Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2019 · 67th Convention, Tampa › Page 535
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 535

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

ECCLESIASTICAL SUPERVISION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Resolved, That the 2019 Synod convention reaffirm 2016 Res.
12-14 and Bylaw sections 2.14–2.17; and be it further
Resolved, That the Southern Illinois District Board of Directors
submit this resolution as an overture to the 2019 Synod convention.
Board of Directors
Southern Illinois District
Ov. 10-26

To Affirm the Results of 2016 Resolution 12-14
Regarding Ecclesiastical Supervision
WHEREAS, The Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM)
Opinion 16-2791, answering a preconvention question of 2016
Floor Committee 12, concurred with the 1956 convention that when
a district president has failed to act or declined to suspend an
accused member, the Synod president has a constitutional authority
(Constitutional Article XI B 1–3) to hear an accuser’s appeal for
action and act as the district president might have; and
WHEREAS, After considerable discussion of the floor
committee’s proposal [Resolution 12-01A], the convention adopted
Res. 12-14, directing the Secretary of the Synod to consult with the
Council of Presidents for at least six months and develop bylaw
language to “implement expulsion processes consistent with and not
contradicting the Constitution of the Synod” on this particular point,
with the language to be adopted under the procedure of Bylaw 7.1.2;
and
WHEREAS, An extended consultation was held with the Secretary
at each of the four meetings of the Council of Presidents following
the convention; in April 2017, a draft was presented and comments
received. The draft received the input and approval of the CCM and
the Commission on Handbook and was finally adopted by the Board
of Directors, May 19, 2017, completing the Bylaw 7.1.2 bylaw
amendment process; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention thank the parties
involved in this process to bring the Synod’s Bylaws into line with
the Constitution; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention affirm the results of
2016 Res. 12-14 regarding ecclesiastical supervision.
Grace, Lexington, MO; St. Matthew, Bonne Terre, MO
Ov. 10-27

To Study the Question of Ecclesiastical Supervision
WHEREAS, A number of districts of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod (LCMS) received numerous overtures regarding
CCM Op. 16-2791 and suggested/requested changes to Synod
Bylaw 2.14.5 with regard to ecclesiastical supervision; and
WHEREAS, There has been much conversation and concern
expressed across the LCMS since these bylaw changes were
announced; therefore be it
Resolved, That the chairman of the Council of Presidents shall
appoint a task force of district presidents to study the history of the
exercise of ecclesiastical supervision within the Synod as well as to
authorize the study of the Scriptures and Confessions among the
members of Synod to speak to this matter formally by the 2022
convention.
Board of Directors
Southeastern District

535

Ov. 10-28

To Revise the Synod Dispute Resolution Process
WHEREAS, It is pleasing to God that we walk together, encourage
each other, and build one another up in love (1 Thess. 5:11; 1 Cor.
12:27); and
WHEREAS, The Synod in convention adopted 2016 Resolution
12-14 regarding ecclesiastical supervision; and
WHEREAS, In May 2017, the Synod Board of Directors adopted
changes to Bylaw 2.14 pursuant to 2016 Res. 12-14; and
WHEREAS, This bylaw change continues to be a topic of debate
across the Synod; and
WHEREAS, It is a valuable benefit for our district in convention
to be able to request that the Commission on Constitutional Matters
(CCM) conduct additional study of this matter; therefore be it
Resolved, That we continue to walk together “with all humility
and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph.
4:2–3); and be it finally
Resolved, That the Missouri District in convention request the
Synod to use the CCM to study the dispute resolution process and
propose changes as needed.
Missouri District
Ov. 10-29

To Amend Bylaws
to Clarify Dispute Resolution Processes
Preamble
The Commission on Handbook, responding to a variety of
observations from officers, agencies, and members of the Synod,
has proposed substantive revisions of bylaws regarding dispute
resolution processes of the Synod:
A. CONSULTATION IN DISPUTE
BETWEEN MEMBER AND ECCLESIASTICAL
SUPERVISOR (COH 16-012)
Rationale
Bylaw 2.14.4.1 acknowledges that a district president may be
disqualified from handling an expulsion case, but the dispute
resolution section (Bylaw section 1.10) makes no such explicit
allowance. If a member’s dispute is with the member’s district
president there should be allowance for someone else to conduct the
required consultation (CCM Op. 16-2799).
Therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw 1.10.5 be amended as follows, to allow an
alternate to conduct a dispute resolution consultation if the district
president is the respondent:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
1.10.5
Before any matter is submitted to the formal reconciliation
process, the parties involved in a dispute must meet together, faceto-face, in a good-faith attempt to settle their dispute in the manner
described in Matthew 18:15 and may involve the informal use of a
reconciler. And further, before any matter is submitted to the formal
reconciliation process, the complainant must meet and consult with
the appropriate ecclesiastical supervisor to seek advice and also so
that it can be determined whether this is the appropriate bylaw
procedure (Bylaw section 1.10) or whether the matter falls under
Bylaw sections 1.8, 2.14, 2.15, 2.16, or 2.17, or Bylaws 3.10.5.7.9,
3.10.6.7.1, and 3.10.6.7.5.2. In regard to this consultation:

2019 Convention Workbook