LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 58

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58

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

been submitted to this convention asking for my removal
from the roster of the Synod and, accordingly, from the office of President of the Synod.
My position on this issue remains the same as it has
been since the time of the decisions I made regarding
events following Sept. 11, 2001, specifically the Yankee Stadium case. My decisions in life and in office are based on
my acceptance of the Holy Scriptures as “the written Word
of God and the only rule and norm of faith and of practice”
and the Lutheran Confessions as “a true and unadulterated
statement and exposition of the Word of God” (LCMS Constitution, Art. II). It is my privilege, duty, and responsibility
to honor and uphold the positions of the Synod as articulated in the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the
LCMS. Those very important documents are subject to differing interpretation, as has been obvious throughout this
case and much of the history of our beloved Synod. I believe
I have correctly interpreted and properly upheld these very
important covenants of love in this and every case in which
the office of the President has been called upon to provide
“evangelical supervision, counsel, and care for pastors,
teachers, and other professional church workers of the
Synod in the performance of their official duties” and “protection for congregations, pastors, teachers, and other
church workers in the performance of their official duties
and the maintenance of their rights” (LCMS Constitution,
Art. III).
At the same time, I am acutely aware that I am ultimately accountable, not only to Almighty God but also to
the convention of the Synod, for all my decisions and actions. Accordingly, if the LCMS, in convention assembled
in 2004, should determine that the decisions I made in the
Yankee Stadium case, based on my interpretation of resolutions adopted by the convention assembled in 2001, are
not in keeping with the confession of our church and our
collective understanding of Holy Scripture’s teaching regarding such matters, I will, of course, abide by that determination. The President of the Synod is accountable to the
convention of the Synod.
In the meantime, as mentioned earlier in this report, I
appointed a Blue Ribbon Task Force on Ecclesiastical Supervision and Dispute Resolution to review and recommend
to the Synod amendments to the Bylaws that would provide proper evangelical supervision, counsel, care, protection, and maintenance of the rights of congregations, pastors, teachers, and other professional church workers of the
Synod in the performance of their official duties (LCMS
Constitution, Art. III). Specifically, the task force has reviewed the Bylaws regarding restricting, suspending, and
expelling congregations or individuals from membership in
the Synod, Bylaws that have caused considerable confusion
and discord in the Synod. The task force recommends
proper procedure for the accountability of District Presidents and the President of the Synod between conventions
and for amending the Bylaws regarding dispute resolution.
I commend to you the recommendations of this task force,
which will come before the convention for approval.
2004 Convention Proceedings

Biblical and Confessional Study of Matters
That Divide the Synod
Through it all, it has been apparent to me, and to many
others, that continued and renewed theological conversation and biblical study are necessary to restore the synodical solidarity we all so deeply desire. As a result of my request that the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations, in consultation with the Council of Presidents,
plan and conduct theological convocations to study and discuss the position of Holy Scripture on matters of theological
disagreement in our Synod, all 35 Districts of the Synod
have conducted “theological convocations” during the past
two years. Generally, these have been two-day meetings of
pastors and, in some cases, also educators and laity. Such
conversation and study require expenditure of significant
resources of time, energy, and money.
The joint committee of the CTCR and COP that planned
and conducted the first model convocation in Aug. 2002, in
Phoenix (it’s a dry heat . . .), will soon begin planning a second round of convocations to be held in the coming triennium. I sincerely invite you to join me in prayer for the
blessing of the Holy Spirit on these very important meetings.
By the grace and power of Almighty God I pray that we
in the LCMS will be able to re-establish the synodical solidarity, harmony, concord, and trust we all so sincerely desire and seek.
The Board of Directors and Commission
on Constitutional Matters
During this triennium, the LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM) has rendered a number of official interpretations (“opinions”), eight of which have been
specifically and formally questioned by the Board of Directors (BOD), which declared these opinions “of no effect.”
Some of these opinions have to do with ecclesiastical supervision and some have to do with the authority of the
BOD in relation to program boards and the President of the
Synod.
As stated on a number of occasions, I understand the
concerns of the BOD for protecting the assets of the Synod
and protecting the Synod from litigation, liability, and vulnerability. I have also, on a number of occasions, indicated
my concern with the adoption by the BOD of resolutions
that appear to be in conflict with the Constitution and Bylaws of our Synod, specifically the following provisions:
LCMS Constitution
Article X Officers
A. The officers of the Synod are:
1. A President;
2. Vice-Presidents, in line of succession, as prescribed by the
Bylaws;
3. A Secretary;
4. A Vice-President–Finance—Treasurer not in line of
succession;
5. A Board of Directors;
6. Other officers, as specified in the Bylaws.
Article XI Rights and Duties of Officers
A. In General
1. The officers of the Synod must assume only such rights as have