LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 174

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174

RESOLUTIONS

the seminaries make provision for the preparation of materials that explain the biblical, confessional, and historical basis for Art. VII of the synodical Constitution and
Bylaw 2.39, b and c; and be it further
Resolved, That during the next triennium the President
of the Synod diligently seek to make these materials as
widely available and studied as possible; and be it finally
Resolved, That all action taken in this resolution shall be
used to help carry out “The Great Commission” and shall
not in any way detract or distract from the primary mission
of God’s kingdom here on earth. We will remember 1-02!
Action: Adopted (10)
(The resolution was adopted without discussion [yes: 1,012;
no: 90]. The final resolve is added as required by Res. 1-02,
adopted by the convention in an earlier session.)

To Clarify Opinion of Commission
on Constitutional Matters
RESOLUTION 7-22A
Overtures 7-40, 7-66–67 (CW, pp. 251, 259)
WHEREAS, In response to a query regarding whether an
action taken by a District convention “to file an expression
of dissent to a doctrine or practice of the Synod” is permissible, the Commission on Constitutional Matters’ Ruling
00-2212 of 26 October 2000 declared that “an official action
by a District … to file an expression of dissent to the Synod
regarding a doctrine taught and practiced by the Synod is
out of order and, therefore, null and void”; and
WHEREAS, Bylaw 4.11 states that “the delegate convention of the District is a legislative assembly. … through
which the congregations and the District can together make
recommendations to the convention, boards, and commissions of the Synod”; and
WHEREAS, In adopting resolutions for consideration by
the Synod in convention, Districts serve as appropriate and
useful channels through which member congregations may
express their views; and
WHEREAS, The 1854 Constitution of the Synod, which established Districts, states in Art. IV that it is the business
of the Synod to give theological opinions and judgements
and that the jurisdiction of the Synod is “… general supervision of doctrine and its faithful application in each individual district …” (Moving Frontiers by Carl Meyer, p. 151);
and
WHEREAS, Current Synod Bylaws 1.09 b and 2.39 b, c
state that doctrinal resolutions are to be “honored and upheld” and respected and considered “of binding force”; and
WHEREAS, Districts of the Synod are responsible for the
faithful applications of doctrinal resolutions among the congregations of the District; and
WHEREAS, St. Paul writes in Eph. 5:21, “Submit to one
another out of reverence for Christ”; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod assembled in convention affirm the right of a District delegate convention to submit
overtures, including recommendations to reconsider and review doctrinal resolutions of the Synod, and to make other
requests to the Synod assembled in convention; and be it
further
200l Convention Proceedings

Resolved, That Districts of the Synod are to make faithful applications of doctrinal resolutions of the Synod to the
congregations of their District; and be it further
Resolved, That Districts of the Synod do not have the
right to approve actions of congregations that are not in accord with doctrinal resolutions of the Synod; and be it further
Resolved, That while expressing dissent (Bylaw 2.39 c)
no congregation of the Synod is free to disregard or refuse
to abide by the doctrinal resolutions of the Synod; and be it
further
Resolved, That by the mercies of God we beseech one another, pastors, congregations, and all other members of the
Synod, to honor the covenant relationship that we have as
members of the Synod by upholding and abiding by the doctrinal resolutions of the Synod until such time as the Synod
amends or repeals them; and be it further
Resolved, That we commit ourselves to live according to
the words of the apostle of the Lord “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling
with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace” (Eph. 4:1–3); and be it finally
Resolved, That all action taken in this resolution shall be
used to help carry out “The Great Commission” and shall
not in any way detract or distract from the primary mission
of God’s kingdom here on earth. We will remember 1-02!
Action: Adopted (10)
(A substitute resolution was immediately proposed but rejected. The resolution was adopted without amendment [yes: 658;
no: 441]. The final resolve is added as required by Res. 1-02,
adopted by the convention in an earlier session.)

To Combine Commission
on Organizations and Commission
on Theology and Church Relations
and Revise CTCR Bylaws
RESOLUTION 7-27A
Overture 7-30 (CW, pp. 247–48)
Rationale
Since July 1, 1993, under an “operating agreement” between the CTCR and the Commission on Organizations
(COO), Dr. Jerald C. Joersz has been providing staff services for the COO. In light of budgetary considerations discussed in consultation with the Board of Directors, it has
been recommended that the COO be discontinued as a separately functioning commission and that its functions be
carried out by the CTCR. The Commission on Structure has
recommended that the Bylaws presently pertaining to the
CTCR and the COO be combined to reflect this change. Following earlier approval of the COO, the commission at its
February 2001 meeting adopted for submission to the 2001
synodical convention proposed Bylaws combining the functions of the two commissions, as follows.
Resolved, That the following Bylaw paragraphs to replace Bylaws 3.917 through 3.925 be approved by the 2001
convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and