LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 276

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

276 STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION

lic corporation, hardly reflecting the high calling such servants of
our Lord hold in our midst; therefore be it

Resolved, That the English District memorialize the 2004
LCMS convention to revise those portions of the Constitution that
describe the work of the President and District Presidents so that it
reflects 1 Tim. 3:1-7 and Titus 1:7-9, and thus encourage them to
exemplify in life and conduct their role as true bishops of our souls.
Such revision would also seek that they: (1) be fervent in prayer
for all their workers; (2) work evangelically to strengthen true unity
in the faith; (3) support the witness to the Gospel through interest in
missions, evangelism, and works of charity; (4) strive to provide
harmonious relations with all in the Synod; and, (5) be involved as
much as possible in regular Word and Sacrament ministry in local
congregations; and be it further

Resolved, That the 2004 LCMS convention request the Council
of Presidents to bring suggested changes to the 2007 convention.

English District

7-77

To Revise Bylaw 4.71 b re District President
Responsibilities

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

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

Wuereas, Art. VII of Synod’s Constitution declares that “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, 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 4.71 b
can lead to an unwanted centralization of power and the danger of
coercive control; therefore be it

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

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod revise
Synod Bylaw 4.71 b as follows:

PRESENFT/PROPOSED WORDING

Each District President shall represent the Synod in his re-
spective ternitory. He shall therefore cause the reselutions-oF the

wierly-repert represent his Di istrict in the Counc neil of Presidents
and represent the concems of the entire Synod to his District.

He shall therefore make reports to his District and to the Prosi
dent of the Synod. He shall serve the congregations of the Dis-
trict as liaison belween the congregations, District, and the
Synod.
Board of Directors
Northwest District

7-78

To Emphasize Pastoral Role
of Synod and District Presidents

WHEREAS, As currently written, the Constitution and Bylaws of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod place primary emphasis on
the administrative roles of the President of the Synod and the Pres-
idents of the various Districts; and

WHEREAS, The Constitution requires that “It is the President’s
duty to see to it that all the aforementioned [officers, employees,
Districts and their Presidents] act in accordance with the Constitu-

tion and admonish all who in any way depart from it” (Art. XI B);
and

Wuereas, In fulfilling the requirement for the supervision of
doctrine as taught and practiced within the Synod, there is always
the potential for legalistic abuse of authority; and

WHEREAS, As an evangelical church body we have the right to
expect that in fulfilling this responsibility the Gospel should be the
motivating impulse; and

WHEREAS, The present ministry descriptions for the President
of the Synod and the District Presidents lack the evangelical em-
phasis that should undergird all our synodical activities; therefore
be it

Resolved, That in fulfilling their pastoral roles toward the mem-
bers of the Synod, the President and District Presidents shall seek to
exemplify in life and conduct the biblical requirements for a bishop
(1 Tim. 3:1—7; Titus 1:7-9); be fervent in prayer for the members
of the Synod (congregations, pastors, and other rostered church
workers);work evangelically to strengthen the unity of the true faith
within the Synod; support the witness of the Synod to the Gospel
through personal interest in missions, evangelism, and works of
Christian charity; and strive to promote peaceful and harmonious
relations within the Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That the Commission on Constitutional Matters be
requested to present appropriate amendments to both the Constitu-
tion and the Bylaws at the 2007 convention of the Synod that in-
corporate these and other pertinent concerns into the job descrip-
tions of the Synod’s President and our District Presidents:

* seek to exemplify in life and conduct the biblical requirements for a
bishop (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:7-9);

* be fervent in prayer for the members of the Synod (congregations,
pastors, and other rostered church workers);

« work evangelically to strengthen the unity of the true faith within the
Synod; support the witness of the Synod to the Gospel through per-
sonal interest in missions, evangelism, and works of Christian charity;
and

* strive to promote peaceful and harmonious relations within the Synod.

St. Paul
Saratoga Springs, NY

7-79

To Retain Present Outline and Wording of Bylaw 3.101

WHEREAS, In 1998 the Synod adopted the recommendation of
the Blue Ribbon Committee on Structure to elucidate the Synod
President’s powers and duties by listing them under three cate-
gories: (a) those dealing with the President’s ecclesiastical role; (b)
those dealing with his administrative role; and (c) those that are si-
multaneously ecclesiastical and administrative; and

WHEREAS, The Committee noted that its recommended revision
of the Bylaw was important for the sake of maximum clarity; and

WHEREAS, These changes are still relatively new, adopted only
two conventions ago; and

WHEREAS, There has been no report that these changes have re-
sulted in anything other than improvement so far; and

WHEREAS, The ad hoc Commission on Structure’s proposed re-
vision to the Synod Bylaw removes the threefold classification of
the President’s powers and duties, which could constitute a step
backwards in lucidity; and

WHEREAS, The wording of this Bylaw, as adopted by the Synod
in 1998, was designed for the threefold division of the Bylaw;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod at its 2004 convention make no
change to the outline or the wording of Bylaw 3.101, although the
numbering of this Bylaw may change if the rest of the ad hoc Com-
mission on Structure’s proposal is adopted.

Circuit 26 Forum
South Wisconsin District