LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 101

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SYNODICAL REPORTS 101

planning of District mission and ministry to this vision. In order to
be sensitive to the five-fold vision, an overarching goal for our ac-
tivities is to get back to basics by studying the Scripture and our
Confessions anew and by emphasizing a study of the doctrine of
justification. The District will also give special attention to min-
istry to children as our Synod recognizes 2001 as the Year of the
Child. We also have plans to schedule a theological convocation
for the District, provide some training for elders of our congrega-
tions, continue to support the “Tell the Good News about Jesus”
emphasis, and provide special training and classes for the teachers
in our District.

Ron M. Garwood, President

R7-06
Commission on Constitutional Matters

The Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM) has five vot-
ing members, three of whom are ordained ministers and two of
whom are lawyers. They are selected in the following fashion: Dis-
trict Boards of Directors nominate candidates whose names are
then presented to the Council of Presidents. The Council of Presi-
dents reviews the qualifications of the candidates and then selects
five candidates for each vacant position. These five candidates are
then presented to the President of the Synod, who appoints one of
the five to a six-year term. Thereafter, the Council of Presidents
ratifies the appointment.

The duties of the CCM are set forth in Bylaw 3.905 and include
(a) an examination of all reports and overtures to the Synod which
ask for amendments to or which affect the Constitution and Bylaws
of the Synod to determine if they are in agreement in content and
language with the Synod’s Constitution and Bylaws; (b) revise the
Handbook of the Synod after each synodical convention to bring it
into harmony with the resolutions and changes adopted at the Con-
vention; and (c) issue an opinion interpreting the Synod’s Consti-
tution, Bylaws, and resolutions upon a written request by a member
of the Synod, official, board, commission, entity, or agency of the
Synod. The Bylaws state that an opinion by the CCM shall be bind-
ing on the question decided unless and until it is overruled by a
synodical convention. The duties assigned to the CCM carry with
them a great responsibility. The members of the CCM recognize
this responsibility and thus spend long hours studying and deliber-
ating the issues presented to them.

The CCM is not a legislative body. Nor is it a judicial body that .

decides what is best for the Synod. It takes the Constitution, By-
laws, and resolutions of the Synod as they are written and applies
their provisions to specific questions presented to it. Members of
the CCM believe they best serve the Synod and are responsive to
their duties as assigned in the Bylaws by restricting the content of
their opinions to the specific questions asked.

In reaching an opinion, the CCM gives no weight to the parties
involved in a question. It makes no difference who asks the ques-
tion or who will be affected by the opinion. These are legislative
matters. The duty of the CCM is to apply the Constitution, Bylaws,
and resolutions of the Synod to a specific question of interpreta-
tion, regardless of the parties involved.

At times there have been expressions that an opinion of the
CCM is in error. This may be. However, one must discern whether
the opinion of the CCM is in conflict with the Constitution, By-
laws, and resolutions of the Synod or whether the underlying issue
is that there is disagreement with the provisions of the Constitu-
tion, Bylaws, and resolutions. The latter matter is resolved by
congregations of the Synod in convention assembled adopting an
amendment or resolution which will bring about the desired result.

Each meeting of the CCM is opened with prayer and a plea to
our God that He will guide and lead us in our deliberations. We have

attempted to hear His voice and, to the best of our ability, we have
tried to be faithful to those duties the Synod has assigned to us.
Walter Tesch, Chairman

R7-07
Task Force on Conflict Resolution

The Task Force on Conflict Resolution was appointed prior to
the 1992 convention of the Synod to study various methods of dis-
pute resolution and to make recommendations to the President of
the Synod. A convention floor committee received the report of the
Task Force and made appropriate changes. As a result, a scriptural
process for addressing conflicts in the church was adopted by the
convention.

In 1995 the President of the Synod appointed a Task Force on
Conflict Resolution to complete the work initiated by the original
Task Force. Four members of the earlier group were retained, and
three new members were added. This Task Force met repeatedly
during the following three years and three additional times during
the current triennium to address remaining concerns with the Dis-
pute Resolution Process and to recommend necessary changes to
its Rules of Procedure. The Task Force completed its work with its
final meeting on May 5, 2000.

Nearly nine years have passed since the current Dispute Reso-
lution Process was adopted by the Synod. In 1998 many of the rec-
oncilers who were initially appointed completed their first six-year
term and were re-appointed. New reconcilers were appointed as
needed. The Task Force, with financial assistance from AAL, spon-
sored weeklong training sessions for al] reconcilers provided by
Peacemaker Ministries of Billings, MT. Effort was made to include
all 140 reconcilers in this training. Most District Presidents also
participated.

The Task Force recognized the value of the training it was pro-
viding not only for reconcilers and District Presidents but also for
Circuit Counselors. With the cooperation of Peacemaker Min-
istries, therefore, a shortened form of the training was also provided
to the Circuit Counselors of nearly all Districts of the Synod, made
possible by an additional $72,000 grant from AAL and funding
from participating Districts. In a few Districts dispute resolution
training has also been provided for all pastors.

The Task Force is convinced that such specialized training for
all reconcilers will be of constant importance if the dispute resolu-
tion process is to function properly. Regular funding will be neces-
sary to provide such training. The Task Force therefore recom-
mends that the Synod through its Board of Directors assume
responsibility for the funding necessary to provide the training and
material needs of the dispute resolution process and that an en-
dowment fund be established by the Board of Directors to assist
with future funding necessary for regular training.

The Task Force also recognizes the importance of the Rules of
Procedure and their addendum, Standards of Review for Appeal
Panels, that have been developed to provide detailed guidance to
participants in the dispute resolution process. While these rules
have been approved by the Board of Directors and President of the
Synod, as required by 1995 Res. 7-03B, the Task Force recom-
mends that mention be made of these Rules of Procedure and the
process by which they are amended in the Bylaws of the Synod in
order to provide necessary official status.

Although the Task Force has completed its assigned work, it
also recognizes that a need may exist in the future for additional
attention to the dispute resolution process. It therefore recommends
that the Secretary of the Synod, who according to Bylaw 3.143 0,
already has the responsibility to administer the Synod’s dispute res-
olution process, also be given the responsibility to initiate the ap-

2001 Convention Workbook