LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 280

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280 STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION

7-136

To Amend Synodical Bylaw 5.13 i

Wuereas, Synod’s Constitution states in Art. VIL: “No resolu-
tion of the Synod imposing anything upon the individual congre~-
gation is of binding force if it is not in accordance with the Word of
God or if it appears to be inexpedient as far as the condition of a
congregation is concerned”; and

WHEREAS, It is desirable for pastors to have the same right not
to be bound by resolutions of the Synod that are “not in accordance
with the Word or God” or which appear “to be inexpedient as far as
the condition of a congregation is concerned”, and

WHEREAS, Many resolutions and programs of the Synod lie in
the area of adiaphora; and

WHEREAS, Pastors who may be qualified to carry out the func-
tions of Circuit Counselor may properly question certain resolu-
tions and programs of the Synod in areas of adiaphora, especially
as to their applicability to the local Circuit; and

WHEREAS, We do not wish to force Circuit Counselors to make
an unethical choice between following Bylaw 5.13 i or following
their conscience and pastoral judgment based on Scripture, the
Lutheran Confessions, and their knowledge of local needs; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 5.13 i be amended as follows:

PRESENF/ PROPOSED WORDING
i. He shall be conversant with : synodwide and
District resolutions and programs and shall be responsible for com-
municating them to the congregations of the Circuit.
Quincy Circuit Forum
Central Illinois District

7-137

To Encourage Congregations to Study Art. VII
of Synodical Constitution and Bylaw 2.39 b

WHEREAS, Since its founding The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod has been concerned about submitting to the Word of God
and the Lutheran confessional writings; and

WHEREAS, The Saxon colonists sought to insure such submis-
sion by developing a polity which was neither strictly hierarchical
nor narrowly congregational; and

WHEREAS, The synodical Constitution to this day grants both
broad powers of oversight to the Synod and its hierarchy as well
as to the congregation; and

WHEREAS, The historical and current purpose for this congrega-
tional polity was and is to mitigate against a Synod or synodical
hierarchy becoming overly autocratic or charismatic; and

WHEREAS, The original 1854 Constitution said “should a con-
gregation find a synodical resolution not in conformity with the
Word of God or unsuited its circumstances, it has the right to dis-
regard, that is, reject it”; and

WHEREAS, At some point between 1920 and 1932, the same
concern came to be expressed as “in its relation to its members the
Synod is not an ecclesiastical government exercising legislative or
coercive powers, and with respect to the individual congregation’s
right of self-government it is but an advisory body. Accordingly,
no resolution of the Synod imposing anything upon the individual
congregation is of binding force if it is not in accordance with the
Word of God or if it appears to be inexpedient as far as the condi-
tion of the congregation is concerned”; and

WHEREAS, The original framers of the synodical Constitution,
based on the theology of the priesthood of all believers, asserted
that the laity as well as the clergy were bound to interpret the Scrip-
tures and to judge doctrine; and

WHEREAS, These principles became codified in the synodical
Constitution so that congregations were given leave to judge the
expedience of synodical doctrine and practice for their contexts in

order to guard against charismatic and autocratic rule; therefore be
it
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church——Missouri Synod gath-
ered in convention in 1998 give gratitude to God for this theologi-
cal heritage: that guarantees congregations the right of immediate
access to the divine through their interpretation and application of
the Word of God in their contexts.
Trinity
Hudson, W1

7-138

To Study Formation of “Daughter” Church Body

WHEREAS, Since the earliest times in the Christian church, many
situations have arisen where there has been unity in the Gospel of
Jesus Christ, even as there has been diversity in practices that have
caused division in the church, including the circumcision of Gentile
Christians (Acts 15 and the epistle to the Galatians) and the sepa-
ration of Barnabas and Paul over missionary work in Cyprus (Acts
15); and

WHEREAS, Similar situations of unity in the Gospel of Jesus
Christ with diversity in practice have also caused division in the
church among members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
and its predecessor entity, including the earliest debates on church
polity, later debates on the place of synodical resolutions in the
doctrinal life of the Synod, more recent controversies at the St.
Louis Seminary, and current division over perceived legalism and
uncharacteristic control by synodical leadership; and

WHEREAS, The current environment of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod seems again to be on a course of unhealthy divi-
sion and rancor over practices related to the role of women in the
church, worship styles, and communion practices that belies our
identity and definition as a “synod” (walking together) and over-
looks our cherished heritage set forth in Art. VII of our Constitution
and further defined by Bylaw 2.39 b; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod gath-
ered in convention in 1998 acknowledge that among our members
there is unity in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the view of Scrip-
ture as the inspired, inerrant Word of God while there is diversity in
biblical interpretation and in congregational practices, especially
with regard to the role of women in the church, worship styles, and
Communion practices; and be it further

Resolved, That, to avoid the unhealthy rancor and animosity that
can so easily entangle the church and keep it from its primary mis-
sion of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a hurting, sinful
world, the Council of Presidents of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod give careful study to our historical principles embodied
in Art. VII and Bylaw 2.39 b and recognize that we are a denomi-
nation that shares the unity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, views
Scripture as the inspired, inerrant Word of God and so encourages
(1) exegetical debate in biblical interpretation and (2) congrega-
tional autonomy in accordance with the constitutional provisions
identified above; and be it further

Resolved, That this study include consideration of processes
whereby members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod who
do not desire or elect to act in accordance with these historical un-
derstandings of the freedom encouraged within our unity but in-
stead value uniformity in practice, be offered the opportunity to
join in the birthing of a daughter Lutheran church body that main-
tains fellowship with the historic Lutheran Church—Missouri and
allows workers to maintain their status with the worker benefit pro-
grams of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Council of Presidents submit the results of
this study to the church-at-large by Sept. 1, 2000, for study by the
members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod prior to the
2001 synodical convention.

Trinity
Hudson, WI