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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 203

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

I. OPINIONS OF COMMISSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
syncretism. (These examples were not, of course, intended to be
exhaustive, as they are prefaced with the words “such as.”)
For the purposes of understanding the Constitution—
while there may be shades of meaning, with unionism tending
more toward commingling practices or services and syncretism
toward commingling doctrines or teaching—there is considerable overlap between the two. An historically defensible, precise dissection of these terms is unlikely to be possible. For
the purposes of understanding the Constitution, though, it is
not necessary sharply to divide the terms. The phrase “aller
Kirchen- und Glaubensmengerei” or “unionism and syncretism
of every description” is best understood as an expansive single
thought—perhaps a pleonasm, the use of two almost identical
terms to avoid any possible misunderstanding or minimization.
While other terms are also used in the literature of the Synod to
express the same concept, the Constitution clearly states that it
is the expectation of members of the Synod that, because they
“accept without reservation the Scriptures and the Lutheran
Confessions” (Const. Art. II), they would renounce activities of
every description that would commingle the confession, teaching, or practice of that true and salutary confession with any
contrary (and therefore false and harmful) confession, teaching,
or practice.
Whether or not any particular activity or “fact situation”
would be determined to constitute unionism or syncretism
(Kirchen- und Glaubensmengerei) and, therefore, to constitute a
violation of the conditions of membership in the Synod, falls
outside of the authority of the Commission on Constitutional
Matters. Such a decision is properly the responsibility of the
ecclesiastical supervisor of that member.
Question 2: What is the definition of unionism as used here?
Opinion: See the response to question 1.
Question 3: What is the definition of syncretism as used here?
Opinion: See the response to question 1.
Question 4: What are heterodox tract and missionary activities,
and what is meant by participating in such activities?
Opinion: As used in the Constitution of the Synod, heterodox
means “confessing a different doctrine or belief from that
expressed in Article II of the Constitution of the Synod.” In
any specific instance, the Constitution designates the primary responsibility for determining if a teaching or action is
heterodox to the ecclesiastical supervisor of that member of
the Synod. To participate means, simply, “to take part in.” If
a member is uncertain in any given situation, the ecclesiastical
supervisor of that member should be consulted.
It must be noted that this passage is stated in the Constitution as one of three examples of unionistic and syncretistic
activity. To make an application from above, it is the expectation of members of the Synod that, because they “accept without reservation the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions”
(Const. Art. II), they would renounce (and therefore not take
any part in) activities of every description that would commingle
the confession, teaching, or practice of that true and salutary
confession with any contrary (and therefore false and harmful)
confession, teaching, or practice.
With regard to the meaning of taking part in or participating in, these words are used to state examples of prohibited activity. The positive requirement of the Constitution is not only
that members avoid the prohibited example activities, but that

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they renounce unionism and syncretism of every description. Contrary to that required renunciation are any activities inviting the
reasonable inference that the exclusive teaching and practice of
Synod’s confession (Const. Art. II) may, as a matter of indifference or insignificance, be laid aside, replaced by, or comingled
with other teachings or practices. Such activities violate Const.
Art. VI 2 and give the sort of offense contemplated in Const.
Art. XIII 1’s offensive conduct.

Regarding Bylaw 1.8.3:
Question 5: What is meant by “Any such public teaching shall
place in jeopardy membership in the Synod?”
Does this include public practice?
Opinion: The question as asked does not quote the entire
bylaw. Bylaw section 1.8 deals with the right of a member of
the Synod to dissent from the doctrinal position of the Synod
as this is expressed in the Synod’s doctrinal resolutions and
statements. The bylaw section details the process by which this
dissent may be expressed and to whom it may be expressed.
Bylaw 1.8.3 specifically states that the right to dissent from the
doctrinal position of the Synod does not include the right to
publicly teach or practice contrary to the established doctrinal
position of the Synod. (Bylaw 1.8.2 distinguishes from “public
teaching” or “a public forum” a private and confidential
discussion among a fellowship of competent peers, and this
distinction is elaborated by CCM Op. 13-2665.) When a member publicly teaches or practices contrary to the established
doctrinal position of the Synod, the exercise of ecclesiastical
supervision is called for. Should admonition of the member
prove fruitless, the member is exposed to expulsion from the
Synod as specified in Article XIII.
Question 6: What Articles and/or Bylaws of the Synod would
address an infraction of Bylaw 1.8.3?
Opinion: Constitution Article XIII, Expulsion from the Synod,
and Bylaw sections 2.13–2.16 and 4.4 would generally provide
the ecclesiastical supervisory mechanisms to address an infraction of Bylaw 1.8.3.
Adopted April 6–7, 2018

College/University Board
of Regents Questions (18-2889)
A college/university board of regents of Synod has asked
numerous questions concerning the closing of a Concordia
System college or university. The CCM has consolidated these
questions in order to provide a road map of how Synod’s bylaws
designate that a Concordia University may be closed. This road
map includes the roles of the board of directors of the Concordia University System, the individual Concordia University’s
board of regents, Synod’s Board of Directors, the Council of
Presidents, and Synod itself. The last area of inquiry concerns
the paper trail that each agency must provide for the closing
process to be valid.
The following are relevant Constitutional Articles and Bylaws, and a definition:
Article IV Powers
The Synod in convention is empowered to and
has formed corporate entities which shall have
legal powers:
2019 Convention Workbook