LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 244

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244 STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION

A Statement of Support

The February 1997 issue of the Reporter carried an official no-
tice to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod concerning partici-
pation by Southern District President Orval Mueller in a wedding
along with a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Amer-
ica. Although the matter was presented in the form of a report, the
inference could be drawn that President Mueller had done a grave
injustice to the Synod and one of its Districts. Such surely cannot
be the case.

President Mueller is a man of God whose heart is motivated by
the Gospel. In difficult situations his approach is not first to find
some nule or law to settle the matter. He attempts to seek resolu-
tion on the basis of God’s love in Christ Jesus.

In addition to this Gospel motivation President Mueller exhibits
a heart attuned to the needs of people. His concern is that his ac-
tions build up his brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.

President Mueller is guided by a conscience that wrestles hon-
estly with the issues. He first goes into the Scriptures and the
Lutheran Confessions, seeks the wisdom of those who have gone
before us in the faith, consults with brothers and sisters who are his
peers, and is open and forthright in his dealings with those who dis-
agree with him.

All of the above he undergirds with a deep love for the Lord’s
church and our Synod.

We are certain that these were the factors motivating President
Mueller in his decision to participate in the wedding in question.
We support him in that decision. We pray that this issue will be re-
solved in a manner pleasing to our Lord. We appeal to the Synod to
reassess its position in matters such as these so that further contro-
versy will not weaken our fellowship. To that end may our Lord
bless and guide our leaders.

St. Matthew
Gulfport, MS

7-16

To Direct District Presidents
to Fulfill Synodical Responsibilities

WHEREAS, Art. XII 9 a of the Constitution of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod states: “The District President shall see
to it that all resolutions of the Synod which concern the Districts
are made known to the Districts and are carried out by them”; and

WHEREAS, Bylaw 1.05 f of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod states: “Districts and Circuits as component parts of the
Synod are obligated to carry out resolutions of the Synod”; and

WuerEAS, Bylaw 4.07 a of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod states: “The Synod is not merely an advisory body in rela-
tion to a District. A District is the Synod itself performing the func-
tions of the Synod. Resolutions of the Synod are binding on the
Districts”; and

WHEREAS, In the last biennium President Orval D. Mueller of
the Southern District in his own public practice refused to uphold
the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod pertaining to unionistic worship; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the Synod affirm President A. L. Barry’s actions
in attempting to utilize brotherly persuasion to dissuade unionistic
worship practice and finally publicly announcing such unaccept-
able practice to the church at large; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention directs all District Pres-
idents to carry out all resolutions of Synod pertaining to public doc-
trine and practice, including those with which they personally dis-
agree; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod respectfully request any District Pres-
ident who cannot in good conscience carry out synodical resolu-
tions in the exercise of his office to resign his office.

Circuit 3 Forum
South Wisconsin District

7-17

To Authorize President to Remove District Presidents
Who Violate Synod’s Constitution

WHEREAS, Our LCMS Constitution, Art. VI 2, states that a con-
dition for acquiring and holding membership in the Synod is the
“renunciation of unionism and syncretism of every description; and

WHEREAS, Art. VI 2 a-c, describes examples of such unionism
and syncretism, including taking part in the services of congrega-
tions of mixed confessions; and

WHEREAS, It is the particular duty of the District President to
“exercise supervision over the doctrine, life, and administration of
office of the ordained and commissioned ministers of the District”
(Constitution Art. XII 7), which supervision is rendered hypocriti-
cal and ineffective when a District President flagrantly violates the
Synod’s Constitution; therefore be it

Resolved, That when in the judgment of the synodical President,
who is sustained in that judgment both by the synodical Praesid-
ium (the vice-presidents of the Synod) and Synod’s Commission
on Constitutional Matters, a District President violates his oath of
office and does participate in unionistic practices, and will not give
the synodical President the assurance that he will no longer do so,
the synodical President is then empowered to remove such a Dis-
trict President from his office.

St. Paul
Brookfield, IL

7-18

To Authorize Synodical President to Remove from
Office District Presidents Who Violate Constitution

WHEREAS, Art. VI 2 of the Constitution states that a condition
for acquiring and holding membership in the Synod is the “renun-
ciation of unionism and syncretism of every description”; and

WHEREAS, Article VI 2 a—c describes examples of such union-
ism and syncretism, including taking part in the services of con-
gregations of mixed confessions; and

WHEREAS, An ad hoc service formally sponsored by no congre-
gation but served by ordained clergy of different confessions is in
fact a congregation of mixed confession; and

WHEREAS, The ELCA and the LCMS are of different confes-
sions, because the ELCA’s constitution affirms the Lutheran Con-
fessions only as historical witnesses to the Gospel, meaning that
they are always subject to revision, while the LCMS’ constitution
affirms that the Lutheran Confessions are enduring norms for the
church of all ages, because they are true expositions of the Bible;
and

WHEREAS, On Aug. 10, 1996, LCMS Southern District Presi-
dent Orval Mueller participated in a worship service as a clergy-
man together with an ELCA clergyman; and

WuerEAS, Prior to this worship service President Mueller had
been fraternally urged by letter twice by the South Dakota District
President and once by the synodical President to refrain from par-
ticipating in this service, yet did so anyway; and

WHEREAS, It is the particular duty of the District President to
“exercise supervision over the doctrine, life, and administration of
office of the ordained and commissioned ministers of the District”
(Constitution, Art. XII 7), which supervision is rendered hypocrit-
ical and ineffective when a District President flagrantly violates the
Synod’s Constitution; therefore be it

Resolved, That in order to restore the proper supervision of the
LCMS Southern District, the synodical President is hereby directed
to remove LCMS District President Orval Mueller from office and
to install the Southern District Vice-President in the line of succes-
sion in his place; and be it further

Resolved, That if any LCMS District President publicly protests
this action of the Synod, for which the synodical President is only
its agent, then the synodical President is hereby directed to remove