LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 250

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250 STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION

astical government exercising legislative or coercive powers, and
with respect to the individual congregation’s right of self-govern-
ment it is but an advisory body. Accordingly, no resolution of the
Synod imposing anything upon the individual congregation is of
binding force if it is not in accordance with the Word of God or if it
appears to be inexpedient as far as the condition of a congregation
is concerned” (Art. VII); therefore be it

Resolved, That we affirm the advisory nature of the Synod; and
be it further

Resolved, That we affirm Art. VIII C (“All matters of doctrine
and of consctence shall be decided only by the Word of God. All
other matters shall be decided by a majority vote”) of our Consti-
tution and allow no authority in The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod other than the Scriptures as we understand them in the
Lutheran Confessions; and be it finally

Resolved, That the ruling of the Commission on Constitutional
Matters of Sept. 14, 1999, be overturned since it is in conflict with
Art. VII and Art. VIII C of the synodical Constitution.

Grace
Queens Village, NY

7-36

To Reaffirm Advisory Nature of Synod

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod was founded
by independent congregations who joined together for the work of
the Lord that they could not do alone and for the confessional unity
that they found with one another; and

Wuereas, Those founding congregations joined together with
the understanding and establishment of the principle of congrega-
tional supremacy and autonomy; and

Wuereas, Congregations joining the Synod agree to the con-
fessional, doctrinal position of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has always
been advisory in relation to member congregations in matters of
practice and expression of the Gospel ministry as expressed in Art.
VII of its Constitution; and

Wuereas, There is growing concern that the advisory nature of
the Synod is being put aside and a more demanding compliance in
practice is growing among us; therefore be it

Resolved, That we remind ourselves of the original nature of the
unity we have agreed upon as congregations belonging to The
Lutheran Church-——Missouri Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That we reaffirm and hold to the autonomy and su-
premacy of the congregation under Christ and our Confessions; and
be it finally

Resolved, That we reaffirm the historical understanding of the
advisory nature of the Synod in relation to its congregations.

St. John
Portland, OR

7-37

To Retain Wording re Advisory Role of Synod

WHEREAS, Since the Synod is advisory to congregations (Con-
stitution Art. VII), historically the word “encourages” has been
considered necessary when Synod in convention has adopted reso-
jutions that give directives to congregations; and

Wuereas, C. F. W. Walther’s understanding of the Synod’s role
in relationship to congregations is clearly explained in his 1879
essay to the Iowa District convention, in which Walther states:
“According to our Constitution, no synodical resolution is binding
on the individual congregations. No resolution. Mark that well!
What we resolve here in convention the pastors and lay delegates
must report to the home congregations and say, “This is what the
convention resolved.’ But they cannot say, ‘Now you must also ob-
serve this.’ No; on the contrary the congregation can say, ‘As soon
as it is a matter that has been left free for us as Christians, we can

2001 Convention Workbook

disregard the resolution of the convention,’ and the Synod can say
nothing against that” (Essays for the Church, vol. 2, pp. 31-32);
and

WHEREAS, The wording of proposed Bylaw 1.4.2, (“Every
member of the Synod agrees to respect its resolutions and to con-
sider them of binding force if they are in accordance with the Word
of God. The Synod, being an advisory body to congregations, rec-
ognizes the right of a congregation to make application of synodi-
cal resolutions by taking into consideration its local condition”
[p. 20}), seems to imply, or allow the interpretation, that congrega-
lions are giving prior agreement to any and all resolutions adopted
by the Synod, but as they make this agreement, that they do retain
the right to determine specifically how they will apply these reso-
lutions taking into consideration their local conditions; and

WHEREAS, The original wording of Bylaw 2.39 b, “The Synod
expects every member congregation to respect its resolutions and to
consider them of binding force if they are in accordance with the
Word of God and if they appear applicable as far as the condition
of the congregation is concerned,” seems to express the historic re-
lationship of the Synod to congregations in an unambiguous man-
ner; and

WHEREAS, The wording of proposed Bylaw 1.4.2 does not ap-
pear to be an improvement that adds clarity to the historic nature of
the advisory role of the Synod toward congregations, but either
changes it or obscures it; therefore be it

Resolved, That proposed Bylaw 1.4.2 be declined; and be it fur-
ther

Resolved, That any wording changes in Bylaws pertaining to
the advisory role of the Synod toward congregations make it un-
equivocally clear that congregations have the right to judge if a res-
olution of the Synod is applicable to its situation.

Board of Directors
Southern [linois District

7-38

To Affirm Advisory Nature of Synod

WuHerEAS, Art. VII of the Constitution of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod states: “In its relation to its members the
Synod is not an ecclesiastical government exercising legislative or
coercive powers, and with respect to the individual congregation’ s
right of self-government it is but an advisory body”; and

WHEREAS, Art. VIII C states: “All matters of doctrine and of
conscience shall be decided only by the Word of God”; and

WHEREAS, Bylaw 1.09 b states: “Doctrinal resolutions ... are to
be honored and upheld”; Bylaw 2.39 b states: “The Synod expects
every member congregation to respect its resolutions and to con-
sider them of binding force if they are in accordance with the Word
otf God and if they appear applicable as far as the condition of the
congregation is concerned”; and

WHEREAS, The above cited Bylaws stand in obvious contradic-
tion to Art. VII; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Atlantic District in convention memorialize
the Synod at its next convention to do the following:

a. Affirm Art. VII, that the Synod is advisory and not legislative or
coercive in relation to its members.

b. Amend the Bylaws of the Synod to accurately express Art. VII
so as to remove any misunderstanding among the members,
deleting such terms as may indicate anything coercive on the
part of the Synod in relationship to its members.

c. Affirm the right of its members to judge the validity of all syn-
odical resolutions in the light of Scripture, the Ecumenical
Creeds, and the Lutheran Confessions.

Atlantic District