LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 281

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STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION 281

Such resolutions come into being in the same manner as any
other resolutions of a synodical convention and will require a
three-fourths majority vote for adoption. It shall be the respon-
sibility of convention committees to identify doctrinal resolu-
tions. If this identification is challenged, the convention shall

mi inal determination imple majority vote. If a resolu-

tion fails to receive the required vote, the convention may by

impl jority vote decid tt he Com-

mission on Theology and Church Relations for evaluation, re-

Vi ni endati i w

L0Q9 c 1. Doctrinal resolutions are to be honored and upheld
until such time as the Synod amends or répeals them.

Commission on Structure
7-94

To Revise Bylaws re Doctrinal Resolutions
and Statements

Wuereas, The current Bylaws of the Synod (1.09) create two
mechanisms, doctrinal statements and doctrinal resolutions, by
which the Synod, in convention, may establish or alter the formal,
public, theological position of the Synod, but make no provision
for the Synod, in convention, to express its view on an issue with
theological implications without establishing or altering the formal,
public, doctrinal position of the Synod; and

Wuereas, One of these mechanisms, the doctrinal statement,
provides for a careful process of review and analysis by the Synod
followed by ratification on the part of the member congregations
of the Synod while the other, the doctrinal resolution, lacks any
process of review or analysis and makes no provision for congre-
gational ratification; and

Wuereas, Under the current Bylaws the Synod, in convention,
may establish or alter the formal and public doctrinal position of
the Synod by a simple majority vote in a resolution that is not re-
quired to identify itself as an attempt to establish or alter the doc-
trinal position of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, It is not a good thing to have two such radically dif-
ferent and conflicting processes, each of which binds the members
of the Synod by establishing or altering the doctrinal position of
the Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod redefine the role of the doctrinal res-
olution to allow the Synod, in convention, to express a nonbinding
opinion on an issue that may have theological implications in such
a way that does not establish the formal and public doctrinal: posi-
tion of the Synod and does not bind all members of the Synod to
this view; and be it further

Resolved, That the doctrinal statement shall remain as the
process by which the Synod, in convention, defines its formal pub-
lic doctrine; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Bylaws of the Synod be amended as follows
to accomplish these goals:

PRESENF/PROPOSED WORDING
1.09 Doctrinal Resolutions and Statements

a. The Synod, in seeking to clarify its witness or to settle
doctrinal controversy, so that all who seek to participate in the
relationships that exist within and through the Synod may bene-
fit and may act to benefit others, shall have the right to adopt
doctrinal resolutions and statements whieh that are in harmony
with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.

b. Doctrinal resolutions, which are nonbinding expressions
trine of the Synod, may be adopted for the information, coun-
sel, and guidance of the membership. They shall conform to the
confessional position of the Synod as set forth in Article II of
its Constitution and shall ordinarily cite the pertinent passages of
the Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and any previously
adopted official doctrinal statements or resolutions of the Synod.
Such resolutions come into being in the same manner as any
other resolutions of a synedieat Synod convention end-ere-te-be

peais-them.

c. Doctrinal statements set forth in greater detail the posi-
tion of the Synod especially in controverted matters. Such state-
ments establish the public doctrine of the Synod on those mat-
ters that they treat. A proposed statement or a proposal for the
development of such a statement shall be

1. submitted by the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations directly to those listed in paragraph c 2 or submitted
by a convention of the Synod (including that of a District), a
synedieat faculty of Synod, or an official District conference of
ordained and/or commissioned ministers to the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations for evaluation, refinement, de-
velopment, or recommendation, as the case may be;

2. submitted by the commission, if it acts favorably, to the
colleges, universities, and seminaries, and to the congregations
and other members of the Synod for study and suggestions for
no more than one year (failure by the Commission on Theology
and Church Relations to submit a proposed doctrinal statement
within a year may be appealed to the convention through a
proper overture);

3. refined further by the commission on the basis of sugges-
tions received;

4. submitted by the commission to a convention of the na-
tional Synod for further consideration and possible adoption by
majority vote; amendments shall require a two-thirds affirma-
tive vote of those present and voting; /

5. resubmitted to the congregations for ratification in its final
existing form;

6. ratified and operative if a two-thirds majority of the mem-
ber congregations whieh that respond within six months regis-
ters an affirmative vote on a ballot supplied by the synedieat
Synod Secretary for that purpose. Failure to ratify makes the
statement inoperative, and this fact shall be reported by the Sec-
tetary to the members of the Synod through an announcement
in an official periodical;

7. Such adopted and ratified doctrinal statements shall be re-
garded as the position of the Synod and shall be “accepted and
used as helpful expositions and explanations” (FC SD Rule and
Norm 10). They shall be honored and upheld (‘to abide by, act,
and teach in accordance with” [1971 Res. 2-21}) until such time
as the Synod amends or repeals them;

8. An overture to amend such an adopted ratified doctrinal
statement shall follow the same procedure as listed in paragraph
c 1-6, above;

9. An overture to repeal such an adopted and ratified doctri-
nal statement shall require a majority vote of a convention of
the national Synod in answer to an overture properly submitted
and be subject to the procedure of congregational approval set
forth in paragraph c 6 above;

10. In the interim, those who submit overtures to amend or
to repeal shall, while retaining their right to dissent, continue to
honor and uphold publicly the statement as the position of the
Synod, notwithstanding further.study and action by the Synod.

d. Dissent from doctrinal resehitiens-end statements shall be
governed by Bylaw 2.39 c.

Faculty
Concordia Seminary
St. Louis, MO

7-95

To Clarify Status and Authority
of Doctrinal Resolutions

WHEREAS, There has been confusion of late among the mem-
bers of the Synod as to the status and authority of the doctrinal res-
olutions adopted by the Synod in convention, for example, affirm-
ing that a doctrinal resolution has no applicability to the
determination of whether or not the membership of an individual
member of the Synod should be terminated; and

WHEREAS, For doctrinal resolutions to be adopted they are to
“conform to the confessional position of the Synod as set forth in