LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 251

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STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION 25)

7-39

To Reaffirm Historic Position re Church and Ministry

Wrereas, Holy Scripture makes a clear distinction between the
universal Christian church consisting of all believers scattered
through the world (Matt. 16:18) and individual congregations of
believers in a specific local area (Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 1:2); and

WHEREAS, Christ has given the full power of the Keys with all
the functions thereof solely to believers gathered around Word and
Sacrament in local congregations (1 Cor. 3:21-22; Matt. 16:13~—19;
Matt. 18:17-20; John 20:22~—23); and

Wuereas, The church instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ and
described in the New Testament consists solely of local congrega-
tions, and no other grouping of Christians such as a synod or de-
nomination has been divinely instituted; and

WHuereEas, No one but Christ has the right and authority to es-
tablish doctrines (Matt. 28:18-20); and

WHEREAS, The assumption that church bodies or synods might
rightly be called “church” by divine authority without a specific in-
stitution in Holy Scripture is not a mere “exegetical error” but
rather “false teaching” and totally incompatible with the “analogy
of faith” or “seat of doctrine,” which bases all doctrine on clear
Bible passages; and

WHEREAS, Some leaders in our Synod have failed to distinguish
between the divine institution of the local congregation and the
strictly human institution of the Synod, which possesses no author-
ity of its own, but only such functions specifically authorized by
and delegated to it by the member congregations; and

WHEREAS, Orthodox theologians sometimes call synods, con-
sistories, and denominations “churches,” we need to understand
that they are using the term “church” in a tropical sense, as a figure
of speech or a metaphor, as if one was the same as the other, when
in reality it is not! When Jesus called Herod a fox (Luke 13:32),
He was speaking metaphorically. When Jesus described Himself
as the only door that gives eternal life in heaven (John 10:9), He
was using a figure of speech; and

WHEREAS, Unless these biblical distinctions are clearly under-
stood, the scriptural teaching of the divine institution of the pas-
toral office and its correlation with the local congregation will con-
tinue to be abused, and false doctrine and practice in both church
and ministry will continue to be taught and preached in our semi-
naries, in our Districts, and throughout the Synod; be it therefore

Resolved, That the Synod in convention assembled reatfirm its
historic position on church and ministry; namely, that only the local
congregation and the office of the holy ministry connected with the
local congregation have been divinely instituted and all other insti-
tutions, such as synods, districts, and their attending offices exist
solely by human authority and are only called “church” metaphor-
ically because of the churches (congregations) that organized them.

Redeemer, St. Clair Shores, MI; Christ, Juniata, NE;
Redeemer, John Day, OR

7-40

To Exercise Biblical and Constitutional Freedom

WHEREAS, Since its founding The Lutheran Church—-Missouri
Synod has been concerned about submitting to the Word of God
and the Lutheran confessional writings; and

WHEREAS, The Saxon colonists sought to ensure such submis-
sion by developing a polity that was neither strictly hierarchical nor
narrowly congregational: and

WHEREAS, Synodical constitutions to the present grant broad
powers of oversight to the Synod and its hierarchy as well as to the
congregation; and

WHEREAS, The historical and current purpose for this congrega-
tional polity was and is to mitigate against a Synod or synodical
hierarchy becoming overly autocratic or charismatic; and

WHEREAS, The original 1854 constitution said, “Should a con-
gregation find a synodical resolution not in conformity with the

Word of God or unsuited for its circumstances, it has the right to
disregard, that is, reject it”; and

WHEREAS, At some point between 1920 and 1932, the same
concern came to be expressed as “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. 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 condi-
tion of the congregation is concerned”; and

WHEREAS, The original framers of the synodical constitution,
based on the theology of the priesthood of all believers, asserted
that the laity as well as the clergy were bound to interpret the Scrip-
tures and to judge doctrine; and

WHEREAS, These principles became codified in the synodical
constitution so that congregations were given leave to judge the ex-
pedience of synodical doctrine and practice for their contexts in
order to guard against charismatic and autocratic rule; therefore be
it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod gath-
ered in convention in 2001 give gratitude to God for this theologi-
cal heritage that guarantees congregations the right of immediate
access to the divine through their interpretation and application of
the Word of God in their contexts; and be it further

Resolved, That pastors and congregations of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod, while upholding the truth of the Gospel,
be encouraged to exercise such biblical and constitutional freedoms
as their consciences, used responsibly, direct them.

Trinity
Hudson, WI

7-41

To Reaffirm Constitutional Principles
of Congregational Self-Government

Wuereas, All congregational and individual members of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) subscribe to the
synodical Constitution, including as a matter of conscience
accepting without reservation the confession of the Synod based
on the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions (Art. II) when
they become members; and

WHEREAS, Art. VII of the Constitution clearly states:

In its relation to its members the Synod is not an ecclesiasti-
cal government exercising legislative or coercive powers, and
with respect to the individual congregation’s right of self-gov-
emment it is but an advisory body. Accordingly, no resolution
of the Synod imposing anything upon the individual congrega-
tion is of binding force if i1 is not in accordance with the Word
of God or if it appears inexpedient as far as the condition of the
congregation is concerned;

and

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

WHEREAS, The LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters
has issued an official opinion that the “inexpedient” clause of this
article is applicable only to “non-doctrina]” matters, thereby
limiting the right of congregational self-government; and

WHEREAS, This ruling, in view of different understandings of
what is meant by “doctrinal” and “non-doctrinal,” opens the door
for synodical officials who consider a given resolution to be
“doctrinal” to discipline congregations for ignoring that
resolution if they consider it to be “non-doctrinal” and
inexpedient as far as “the condition of the congregation is
concerned” (e.g., certain Communion practices, offices that may
or may not be held by women, and certain inter-church activities);
and

2001 Convention Workbook