LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 274

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274 STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION

the parish are contrary to Holy Scripture (1 Tim. 1:18-20; 2 Tim.
3:10—lla, 14—4:5); and be it further

Resolved, That District Presidents also place on restricted status
those pastors who in the conduct of either their pastoral or personal
lives have been found to be unrepentant in leading a manifestly sin-
ful life (1 Tim. 3:3b—7; 2 Tim. 2:22; Titus 1:7), including those
found to have endangered the health and welfare of those entrusted
to their care, e.g., by engaging in sexual sins, especially in situa-
tions punishable by civil or criminal law (Rom. 13:1-5); and be it
further

Resolved, That District Presidents encourage such pastors—
even though they may be or become repentant—to resign their call,
as each man who holds the office of the Holy Ministry “must be
blameless ... [and] must have a good testimony among those who
are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil”
(1 Tim. 3:2a, 7); and be it finally

Resolved, That pastors and District Presidents alike be encour-
aged to avail themselves of pastoral care in the form of private con-
fession and holy absolution in order that opportunities for repen-
tance and faith (2 Tim. 2:25—26, 3:16-4:2; James 5:13-16, 19-20)
may not be neglected, that their own faith and life not be jeopar-
dized.

University
Minneapolis, MN

7-100

To Amend Bylaw 4.71 re Responsibility of District
Presidents

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is made up
of congregations and ordained and commissioned workers; and

WHEREAS, District Presidents are elected by those congregations
and workers in a given District, constituting Synod in that place;
and

WHEREAS, Art. VII of Synod’s Constitution declares that “the
Synod at the national level is not an ecclesiastical government ex-
ercising legislative or coercive powers” and is “but an advisory
body”; and

WHEREAS, To Carry out Christ’s mission to diverse populations
crucial decisions need to be made as close to the local scene as pos-
sible; and

WHEREAS, The current reading and application of Bylaw 4.71b
can lead to an unwanted centralization of power and the danger of
coercive control; therefore be it

Resolved, That District President’s primary responsibility be to
the congregations and workers of the District that elected him; and
be it further

Resolved, That this convention memorialize the 2001 conven-

tion of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to revise Synod
Bylaw 4.71 as follows:

PRESENF/PROPOSED WORDING
Each District President shall represent the Synod in his re-
spective territory. F He-sheli therefore-eause the reselitions-of the

sions District and-the Synod: He shall therefore represent his

District in the Council of Presidents and represent the concerns
of the entire Synod to his District. He shall therefore make reg-
ular reports to his District and to the President of the Synod. He
shall therefore serve the congregations of the District as liaison
between the congregations, District, and the Synod.

Northwest District

2001 Convention Workbook

7-101

To Ask President to Take Action
against District President

WHEREAS, The President and Vice-President of the LCMS have
found that Dr. Robert Nordlie, who is on the 2000 clergy roster of
the LCMS, does not affirm the scriptural doctrine of justification;
and

Wuereas, Dr. Lane Seitz, Dr. Nordlie’s District President. who
was asked to take action, has been defending Dr. Nordlie; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That we ask Dr. Barry to remove Dr. Seitz as District
President or any District President who defends Dr. Nordlie.

Redeemer, St. Clair Shores, MI; Trinity, New Haven, MO,
Faith, Corning, NY; Concordia, Fair Haven, MN;
Redeemer, John Day, OR

7-102

To Require Parish Experience
for District and National Officer Positions

WHEREAS, There have been many cases of ordained District and
synodical officials (including professors) who were elected or ap-
pointed to their positions with little or no parish experience; and

WHEREAS, Congregations rely on many of these ordained clergy
for guidance and help; therefore be it

Resolved, That no ordained minister may hold a synodical or
District office until he has ten consecutive years of parish experi-
ence; and be it further

Resolved, That in rare cases where an ordained minister’s ex-
perience and/or skill may make him suitable for the job without ten
years of parish experience, that a resolution of the Council of Pres-
idents may waive the requirement; and be it finally

Resolved, That those ordained clergy holding synodical or Dis-
trict positions be required to have an additional minimum of five
years of parish experience after serving for twelve years, or they
may satisfy this requirement if they serve as at least an assistant
part-time pastor for a parish near where they hold office during the
time they serve as a synodical or District official. To qualify as
“part-time” they must be paid, preach at the congregation on a reg-
ular basis, and participate in parish ministry. The paying of bencfits
would be shared correspondingly between the congregation and the
synodical or District office where the pastor also serves.

Faith
Hugoton, KS

7-103

To Create Term Limits for Synod Officers

WHEREAS, All members of synodical boards and commissions
are limited in the number of terms that may be served; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has
functioned just fine under such a system; and

WHEREAS, Only four positions do not follow the standard prac-
tice in limiting the number of terms; and

WHEREAS; There are several thousand members in the Synod
who are eligible to fill these positions; and

Wuereas, New members of these positions would help ensure
that the LCMS will continuc to “make known the love of Christ by
word and deed within our churches, communities, and the world”
(LCMS mission statement); therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 3.6] read as follows:

a. All officers, members of all synodical boards and com-
missions shall be ineligible for reelection or reappointment to
the same office, board, or commission after serving a total of
two successive six-year elected terms or three successive ap-
pointed or elected three-year terms, unless otherwise provided in