LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 243

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION 243

7-16

To Not Use Policy-Based Management
Principles and Practices

WHEREAS, Secular organizations by their very nature do not take
into account the vertical (divine) dimension of the origin and pur-
pose of the world and of their own members and activities (e.g.,
businesses, unions, social groups, government); and

WHEREAS, Many of these secular organizations have adopted
practices of management that are naturally based on man-made
policies and have found such systems to be useful on the horizontal
(human) level; and

WHEREAS, “Policy-based management” principles are a recent
form of such horizontal thinking and include the concept that poli-
cies can be modified by a board without the prior knowledge or ap-
proval of the stockholders and stakeholders (as long as the mone-
tary or other value of the secular organization rises or is properly
protected); and

WHEREAS, “Policy-based management” principles also include
the concept that executives and staff personnel are free to do as
they see fit as long as their governing boards have not declared a
specific action to be outside of board policy (i.e., executives and
staff do not have to receive approval for any action unless their
boards have previously declared such action not to be allowed);
and

WHEREAS, “Policy-based management” methods as used in the
Lord’s service in the church often mean that the executives, staff
members, and even boards of the Synod are free to take actions
(many of which result in the establishment of policies that can em-
barrass their boards later on) without the possibility that the mem-
bers of the synodical boards would have opportunity to examine
whether the vertical dimension (i.e., God’s Word and the Lutheran
Confessions) is controlling such human-level policies and actions;
and

WHEREAS, Some of the boards and entities of our Synod have
already adopted the principles of “policy-based management,” and
the elected boards have at times found 1t awkward or even impos-
sible to reverse certain actions taken by their respective executives
or staffs because it is impossible to create proper policies for every
situation ahead of time; and

WHEREAS, Some of these actions have at times tended to
weaken the biblical and Lutheran doctrine and practice of certain
segments of the Synod (e.g., the introduction of open Communion,
humanism in worship forms, the participation of women in pastoral
actions and leadership, the acceptance of lodge members without
explaining how the lodges contradict Christ and the Scriptures, ac-
ceptance of new members without adequate instruction in Christian
doctrine, secular methods of pastoral leadership); and

WHEREAS, In addition to the above, the contemplated relegation
of much of the Handbook of our Synod to the category of mere pol-
icy (which could easily be changed) has been suggested, thereby
making it much more difficult for the Synod and its responsible
elected leaders to oversee the doctrine and practice of its members;
and

WuerEAaS, Decision making and action taking among brothers
and sisters in Christ are to be done in Christian love and after
reaching mutual understanding in “the unity of the Spirit through
the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-6; | Cor. 1:10; Phil. 4:2—3; etc.);
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention recognize that “policy-
based management” principles, although quite valid and useful for
secular organizations, are not useful or adaptable to the service of
the Lord in the operation of His church; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod require that its officers, boards, Dis-
tricts, and other entities, along with their respective executives and
staffs, no longer utilize the principles of “policy-based manage-
ment”; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod direct its Commission on Structure
and its Commission on Constitutional Matters to follow the above
resolutions in carrying out their assigned tasks.

Shepherd by the Lakes
Syracuse, IN

7-17

To Reject Governance by Policy
and Overall Changes to Handbook

WHEREAS, The 1998 Handbook of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod contains the Constitution, the Bylaws, and the Articles
of Incorporation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and

WHEREAS, The aforesaid documents overall have served the
Synod well and are capable of being understood by the average
pastor and layperson; and

WHEREAS, Where questions have arisen over construction
and/or application, a “body of law” has developed through rulings
of the Commission on Constitutional Matters; and

WHEREAS, The Commission on Structure of the Synod in July
2000 released volumes [ and II of its Preliminary Report and Pro-
posed Handbook, and

WHEREAS, The aforesaid Preliminary Report proposes many
and major changes to the Synod’s Bylaws, a considerable number
of which changes characterize as “policy” what are now Bylaws;
and

WHEREAS, Management by policy is very susceptible to ever-
and quick-changing authority, with reduced or little control by the
Synod through its elected boards and commissions and ultimately
by the congregations of the Synod that act legislatively in conven-
tions of the Synod assembled triennially; therefore be it

Resolved, That the 2001 convention of the Synod abandon any
shift to governance by “policy,” avoid any major “recodification”
or “recasting” of the 1998 Handbook of the Synod, and make only
those changes therein as result from adoption of typical convention
resolutions that are distinct and separate from a structural change or
a “recodification” or “recasting” of the Bylaws.

Concordia Theological Seminary
Fort Wayne, IN

7-18

To Reject Proposed Handbook
of Commission on Structure

WHEREAS, The Formula of Concord (Ep X 4) provides for con-
gregational autonomy in matters of adiaphora; and

WHEREAS, Freedom in matters of adiaphora enables a congre-
gation to adapt its mission and ministry to meet the unique needs of
its locale; and

WHEREAS, The changes proposed by the July 2000 Proposed
Handbook prepared by the Commission on Structure severely limit
congregational autonomy; and

WHEREAS, Art. VII of the Constitution provides that the Synod
is not an ecclesiastical government exercising legislative or coer-
cive powers, and with respect to the individual congregation’s right
of self-government, the Synod is but an advisory body; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the 2001 convention of the Synod uphold con-
gregational autonomy as set forth in Art. VII of the Constitution of
the Synod so that matters of adiaphora continue to be determined
by the needs of the local congregation; and be it further

Resolved, That the 2001 convention of the Synod reject the July
2000 Proposed Handbook prepared by the Commission on Struc-
ture; and be it finally

Resolved, That we exhibit the love Jesus commanded of His dis-
ciples in John 13:34-35 as we work together to find God-pleasing
solutions to matters of concern among members of the Synod.

Messiah
Parker, AZ

2001 Convention Workbook