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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 404

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

404

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION

11-46

11-48

To Move to Four-Year Convention Cycle

To Grant Voting Privilege to Assistant Pastors

Whereas, Both decreases in the size of many LCMS congregations and the uncertain economic climate of our times has placed an
increased financial burden on many of those who are assessed a portion of the cost of an LCMS convention; and
Whereas, We are all charged to be good stewards of our time
and treasure; and
Whereas, The Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and
Governance, in its final report to the 2010 LCMS convention, recommended adopting a four-year convention cycle (year one, circuits may
hold theological convocations; year two, districts shall hold theological convocations; year three, district conventions shall be held; year
four, national Synod convention shall be held); and
Whereas, The urgency of matters coming before a district or
Synod convention does not demand a three-year cycle, and large economic savings are made possible by moving to a four-year cycle;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod transition to meeting in convention once
every four years; and be it further
Resolved, That the four-year convention cycle be scheduled to
begin in 2018.

Whereas, All ordained ministers equally hold the Office of the
Public Ministry (John 20:21; Treatise on the Primacy and Power of
the Pope 9); and
Whereas, Nomenclature regarding the Office of the Public
Ministry (titles, responsibilities, etc.) is at the discretion of the local
congregation; and
Whereas, Assistant pastors who have been called and ordained
in the Office of the Holy Ministry are, according to the LCMS
Constitution Art. V B, ineligible to vote at district meetings but are
designated as “advisory members”; therefore be it
Resolved, That the 2016 Synod convention strike “assistant pastors” from the list of Advisory Members of the Synod in Article V B
of the Synod’s Constitution.
Michigan District

Board of Directors, Southeastern District; Florida-Georgia
District
11-47

To Hold National and District Conventions
Every Four Years
Whereas, We live in a hurried culture and there is a need for
deeper study, conversation, and reflection on important matters on a
local level that we rarely have time for; and
Whereas, Moving to a four-year convention cycle would provide
the opportunity for theological and missional grassroots convocations
between conventions by congregations, circuits, and/or districts to
better engage congregations and church leaders on a local level, providing more time for theological reflection and study; and
Whereas, The overall cost to host a district or national convention
have continued to increase over the years, which are largely borne by
individual congregations, many of which are struggling financially,
and impact district and national budgets; and
Whereas, Moving to a four-year convention cycle would provide
more time to implement convention actions; and
Whereas, Moving to a four-year convention cycle may provide
opportunity for substantial financial relief to congregation, district,
and national budgets; therefore be it
Resolved, That a four-year convention cycle be adopted for the
national and district level; and be it further
Resolved, That the four-year schedule would be as follows: year
one—circuits may hold convocations and/or local forums; year two—
districts may hold or encourage regional theological and missional
convocations; year three—district conventions; and year four—the
national convention.
Board of Directors
Northwest District
2016 Convention Workbook

11-49

To Amend Bylaws to Affirm that Conscience Is
Bound by the Word of God
Whereas, Bylaws 1.10.5 (a) and 2.14.3 (a) read in part: “The
district president must follow any opinion received from either the
CCM or the CTCR”; and
Whereas, Bylaws 2.14.7.9 (c) (3), 2.15.7.9 (c) (3), and 2.17.7.9
(c) (3) read: “CCM and CTCR opinions must be followed if the matter is appealed”; and
Whereas, Bylaw 2.15.3 (a) reads in part: “The President of the
Synod must follow any opinion received from either the CCM or the
CTCR”; and
Whereas, Bylaw 2.16.3 (a) reads in part: “The Council of
Presidents by 51 percent of the votes of the district presidents may
ask an opinion of the Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM)
and/or the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR)
and must follow any opinion received from either”; and
Whereas, Bylaw 2.16.8 (b) reads: “The President of the Synod
and/or the district presidents may also request that an opinion of the
Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM) or Commission on
Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) be obtained. … Any opinion
received from either the CCM or the CTCR shall be followed”; and
Whereas, At the 2006 Wyoming District convention, Res. 1-062006 was passed, which read in part: “This requirement applies to
district presidents, dispute resolutions panels, appeals panels, review
panels and all hearing panels, that is, all who are involved in matters of ecclesiastical supervision and dispute resolution. In the case
of CTCR rulings, this requirement binds consciences to theological conclusions of one church council (commission), though these
theological conclusions have neither been received, studied, nor confessed by the Synod as a whole, and therefore cannot bind its members
as does a freely confessed creed or symbol. Such was the confession of Martin Luther at Worms. In the case of the CCM, any ruling
that may infringe upon the doctrine and practice of Scriptures or the
Confessions, such as requiring an Appeal Panel to render a judgment
based only on Constitution and Bylaws and not on the Scriptures and
the Confessions, also bind consciences contrary to God’s Word”; and
Whereas, The Wyoming District expects all her member congregations, pastors, and officers to act in accordance with God’s Word
in all matters; and