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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 394

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

394

STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION

Resolved, That we thank Almighty God for the faithful service
of those currently in office who will be affected by these changes
and that we encourage them to continue their ministry through other
avenues of service, healthy in all respects.
Benediction
Milwaukee, WI
Ov. 9-44

To Amend Bylaws regarding Permanency
of District and Synod Presidents to Better Reflect
Confessional Principles on Authority
Rationale
Bylaws 1.2.1 (j) and 2.12.1 acknowledge that the district and Synod
Presidents are ecclesiastical supervisors. Bylaw 2.14.1 recognizes
that ecclesiastical supervision includes the power to exclude
congregations and certain individuals from fellowship. This
description of ecclesiastical oversight conforms to the definition of
ecclesiastical power found in the Augustana’s 28th Article.
The Augustana’s 28th Article, The Apology to the Augustana’s 28th
article, as well as the Power and Jurisdiction of the Bishops lay out
that obedience is due to those who hold ecclesiastical authority so
long as they do not become enemies of the Truth, nor be they
tyrants. As a historical example of this desire for obedience, the
Apology to the Augustana’s 14th Article affirms the Lutheran
church’s desire to submit to the bishops, yet the bishops’ cruelty and
suppression of the truth hindered them from doing so. The district
presidents, holding ecclesiastical authority over those rostered
pastors and congregations of their districts, ought to be subject to
the same desire by those under them. Likewise, should the district
presidents seek to be in submission to the President of the Synod,
who holds the very same authority over them as they do the parish
presbyters, so long as he remains orthodox and does not hinder the
faith.
Yet the current Bylaws of Synod militate against true obedience to
orthodox presidents. Under the current Bylaws, every district and
Synod President shall have his authority challenged every three
years, even if he errs in not one iota of his writing nor in one moment
of his actions. Orthodox presidents ought not have their authority
revoked nor challenged. It has normalized challenging one’s
ecclesiastical overseer for his position, without a good and Godfearing reason. Attempts to unseat laudable presidents is rebellion
again those who have been placed over us (Heb. 13:17).
As such, to combat the environment which has normalized frivolous
challenges to good ecclesiastical overseers, district and Synod
Presidents ought not be subjected to scheduled and reoccurring
elections. Rather, they should remain in their office of ecclesiastical
oversight until such a time comes when they ascend to the Lord,
retire, or are removed for reason of persistent theological error,
grave public sin, refusal to fulfill the duties of the office, or misuse
of the authority of the office.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.2.4 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
Terms of Office
3.2.4
The term of office of all elected officers of the Synod
(Bylaw 3.2.1), excluding the district and Synod President, shall be
three years; of district and Synod President’s life, or until their

2023 Convention Workbook

resignation, expulsion (Bylaws 2.15, 2.16), or deposal; of the elected
members of the Board of Directors and all other boards and
commissions of the Synod six years; of all members of college and
university boards of regents three years; and of all appointed
members of boards, commissions, and standing committees three
years, unless these Bylaws specifically provide otherwise.
…

and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.2.4.1 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3.2.4.1
The offices of President, the first Vice-President, regional
vice-presidents, and Secretary shall be without limitation as to
reelection.
(a) If the President resigns or is otherwise removed, or the First
Vice-President, or Secretary are not reelected or do not stand for
re-election, they shall continue to receive full salary for a period
of six (6) months while rendering transitional service.
…

and be it further
Resolved, That the 2023 Synod convention authorize the creation
of a task force to create a proposal regarding the creation of a
process allowing for the deposition of district and Synod Presidents;
and be it further
Resolved, That the task force be made up of the following
members:
• The Secretary of the Synod
• A representative of the Commission on Handbook elected by
the commission
• A representative of the Commission on Constitutional
Matters elected by the commission
• One district president selected by the President of Synod
• One representative from each LCMS seminary, elected by
the faculty
• One representative chosen by the LCMS Board of Directors
and be it further
Resolved, That the proposal will only allow depositions to take
place under one of the following situations:
• The Synod or district president is in grave public sin
• The Synod or district president is promoting a theological
error condemned by the Synod
• The Synod or district president is refusing to exercise his
office, letting theological error spread unopposed in his
district
• The Synod or district president is attempting to enforce
jurisdiction not given to him under the Constitution and
Bylaws of the Synod
• The Synod or district president is abusing his position as
ecclesiastical overseer
and be it further
Resolved, That the task force will seek and take into
consideration the advice of those churches in altar and pulpit
fellowship with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod who do not
currently elect their ecclesiastical supervisors to a set term; and be
it further
Resolved, That the task force be encouraged to study and propose
further changes to the Bylaws to increase compatibility with the