LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 245

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION 245

the protesting District President(s) in a similar manner; and be it
further

Resolved, That if any LCMS District President violates Consti-
tution Art. VI 2 a-c in spite of admonition from any other District
President, synodical Vice-President, synodical President, or the
Praesidium, the synodical President is hereby directed to remove
the offending District President(s) in a similar manner; and be it fi-
nally

Resolved, That these resolutions of the Synod are not to be sub-
ject to the interpretation of the Commission on Constitutional Mat-
ters, because these resolutions are clear and unambiguous.

Our Redeemer, Peekskill, NY; Our Redeemer, Forsyth, IL;
Concordia, Vermillion, SD; Immanuel, Clovis, NM;
Bethany, Fort Wayne, IN; Trinity, Denver, CO; St.
Matthew, Lake Zurich, IL; Mount Zion, Castle Rock, CO

7-19

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

WHEREAS, The Constitution of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod states in Art. VI 2 that a condition for acquiring and holding
membership in the Synod is the “renunciation of unionism and syn-
cretism of every description”; and

WHEREAS, Art. VI 2a—2c describes examples of unionism and
syncretism, including taking part in the services of congregations of
mixed confession; 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, Participation in worship services with clergymen of
church bodies with whom we are not in altar and pulpit fellowship
is a serious breach of our synodical agreement to walk together as a
Synod, especially for a District President, who has promised to up-
hold and promote the decisions of the Synod; 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; and

WHEREAS, On Aug. 10, 1996, Southern District President, the
Rev. Orval Mueller, participated in a worship service as a clergy-
man together with a clergyman of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America; and

WHEREAS, Prior to that 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, Synodical President, Dr. A. L. Barry, in accordance
with the directives of the synodical Handbook and in keeping with
the words of our Lord in Matthew 18, has brought this serious mat-
ter to the attention of the Synod; and

Wuereas, Out of love for God, love for His holy Word, and
love for Christ’s church, we are compelled to deal with an erring
brother, whom we also love, in a God-pleasing manner; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the synodical President and Vice-Presidents be
directed to approach President Mueller yet again concerning the
biblical and confessional basis for the church’s teaching, the grav-
ity of his error, and the desire of God’s people that he repent and
amend his ways; and be it further

Resolved, That should President Mueller refuse the loving ad-
monition and directives of the church and persist in his error, that
the synodical President uphold the biblical and confessional teach-
ing concerning unionism and our Synod’s practices based upon that
teaching, by removing President Mueller from his office as Presi-

dent of the Southern District and any other position of authority in
the Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That if he persists in his error, the synodical Presi-
dent be given the authority to remove Rev. Mueller from the clergy
roster of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and be it finally

Resolved, That the 1998 synodical convention assure President
Mueller of its genuine brotherly love and concern and its desire that
he walk with us in true unity.

St. Paul
Lockport, IL

7-20

To Empower Synodical President to Restrict
Suspend, or Commence an Action
to Terminate Membership

WHEREAS, According to the Constitution of the Synod, “The
President has the supervision regarding the doctrine and adminis-
tration of (a) all officers of the Synod; (b) all such as are employed
by the Synod; (c) the individual Districts of the Synod; (d) all Dis-
trict Presidents” (Art. XI B | ); and

WHEREAS, According to the Bylaws of Synod, the District Pres-
idents are empowered to restrict, suspend, or commence an action
to terminate membership of those under their supervision (Bylaws
2.23—2.27); and

WHEREAS, The only current recourse of the synodical President
in dealing with those who do not heed his admonitions, namely, to
report such cases to the Synod (Art. XI, B 2), has proven ineffec-
tive in supporting the synodical President in his duty “to promote
and maintain unity of doctrine and practice in all the Districts of
the Synod” (Art. XI, B 3); therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaws 2.23-2.27 be amended to include cases
of the synodical President restricting, suspending, or commencing
an action to terminate membership of those under his supervision.

Prince of Peace
Hartford, IN

7-21

To Address Imbalance of Power Assigned
to Synodical President and District Presidents

WHEREAS, There is an apparent imbalance of the responsibili-
ties assigned to the synodical President and the respective District
Presidents; and

WHEREAS, The source of the imbalance stems from that which is
recorded in the 1995 Constitution, Bylaws, and Articles of Incor-
poration as amended by the 1995 national convention, 15-21 July
1995, in particular Bylaw 3.101 and following, and 4.71 and fol-
lowing; and

WHEREAS, There is a pressing need to clarify this apparent im-
balance jn the areas of responsibility, especially those that pertain
to the oversight of doctrine, practice, and church discipline; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the Commission on Constitutional Matters be
directed to study this issue and report their findings to the congre-
gations of the Synod one year prior to the synodical convention
scheduled for the year 2001.

North Kansas City Forum
Missouri District

7-22

To Give Synodical President Doctrinal
and Practical Supervision over District Presidents

WHEREAS, A recent incident brought to light the fact that the
Presidents of our synodical Districts answer to no one for their doc-
trine or practice except their individual District; and