LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 168

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168

RESOLUTIONS

without prior Board of Directors approval, so long as limits are established within which such changes may be made
and so long as these changes are reported to the Board of
Directors on a timely basis.
Resolved, That current Bylaw 3.703 b be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3.703 Functions
The Board of Managers shall …
b. have all general and incidental powers and duties
appropriate for the performance of its functions, including the powers and duties set forth in the respective plans, as amended from time to time. It cannot
may create or amend any plan within limits established
by the Board of Directors of the Synod so long as such
changes are reported to the Board of Directors since
such power is finally vested in the Board of Directors of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod;

and be it further
Resolved, That the Commission on Constitutional Matters make the appropriate changes in the Handbook (Bylaw
3.905 c).
Action: Adopted (4)
(The resolution was adopted without amendment [yes: 1,078;
no: 49].)

To Move Property Ownership Bylaw
to Constitution
RESOLUTION 7-11
Overture 7-02 (CW, p. 237)
Rationale
Current Bylaw 2.39 addresses the relationship of the
Synod and its members. Its final paragraph, d, speaks
specifically to matters of property. Because this is an absolute principle that pertains to the self-government of a
congregation, the Commission recommends that it be included in the Constitution of the Synod as paragraph 2
under Art. VII.
Resolved, That current Bylaw 2.39 d, “Membership of a
congregation in the Synod gives the Synod no equity in the
property of the congregation,” be deleted from Bylaw 2.39
and included as a new second paragraph of Art. VII of the
Constitution; and be it further
Resolved, That Art. VII of the Constitution therefore read,
Article VII Relation of the Synod to Its Members
1. 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 condition
of the congregation is concerned.
2. Membership of a congregation in the Synod gives
the Synod no equity in the property of the congregation.

Action: Adopted (4)
(The resolution was adopted by the required two-thirds majority vote [yes: 1103; no: 36].)

200l Convention Proceedings

To Separate Calling and Service of Clergy
from Other Church Workers
RESOLUTION 7-12
Overture 7-06 (CW, p. 238)
Rationale
Present Bylaw 2.45 b requires that congregations of the
Synod, “in conformity with Art. VI, 3, of the Constitution of
the Synod, shall call and be served only by ordained or commissioned ministers who have … become members of the
Synod.” Teachers who are not on the roster of the Synod
often serve in Christian day schools. Certified Church
Workers—Lay, who also are not on the roster of the Synod,
serve congregations in various capacities. The Commission
advocates that this issue be resolved by amending present
Bylaw 2.45 b to create separate Bylaws for clergy and for
other church workers.
Resolved, That present Bylaw 2.45 b be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
b. Congregations which that are members of the
Synod, in conformity with Article VI 3 of the Constitution of the Synod, shall call and be served only by ordained or commissioned ministers who have been admitted to these respective their ministries in accordance
with the rules and regulations set forth in this Handbook these Bylaws and have thereby become members
of the Synod.

and be it further
Resolved, That a new Bylaw addressing service by commissioned ministers be added as follows:
Congregations that are members of the Synod shall
call only commissioned ministers who have been admitted to their ministries in accordance with the rules
and regulations set forth in these Bylaws and have
thereby become members of the Synod.

and be it further
Resolved, That those church workers not eligible for a
call be encouraged to work toward commissioned minister
status and that their congregations and schools support
them in this endeavor; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Commission on Constitutional Matters make the appropriate changes in the Handbook (Bylaw
3.905c).
Action: Adopted (5)
(After extensive discussion, a motion to include the words and
Recognized Service Organizations after the word congregations in
the proposed wording of the Bylaw was made and then withdrawn. The resolution was adopted without amendment [yes:
1,009; no: 122].)

To Phase Out Consecrated Lay Workers
Category
RESOLUTION 7-13A
Overture 7-12 (CW, pp. 241–42)
Rationale
Chapter VII of the 1998 Handbook of the Synod provides
for the classification of certain nonrostered church workers
as “Certified Church Workers” or “Consecrated Lay Workers.”