LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 283

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STRUCTURE, PLANNING, AND ADMINISTRATION 283

WHEREAS, These various terms may imply very different inten-
tions for the materials as to their being guiding, binding, or other-
wise (since, for example, a report that is “commended for use and
guidance” may be offered by a convention as potentially of some
value, yet without all its contents being fully endorsed, just as a
textbook suggested in a course may not be endorsed in every part
by the instructor); and

WHEREAS, These various terms thus raise confusion as to how
members of the Synod are to receive and use the materials con-
cerned; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Commission on Structure study past uses of
the terminology by which materials have been offered to the Synod
and recommend to the Synod how such terminology might be clar-
ified for future understanding.

Faculty
Concordia Theological Seminary
Fort Wayne, IN

7-98

To Restore Distinction between Documents
“Adopted” and “Commended”

WHEREAS, The Synod in convention has had a long history of
“commending” various documents to its membership for reference
or guidance; and

WHEREAS, These documents were often relatively new when the
Synod took the action of “commending” them; and

WHEREAS, “Commending” documents has served as an alterna-
tive to adopting or otherwise wholly endorsing them; and

WHEREAS, The Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM)
in its Opinion 02-2294 (adopted at its Jan. 20-21, 2003, meeting)
answered a question concerning a Synod resolution that com-
mended two documents “for continued use and guidance,” namely
2001 Res. 3-07A; and

WHEREAS, In its opinion the CCM went on to note that the Con-
stitution and Bylaws of the Synod require ecclesiastical supervi-
sors to see that this and all other resolutions of the Synod are “car-
ried out” and “implemented” without further specifying what it
means to “implement” or “carry out” the portion of a resolution
that commends a document for guidance; and

WHEREAS, Lack of clarity on this point can only cause the
Synod problems, including but not limited to the prospect that the
Synod’s long-standing distinction between documents “adopted”
by the Synod and those simply “commended” can be obliterated in
practice or in principle; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod assign the Commission on Structure
to research this matter and submit to the 2007 Synod convention
recommendations that will clarify matters and preserve the distinc-
tion between documents “adopted” by the Synod and those simply
“commended.”

Circuit 26 Forum
South Wisconsin District

7-99

To Request Clarification of CCM Opinions
re Additional Confessional Statements

WHEREAS, The Commission on Constitutional Matters (CCM)
has issued an opinion on “Additional Confessional Statements”
(CCM Opinion 03-2328); and

WHEREAS, This opinion spends considerable time discussing the
1969 CCM opinion, “An Opinion Regarding Dissenting Groups
and Activities Within the Synod”; and

WHEREAS, This 1969 opinion encourages fraternal discussion:
“Before and after the passage or rejection of synodical resolutions
individuals must be free to express their concerns, especially to
their peers. Frank and open discussion, carried on in a spirit of

Christian love and forbearance, must be part of our life together in
the Synod. It can be proper and salutary”; and

WHEREAS, This 1969 opinion also warns against groups estab-
lished specifically to foment activity on a wide scale: “However,
in this opinion the Commission is addressing itself to the organiz-
ing of groups, to the calling of meetings, secret or open, to at-
tempted manipulation of existing groups, to circularizing activities,
and to a wide-scale of joint actions, all of which by their very na-
ture tend to polarize or fragment the constituency of the Synod, and
thus have the effect of disrupting the synodical unity”; and

WHEREAS, The fraternal discussion among members of such
groups easily could lead to many of the activities warmed against in
this opinion; therefore be it

Resolved, That Lamb of God Lutheran Church, Pleasant Prairie,
Wisconsin, urges the Synod, in convention, to ask the Commission
on Constitutional Matters to clarify its 1969 opinion regarding dis-
senting groups and activities, specifically as regarding activities
which could be construed as dissenting activities; and be it further

Resolved, That the convention declare that all portions of this
opinion relating to dissenting groups or activities be held in
abeyance until the clarification is issued by the CCM and ratified
by the Synod in convention; and be it finally

Resolved, That the convention encourage fraternal, open dis-
cussion among all members of the Synod, including lay members
of the congregations of the Synod, and discourage secret or private
discussions. ;

Lamb of God
Pleasant Prairie, WI

7-100

To Overturn CCM Opinion
re “Additional Confessional Statements”

WHEREAS, A group of faithful members of the LCMS calling
themselves the “Northern Illinois Confessional Lutherans” has
written a document titled “That They May Be One,” referencing
John 17:21; and

WHEREAS, Many pastors, laymen, and congregations of the
Synod have found, after study and reflection, that this document
correctly outlines the Synod’s previously established positions on
fellowship, derived from the Holy Scriptures and Lutheran Con-
fessions; and

WHEREAS, Such findings have led many of these pastors, lay-
men, and congregations to “subscribe” to this confession; and

WuereAS Such subscription is not expressing dissent from the
Synod’s official position, but affirming it as previously established;
and

WHEREAS, Such subscription is not intended to create a confes-
sional standard different from the Synod’s official position, but to
affirm and uphold it; and

WHEREAS, Such subscription is not “in place of, or in addition
to, the confessional position of the Synod as set forth in Art. II of
its Constitution as a condition for fellowship with one another”
(CCM Opinion 03-2328); and

WuerEAS, Using the Synod’s previously established doctrinal
position to clarify current events helps both members and laity
alike to understand, appreciate, and abide by said doctrinal posi-
tion; therefore be it

Resolved, That Lamb of God Lutheran Church, Pleasant Prairie,
Wisconsin, urges the Synod, in convention, to overturn in its en-
tirety CCM Opinion 03-2328 concerning additional confessional
statements; and be it further

Resolved, That the convention declare that confessional state-
ments which clarify the Synod’s previously established doctrinal
position on matters are not, in fact, “additional” confessional state-
ments; and be it further

Resolved, That the convention declare that using additional con-
fessional statements which are not in accord with the Holy Scrip-