send funds to mission societies and non-Synod entities for
work in foreign areas without taking into consideration policies developed and determined for this purpose by the Board for International
Mission as the only sending agency”; and
Whereas, It is desirable to maintain the right of local congregations to engage in mission activity while at the same time working
to ensure that the work of the Synod goes on in good order and without conflict; and
Whereas, Calling rostered workers and placing them overseas
requires a commitment to exercise proper ecclesiastical oversight of
those workers as well as the ability to evacuate them quickly in cases
of emergency and thus is a task properly entrusted solely to the Board
for International Mission and the various recognized service organizations (RSOs) that work with the board, since congregations and
districts usually lack the ability to do these things well; and
Whereas, Making donations of money to international missions
does not entail the same degree of responsibility that calling a rostered worker does; and
Whereas, The Council of Presidents is in close contact with both
the leadership of the Synod (including the Board for International
Missions) and the congregations of the Synod and thus is uniquely
able to help congregations and Synod find a way to ensure that neither congregations nor the Synod are unduly hindered by the work
of the other; therefore be it
Resolved, That the last paragraph of Bylaw 3.8.3 be amended to
read as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3.8.3 …Upon the recommendation of the Office of International
Mission, the board shall serve as the only sending agency through which
rostered workers and funds are sent to the foreign mission areas of the
Synod, including the calling, appointing, assigning, withdrawing, and

2016 Convention Workbook

releasing of missionaries (ministers of religion—ordained and ministers of religion—commissioned) and other workers for the ministries
in foreign areas.

and be it further
Resolved, That the Board for International Mission be requested
to publish as quickly as possible the policies referenced in CCM
Opinion 14-2724 (“without taking into consideration policies developed and determined for this purpose by the Board for International
Mission”); and be it finally
Resolved, That the Council of Presidents appoint a taskforce to
examine further how congregations and the Board for International
Mission may work together better so that congregations and the
Synod’s board can better support one another, and that this taskforce recommend to the 2019 Synod convention whatever necessary
changes should be made to the Synod’s Constitution, Bylaws, and/
or policies in order to maintain a proper balance between the work of
Synod and its member congregations in foreign missions.
Board of Directors
Northern Illinois District
2-03

To Amend Synod Bylaws 3.8.3 and 1.1.1
Whereas, In the history of the Synod, the Synod and its districts
have never discouraged the efforts of congregations, auxiliaries, recognized service organizations, districts, and other agencies of the
Synod from engaging in outreach of the Gospel, both domestically
and in foreign fields; and
Whereas, Each district of the Synod has the responsibility as the
Synod in its place to support and encourage the congregations, auxiliaries, recognized service organizations and other agencies of the
district and Synod within its area of responsibility, and has done so
historically; and,
Whereas, CCM Opinion 14-2724 indicates that when 1981 Res.
1-05A “instructed that districts ‘consult with the Board for Missions
before directly funding a synodical overseas mission,’ ” it clearly
meant that districts can directly fund Synod overseas missions, but
when they do, they must consult (for coordination, not for permission) with the Board for Missions; and
Whereas, When CCM Opinion 14-2724 indicates that the 1981
Synod convention “greatly expanded the bylaw section governing the
Board for Mission Services,” which resulted in newly adopted Bylaw
2.213, requiring the Board for Mission Services to “formulate, recommend, review, and supervise the mission policies of the Synod
[Synod defined in Bylaw 1.2.1[u] as referring collectively to the association of self-governing Lutheran congregations and all its agencies,
and not including individual members, congregations, auxiliaries nor
recognized service organizations], recommend and monitor budgets,
review organizational effectiveness, and provide for an aggressive and
united mission effort for the Synod,” it clearly meant that other agencies of the Synod connected to the Synod may have their own foreign
mission efforts, but such agencies should inform and consult with the
Board for Mission Services about their efforts, to the end that there
will be a “united mission effort for the Synod,” and such bylaw does
not address at all the mission efforts of congregations, auxiliaries, and
recognized service organizations; and
Whereas, When CCM Opinion 14-2724 indicates that the
1981 Synod convention expanded the role of the Board for Mission
Services, requiring the Board for Mission Services to “call, appoint,
assign, withdraw, and release missionaries (pastors and teachers) and