LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 284

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284 STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION

WHEREAS, In the Jast convention in 1998 an clection was
deemed invalid; and

WHEREAS, The method used to select the person to fill the
empty position was to cast lots; and

WHEREAS, The reasoning for using this method was Acts
1:23—26; and

Wuereas, “The manner of selecting the man to fill the vacancy
left by the defection of Judas was an unusual onc, and undoubtedly
resorted to in this case by a special command of God. The method,
therefore. is not to be considered an example to be followed” (Kretz-
mann, Popular Commentary of the Bible); and

WHEREAS, While casting of lots was justified in the Old Testa-
ment, the casting of lots was not donc by the apostolic church. “We
must follow the enlightenment the Spirit affords and the indications
of Providence, both in church matters and in our personal affairs”
(Lenski. Interpretation of the Acts of the Apostles), therefore be it

Resolved, That the following addition be made to Bylaw 3.990:

e. If an election is deemed invalid, the committee shall pre-
sent a ballot 1o the convention 1o reelect_a new person for the
position. .
(NOTE: If the proposed Commission on Structure changes are
accepted, the addition would be added to Bylaw 3.11.4.9.)

Trinity, New Haven, MO; Immanuel. San Antonio, TX;
Redeemer, John Day, OR

7-132

To Hold Next Available Convention in Phoenix

WHEREAS, Members of the Missouri Synod live in all 50 states
of the United States, as well as in Canada and beyond: and

WHEREAS, The Southwest is the fastest growing arca of the
United States; and

WHEREAS, Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix is an international,
easily accessible airline hub; and

WHEREAS, Phoenix is a major convention center and rates are
lowest in the summertime; therefore be it

Resolved, That the English District memorialize The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod at its next convention to hold the next
available synodical convention in Phoenix, AZ.

English District; Board of Directors, Pacific Southwest
District

7-133

To Hold 63rd Regular Convention in Texas

WHEREAS, In 1989 the 57th regular convention of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod was held in Wichita, KS, in part to cele-
brate the centennial anniversary of the Kansas District; and

WHEREAS, In 2006 the Texas District will observe its centennial
anniversary; and

WHEREAS, There is value in acknowledging the geographical
expanse of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod by convening
at locations other than St. Louis upon occasion; therefore be it

Resolved, That, if feasible, the 63rd regular convention of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, scheduled for 2007, be held in
the Texas District.

Circuit 28
Texas District

7-134

To Develop Policy to Regulate Parish
Realignment Process

WHEREAS, It becomes necessary at times for parishes to form a
multi-point parish; and

2001 Convention Workbook

WHEREAS, The call of a resident pastor(s) may be held in ques-
tion during the process of forming a multi-point parish; therefore be
tt

Resolved, That the LCMS Commission on Constitutional Mat-
ters and the Commission on Theology and Church Relations work
together to develop a policy. including a proper severance package
where necessary. to handle these situations in a way that will be
consistent with the LCMS doctrine of the divinity of the call; and
be it further

Resolved, Thai this policy be made publicly known through the
REPORTER and The Lutheran Witness.

Immanuel
Hooper. NE

7-135

To Advocate Voters Assemblies

WHEREAS, Under the supremacy of God’s Word and in Chris-
tian liberty all congregations in the LCMS have agreed in conven-
tion to governance by supreme voters assemblies “the church is
above (supra) the ministers” (Trig. 507 par. 11), and according to
the Lutheran Confessions and Bible:

A. The Confessions teach that the congregation elects its own
pastor. (See Trig. 523-24 par. 62, 69, 72.) “Therefore it is neces-
sary for the Church to retain the authority to call, elect, and ordain
ministers” (also Eph. 4:8; | Peter 2:9; also Luther’s Works
39:305-14; Acts 6-7; 14:23; Titus 1:7; | Tim. 3:10).

B. The Confessions teach that the local congregation is supreme
over the pastor. (See Trig. 507, “... the church is above the minis-
ters”; also Trig. 511: “Christ gives supreme and final jurisdiction to
the Church”; also Matt. 18:17; Col. 4:17; 1 Peter 5:1-3; 2 Cor. 8:8:
and Walther agree that the clergy are not the church, also Luther's
Works 39:305-41.)

C. The Confessions teach that the congregation is the final
judge in church discipline. (See Trig. 511. “Christ gives supreme
and final jurisdiction to the church.” Also Matt. 18:17-18; Acts
1:15, 23-26; 15:5, 12-13, 22-23; | Cor. 5:2: 6:2; 10:15; 12:7:
2 Cor. 2:6-8; 2 Thess. 3:15.)

D. The Confessions teach that the sheep judge their shepherd in
all doctrine. (See Trig. 525 par. 72, “. . . the churches are in duty
bound before God, . . . because Paul, Gal. !:7f, enjoins that bishops
who teach and defend a godless doctrine and godless services
should be regarded as accursed”; also Matt. 7:15-23; 1 John 4:1;
| Cor. 10:15; Matt. 23:10: 1 Thess. 5:1; Matt. 10:42~44; Acts
17:11; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 Cor. 14:29; Rev. 2:2.)

E. The Confessions teach that the congregation and not the
Synod is “church.” hence synods are human organizations. (See
Trig. 511 par. 24, “Likewise Christ gives supreme and final juris-
diction to the Church, when He says: ‘Tell it unto the Church’ ”;
also AC VII and VIII, “The Church is the congregation of saints, in
which the Gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly
administered”; also Pieper, vol. 3, 421; also Preamble. LCMS Con-
stitution, “Reason for the Forming of a Synodical Union: |. The
example of the apostolic church. Acts 15:1-31"); and

Wuereas, In similar Christian liberty all congregations in the
LCMS have also agreed to only call pastors certified by the Synod;
and

WHEREAS, Many new forms of polity are being adopted by
LCMS congregations that remove voter supremacy, thus making
ownership of the congregations’ property an open question; and

WHEREAS, The LCMS has rejected the hierarchical practices
taught by Grabau and Loehe in the nineteenth century that ran
counter to the priesthood of all believers as correctly taught in the
Bible, the Lutheran Confessions, and by Luther and Walther, and

WHEREAS, The voters assembly as defined by Walther should
exercise its supremacy over every board and office in the church
in frequent and regularly scheduled voters meetings according to
the historic synodical pastoral theologies written by Walther and
Fritz; and