LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 244

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244 STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION

7-19

To Reject Proposed Changes to Handbook

WHEREAS, The mission of the church is carried out chiefly in
the work of the local congregation; and

Wuereas, The proposed changes decrease the authority of the
loca] congregation in determining the shape and direction of its
mission; and

WHEREAS, A mandated “one size fits all” understanding fails to
acknowledge the innate diversity with which God has gifted His
church; and

WHEREAS, The commission’s proposal would, if implemented,
grant the President of the Synod unchecked power and significantly
decreased accountability to the wider church; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention reject implementation
of the Commission on Structure’s proposed changes to the 1998
Handbook.

Faith
Rochester, NY

7-20

To Reject Major Revisions of Bylaws

WHEREAS, The 1998 Handbook of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod contains the Constitution, Bylaws, Articles of Incor-
poration, etc., of the LCMS; and

WHEREAS, Those referenced documents have a long history of
serving the LCMS admirably; and

WHEREAS, Those referenced documents can be understood by
laity and pastors alike with minimal effort; and

WHEREAS, Over many years, when there have been questions
on interpretation thereof, the LCMS Commission on Constitutional
Matters has issued opinions or interpretations thereof when prop-
erly requested to do so; and

WHEREAS, Opinions or interpretations of the Commission on
Constitutional Matters have become a meaningful body of law,
which would be of little consequence if major revision of the ref-
erenced documents occurred or if “policies” were substituted for
current Bylaws; and

WHEREAS, In July 2000 the Commission on Structure of the
LCMS distributed volumes I and I] of what it termed its Prelimi-
nary Report and Proposed Handbook, and

WHEREAS, The said documents of the Commission on Structure
propose a radical and major recodifying of the Bylaws of the
LCMS and in many instances would substitute governance by “pol-
icy” instead of by Bylaws; and

WHEREAS, Resorting to an ambiguous governance by “policy” is
highly susceptible to changes, including quick changes, and to lack
of accountability not only to boards and commissions of the LCMS
but also to the very congregations that compose the LCMS and on
which the LCMS relies for its very existence and sustenance; and

Whereas, The business world has seen the passing of such fads
as management by objective, zero defects, etc.; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS convention reject any major revision
of the LCMS Bylaws; and be it further

Resolved, That the LCMS convention reject any and all moves
to governance by policy, such as those set out many times in the
said Preliminary Report and Proposed Handbook distributed by
the Commission on Structure.

Faith
Chesapeake, VA

7-21

To Reaffirm Existing Constitution and Bylaws

WHEREAS, The local congregation of believers is of divine in-
stitution and the Synod is of human institution; and

2001 Convention Workbook

WHEREAS, Historically, traditionally, and constitutionally the di-
vinely instituted local congregations of believers have responsibly
led the Synod in all matters; and

WHEREAS, The divinely instituted congregations of believers
and the Synod in convention in 1998 did adopt Res. 7-01 empow-
ering the Board of Directors, “in consultation with the President of
the Synod, to appoint a Commission of Structure [to] ... draft revi-
sions to the format and content of the Synod’s Constitution and By-
laws [Handbook] which will eliminate inconsistencies and make
the Handbook more usable for the Synod”; and

WuEREAS, The Commission on Structure was staffed and then
did meet and did prepare a draft including only a portion of the
changes that the Commission intends should be made to the Hand-
book and then did distribute the draft to each of the divinely insti-
tuted local congregations of believers of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, Many of the changes proposed in the draft signifi-
cantly alter the existing, historic, and traditional relationship be-
tween the divinely instituted Jocal congregations of believers and
the Synod and significantly alter the existing, historic, and tradi-
tional relationship between the Districts and the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The cover letter distributed by the Commission with
the draft warns that “the Commission will also be advocating other
more extensive changes either directly to the 200! Convention of
the Synod or by recommending consideration of substantive
changes to other entities of the Synod”; and

Wuertas, Any proposal by the Commission, to any convention
of the Synod or to “other entities” of the Synod, to alter the exist-
ing, historic, and traditional relationship between the divinely in-
stituted local congregations of believers and the Synod or to alter
the existing, historic, and traditional relationship between the Dis-
tricts and the Synod greatly exceeds the charter of the Commission:
therefore be it

Resolved, That the divinely instituted congregations of believers
and the Synod in convention assembled in 2001 reaffirm the exist-
ing Constitution and Bylaws (Handbook) without changes or
amendments.

Messiah
Cincinnati, OH

7-22

To Decline Most Recommended
Changes to Handbook

WHEREAS, A committee and a task force of the Synod have
made numerous recommendations toward changes in the synodi-
cal Handbook and Bylaws; and

WHEREAS, A great number of these changes affect the structure
and polity of our church body; and

WHEREAS, A great number of these changes are needless and
detract from the real mission of the church, although a few of the
recommended changes do help maintain clergy and church profes-
sional retention on the official roster of the Synod: therefore be it

Resolved, That the recommended changes (2.10.1-2.10.2.3) af-
fecting clergy and professional church worker retention and status
on the official roster of the Synod be accepted; and be it further

Resolved, That all other recommended changes to the Bylaws
and Handbook shall be declined. denied, and rejected by the LCMS
synodical convention in 2001.

Grace
Elyria, OH

7-23

To Table Revisions to the Synodical Handbook

WHEREAS, The proposed changes to the synodical Bylaws/Hand-
book have far-reaching implications; and

WHEREAS, Many congregations, pastors, and other professional
church workers may not be fully aware of all the implications; and