LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 137

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CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES 137

WHEREAS, In the “hire and fire” mentality of secular society,
faithful pastors in congregations are being removed for nonbibli-
cal reasons; and

WHEREAS, This has become a problem so serious in The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod that the following letter was
written by Rev. David Bode (Minnesota North District Prestdent)
and which letter was commended to the church by Rev. A. L. Barry
(President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod):

A Letter from the President, Vice-Presidents and Circuit Coun-
selors of the Minnesota North District to the Pastors and Con-
gregations of the District Concerning the Improper Removal of
Pastors from Their Calls

October 29, 1999

Dear Pastors and Congregations of the Minnesota North District
of the LCMS:

There is a problem in our Synod which is a great concern to
me, as district president, and to the vice-presidents and circuit
counselors. It is the problem of the improper removal of pastors
from their Calls by their congregations. Something needs to
change.

All too often across Synod pastors are being dismissed with-
out charges and without good cause. This action is taken with
little or no effort to resolve the difficulty. This does great dam-
age to the congregation, the pastor, and our Synod.

Congregations and pastors are to use Matthew I8 as a guide
in dealing with each other’s sin. If someone sins, the first step is
to go and talk to the person and hopefully straighten things out.
The goal is for us to do as Jesus does for us—forgive.

The second step of Matthew 18 is to take one or two wit-
nesses along. We, your district president, vice-presidents and
circuit counselors stand ready to help when pastor and people
cannot resolve the differences that may divide them. Please
think of us as potential witnesses, available to help God’s people
to be reconciled to one another.

In regard to the dismissal of a pastor, we hold, on the basis
of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, that a pastor may
rightly be removed from office for one of very few reasons: a)
the persistent adherence to false doctrine; b) leading of a scan-
dalous life (a life of manifest sin which must disqualify a pastor
from office—see | Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6—-9); c) the willful
and persistent dereliction of duty (the duty to preach, teach, ad-
minister the Sacraments, pray for the people of God, and visit
the sick and the shut-in); or d) prolonged incapacity (due to se-
nility or debilitating injury or illness). Unless a pastor may be
honestly charged with one of these causes for removal and those
charges reasonably backed up by evidence, a man may not be
deprived of the office of ministry. Even when a pastor has been
guilty of teaching false doctrine or failure to perform his duties,
he, like every Christian, should have the opportunity to recant
his false teaching and repent of his sins and make amends.

It is the policy of the Minnesota North District that any con-
gregation who attempts to remove a pastor without cause,
charges, and proof will be advised by the district president that
any such resolution is null and void. A pastor removed without
cause, charges, and proof will still be considered the pastor of
that congregation.

While it is true that congregations are autonomous within
the Synod, each congregation—and each pastor—surrenders a
degree of autonomy by joining the Synod. One thing that we
agree on by taking membership in the Synod, is that we will deal
with one another according to agreed-upon principles. The prin-
ciple that no pastor abuse his congregation is one such princi-
ple, and Synod and District exist to come to the aid of an abused
congregation and protect it from an unfaithful pastor. Another
principle we have long agreed upon is that no congregation may
abuse her pastor, or remove him from office without just cause:
We have all surrendered our autonomy in those regards by tak-
ing membership in the Missouri Synod. Even removing a “bad”
pastor without due process and proper charges and evidence pre-
sented does violence to everyone involved, and simply cannot
be permitted. ;

There are good and proper ways of dealing with disputes be-
tween pastors and congregations. God has given us a number of
tools which we can use to help. Many in the district have re-

ceived Scriptural training on how to help congregations and pas-
tors reconcile. There is also a mentoring program available
which pairs one pastor with another. An experienced pastor may
be able to help a pastor and congregation which are having dif-
ficulties. Reconciliation is the goal, and with God’s help we will
be able to achieve that goal.

We must remember that the “old evil foe” is always at work
among us, seeking to destroy and divide us. Paul tells us in Eph-
esians, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against
the rulers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the
spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” We must
be prepared to fight with the Word of God and prayer, with hu-
mility and repentance, with patience and forgiveness. We must
learn to fight for one another, not with or against each other.

If problems arise, and they will from time to time, we can
find a solution together. We can serve Christ and His Church
and our beloved Synod by doing all things “decently and in
order” and to the glory of God. If we are faithful, God will bless
us abundantly. It is better to lose a battle fighting faithfully than
to win it by fighting with Satan’s tools—or to lose it by not
fighting at all. We will not win every battle, but we will strive to
accomplish the will of God.

May God be with us all. May God help us to be the church
God wants us to be.

In His name,
The Reverend David A. Bode
on behalf of the Vice Presidents and Circuit Counselors

WHEREAS, It would be unifying and beneficial for The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod to affirm the doctrinal basis for what is
acceptable and what is not acceptable for removing pastors; and

WHEREAS, It would be good churchmanship and pastorally lov-
ing to put this doctrine into practice in The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention affirm the doctrine and put into practice the policy con-
tained in Rev. David A. Bode’s letter concerning this matter; and
be it further ~

Resolved, That congregations, pastors, District Presidents, and
synodical officials be encouraged to read, study, and abide by the
doctrine and practice that the letter declares.

Our Redeemer
Emmett, ID

2-13

To Authorize Task Force for Study of Synod Staffing

WHEREAS, Commencing with the earliest days of the LCMS,
Dr. C. F. W. Walther vigorously supported the education of men
to be ordained as pastors to preach the Word of God and to admin-
ister the Sacraments; and

WHEREAS, The Synod presently has approximately 6,000 con-
gregations, with approximately 900 pulpit vacancies; and

WHEREAS, The seminaries currently graduate approximately 200
new pastors annually, while approximately 400 pastors vacate their
pulpits, resulting in a growing increase in vacancies, which trend
shows no sign of abating and dictates a very genuine concern for
the future well-being of the LCMS; and

WHEREAS, There is an obvious need to increase the number of
properly trained pastors from the seminaries to keep pace with the
deaths, retirements, and resignations of pastors; and

WHEREAS, Since 1980 over 200 pastors who have vacated
parish pulpits have been added to the staffs of synodical and Dis-
trict offices; and

WHEREAS, This increase in synodical and District staffing has
occurred at the same time that there has been a decline in the num-
ber of pastors in the Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention authorize the President
of the Synod to appoint a Task Force of five laymen who are mem-
bers of congregations of the LCMS, five parish pastors who are
members of the Synod but not serving at a District or Synod office,

2001 Convention Workbook