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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 421

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

ECCLESIASTICAL SUPERVISION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Resolved, That the South Wisconsin District memorialize the 2016
LCMS convention to restore to the LCMS Handbook in Bylaw section 2.14 the following:
If the district President declines to suspend the member or fails to
act within 90 days after receipt of the written complaint, the complainant may present the written complaint to the Praesidium of the Synod,
which consists of the President and the vice-presidents of the Synod.
(a) If after investigation the Praesidium concludes that the facts form a
basis for expulsion of the member under Article XIII of the Constitution, the Praesidium shall proceed in the same fashion as hereafter
required of the district president.
(b) If the Praesidium determines not to proceed, it shall in writing so
inform the complainant and the involved member, which shall terminate the matter.

and be it further
Resolved, That the Commission on Handbook make appropriate
changes elsewhere in the Bylaws.
South Wisconsin District
12-17

To Revise Dispute Resolution Bylaws
to Involve Synod President
Whereas, The Synod President is our Synod’s chief ecclesiastical
supervisor, whose duties include “supervision regarding the doctrine
and the administration of” the districts and district presidents of the
Synod (Constitution Art. XI B 1); and
Whereas, Concerns have been raised regarding the effectiveness
of dealing with cases of doctrinal discipline at the district level under
our current dispute resolution bylaws; therefore be it
Resolved, That the dispute resolution bylaws be revised to authorize explicitly the Synod President to call up for theological review
all panel decisions related to doctrine and practice.
St. Matthew
Bonne Terre, MO

12-19

To Restore Appeal Procedure to Expulsion
Processes
Whereas, The 1971 LCMS convention added an appeal procedure to the Bylaws of the Synod in the event that a district president
declined to proceed after allegations were received against a member of the Synod that could lead to expulsion from the Synod; and
Whereas, This procedure was eliminated by the 2004 convention of the Synod; and
Whereas, Such an appeal procedure is necessary to ensure that
those who raise allegations have an opportunity for a full and objective hearing; therefore be it
Resolved, That the following bylaws be added to the current Synod
Handbook as Bylaws 2.14.6.2 and 2.17.6.2:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
2.14.6.2 If the district president or a Referral Panel declines to suspend the member within 90 days after receipt of the written complaint,
the complainant may present the written complaint to the Praesidium of
the Synod, which consists of the President and the Vice-Presidents of
the Synod. If after investigation the Praesidium concludes that the facts
form a basis for expulsion of the member under Article XIII of the Constitution, the Praesidium shall designate one of its members to proceed
in the same fashion as hereafter required of the district president. If the
Praesidium determines not to proceed, it shall in writing so inform the
complainant and the involved member, which shall terminate the matter.
2.17.6.2 If the district president or a Referral Panel declines to suspend the member within 90 days after receipt of the written complaint,
the complainant may present the written complaint to the Praesidium of
the Synod, which consists of the President and the Vice-Presidents of
the Synod. If after investigation the Praesidium concludes that the facts
form a basis for expulsion of the member under Article XIII of the Constitution, the Praesidium shall designate one of its members to proceed
in the same fashion as hereafter required of the district president. If the
Praesidium determines not to proceed, it shall in writing so inform the
complainant and the involved member, which shall terminate the matter.

Board of Directors
Southern Illinois District

12-18

To Restore Procedure for Appeals
to Expulsion Process
Whereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s process of
ecclesiastical supervision could be improved by providing a better
system of checks and balances; and
Whereas, Since 2004, if the district president fails to proceed
in a case of doctrinal supervision, the person bringing the complaint
presently has no further recourse; and
Whereas, Our system would be improved by giving the person
bringing a complaint the right to appeal a determination or decision of a district president or referral panel to the Praesidium of the
Synod; therefore be it
Resolved, That the English District memorialize the 2016 LCMS
convention to restore the procedure in ecclesiastical supervision cases
that enables a complainant to appeal the case to the Praesidium of
the Synod.
English District
Farmington, MI

421

12-20

To Retain Current Expulsion Procedure
without Opportunity for Appeal
of District President or Appeal Panel Decision
Whereas, The Bylaws of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
define ecclesiastical supervision as “the responsibility, primarily of
the President of the Synod and district presidents, to supervise on
behalf of the Synod the doctrine, life, and administration of its members, officers, and agencies. Such supervision, subject to provisions of
the Synod’s Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions, includes visitation,
evangelical encouragement and support, care, protection, counsel,
advice, admonition, and, when necessary, appropriate disciplinary
measures to assure that the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions
of the Synod are followed and implemented” (Bylaw 1.2.1 [i]); and
Whereas, The same Bylaw (1.2.1 [i]) further indicates that “those
constitutional articles and bylaws pertaining to ecclesiastical supervision shall determine the full definition of ecclesiastical supervision”;
and
2016 Convention Workbook