LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 128

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128 RESOLUTIONS

Wueneas, A Statement, in its entirety, has been pre-
sented to the congregations and clergy of the Synod,
and during the past 16 months has been studied and
discussed throughout the church, and has been ap-
proved by various synodical boards (Board of Control,
Springfield; Board for Higher Education) and congre-
gations; and

Wuereas, The Lutheran church in the past, when
confronted with doctrinal controversy and crisis, has
accepted expressions of belief which are in agreement
with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, e. g., the
Thirteen Theses of Doctor Walther, 1881; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod declare A Statement of Scriptural and Confes-
sional Principles, in all its parts, to be Scriptural and
in accord with the Lutheran Confessions, and therefore
a formulation which derives its authority from the Word
of God and which expresses the Synod’s position on
current doctrinal issues; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod declare A Statement of Scriptural and Confes-
sional Principles to be a “more formal and comprehen-
sive statement of belief” in the sense of Resolution 5-24
of the 1971 Milwaukee convention, and that the Synod
further declare that A Statement shall hold the status
defined in said resolution (Preamble, above).

Action: Adopted (10).

(This resolution was discussed in Session 8. When the
automatic call for the question was put after 30 minutes it
failed to carry by the necessary two-thirds vote. A motion
to extend the time of the session also failed. In Session 10
the resolution was taken up again. A motion that this matter
and similar resolutions be referred to the Council of Presi-
dents was declined, as well as an amendment concerning the
use of A Statement. Finally the convention resolved to close
debate by a vote of 580 to 429, a clear majority of the regis-
tered voting delegates under a special rule adopted in Ses-
sion 9. The assembly by a vote of 579 to 386 upheld the rul-
ing of the chair with respect to the amended standing rules
of the convention. The resolution was then adopted by a vote
of 562 to 455. A demonstration of protest followed. See Min-
utes for Sessions 8 and 10.)

To Change Bylaws of the “Handbook”
as Recommended by the Special Task Force
on Accreditation

RESOLUTION 3-02

Reports 3-01D, 4-04, V, I; Overtures 3-81A—D, 3-83, 3-93,
3-94, 3-96—3-100; Referred Resolutions 5-47, 5-92, 6-01
(CW, pp. 107-117, 141—145, 172, 424—426)

Wuereas, The Special Task Force on Accreditation
has carefully studied the synodical Bylaws in an effort
to protect the interests of the Synod and to meet the
concerns of the American Association of Theological
Schools; and

Wuereas, The Handbook changes recommended by
the Special Task Force on Accreditation protect the
rights and interests of the Synod and meet its needs;
and

Whereas, Carefully spelled out procedures are nec-
essary in cases in which a faculty member is charged

with offenses which may result in dismissal or termina-
tion of tenure under present Handbook Section 6.77; and

Wuereas, The procedures spelled out under pro-
posed Handbook Section 6.77, Removal from Office, pro-
vide protection to the Synod, to faculty members, and
to complainants; and

Wuerras, The granting of tenure is generally ac-
cepted in educational circles, and the procedures rec-
ommended by the Special Task Force on Accreditation
in proposed Handbook Section 6.54 provide adequate
safeguards to the interests of both faculty members and
the Synod; and

Wuereas, The Handbook changes proposed by the
Special Task Force on Accreditation in proposed Sec-
tions 1.09d, 1.09e, and 6.80 clearly place pastor and
teacher faculty members under ecclesiastical jurisdic-
tion just as other pastors and teachers are; and

Wuereas, The Commission on Accrediting of the
AATS has given assurance that the proposed Bylaw
changes “should provide adequate legal structures for
the determination of policy and operation of the sem-
inary (Concordia Seminary, St. Louis) by its Board of
Contro]” and for “the matter of due process with regard
to adequate procedural protection of the academic free-
dom of faculty in Concordia Seminary in St. Louis”;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the following proposed Bylaw
changes be made in the Handbook:

1.09 Relation of the Synod to its Members

a. (Remains as is)

b. (Remains as is)

c. (Remains as is)

d. Clergy and teacher members of the Synod
shall hold their synodical membership in that Dis-
trict in which the congregation they serve holds
membership or in which they are serving as District
executives. Clergy and teacher members of the
Synod who are serving an educational institution
of the Synod shall be under the ecclesiastical super-
vision of the President of the geographical District
in which the institution is located.

e. While retaining the right of brotherly dissent,
members of the Synod are expected as part of the
life together within the synodical fellowship to
honor and to uphold the resolutions of the Synod.
If such resolutions are of a doctrinal nature, dissent
is to be expressed first within the fellowship of
peers, then brought to the attention of the Com-
mission on Theology and Church Relations before
finding expression as an overture to the convention
calling for revision or recision. While the con-
science of the dissenter shall be respected, the
consciences of others, as well as the collective will
of the Synod, shall also be respected.

2.143 Duties of the Committee for Convention
Nominations

a. (Remains as is)

b. The committee shall inform itself as to the
duties and requirements of each position to be
filled and be thereby guided in its selection of
nominees. In the case of the Boards of Control 0
synodical institutions the committee shall consult
with the Board for Higher Education and receive
their nominations for the various Boards of Control
for their consideration.

(Last sentence in b represents change)